Innovations of Hajj, `Umra and Visiting Madinah

And I decided to add an appendix, setting forth the innovations regarding Hajj and visiting Madinat-ul-Munawwara, and Bait-ul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) as many people do not know these things and so fall into them - so I wished to advise them by explaining and warning them against these things - as Allah the Blessed and Exalted does not accept any action unless it fulfils two conditions: 

Firstly: That it be done sincerely for the sake of Allah, the Honored, the Exalted. 

Secondly: That it is correct - and it is not correct until it is in accordance with the Sunnah, not at variance with it - and as the people of knowledge have agreed - everything claimed by people to be part of worship which Rasoolullah did not prescribe by his saying, nor drew nearer to Allah by performing it - then that is at variance with his Sunnah as his Sunnah is of two kinds: 

(a) Sunnah of action (Sunnah Fi'liyyah - actions which he did) and 

(b) Sunnah of neglect (Sunnah Tarkiyyah - acts which he did not do). As for those things pertaining to worship which the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not do - then it is from the Sunnah to leave them - for example: calling Adhaan for the `Eid prayers and for burying the dead, even though it is a means of making mention of Allah and glorifying Him, it is not permissible to do it as a means of drawing nearer to Allah, the Exalted, the Glorious - and that is only because it is something which Rasoolullah refrained from doing - and this point was understood by his companions - so they often warred against innovation in general - as is mentioned in its proper place - and Hudhaifah ibn al Yamaan - may Allah be pleased with him - said: "Every worship that has not been done by the companions of Rasoolullah, then do not do it." And Ibn Mas'ood - may Allah be pleased with him - said: "Follow (the Sunnah) and do not innovate, and that is enough for you - stick to the old way." So how fortunate is the one to whom Allah gives the good fortune of making his worship sincerely for Him and following of the Sunnah of His Prophet in it - not mixing it with innovation - for such a one then let him have good tidings of Allah's acceptance of his obedience - and his admission to His Paradise. May Allah make us those who hear the word and follow the best of it. And you should know that these innovations are traceable to the following factors:

(i) Weak (da'eef) Ahadith - which are not permitted to be used as evidence, nor is it permissible to attribute them to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) - nor is it, according to our saying, permissible to act on them - as I have explained in the introduction of Sifat-Salaat un-Nabee (The Prophet's Manner of Prayer) - and this is the position of a group of the people of knowledge - from them Ibn Taymeeyah. 

(ii) Fabricated (maudoo') Ahadith - or narrations which have no basis - some scholars remaining unaware of their true nature - and therefore basing religious verdicts upon them - their being the core of innovation and novelties!

(iii) The decisions of some scholars or their regarding certain things to be commendable - especially the later scholars - not basing these on any proofs (from the Qur'aan or Sunnah), rather treating them as indisputable matters - until they become Sunnahs adhered to and followed. And it will not remain hidden from one who has insight into his religion - that it is not correct to follow such things - as nothing is part of the Sharee'ah except what Allah has prescribed - and it is enough for the one who makes something desirable - if he is a mujtahid - that it is permissible for him to act according to what he sees as desirable - and that Allah will not punish him for that - but as for other people taking that as something prescribed and as a Sunnah - then no - definitely not! And how can that be when some of these things conflict with the Sunnah - as will be noted later if Allah wills?

(iv) Customs and superstitions which have no evidence from the Sharee'ah, and are not even supported by the intellect - even if some ignorant people act upon them and take them to be part of the Sharee'ah - sometimes finding support from others - sometimes from some people claiming to be from the people of knowledge - and actually having their appearance.

Then you should know that the danger of these innovations is not of one level - rather they are of different degrees. Some of them being clear shirk and kufr - as you will see, and some of them are less than that - however, you must be aware that the slightest innovation that someone brings into the religion is haram (forbidden) after it is exposed as an innovation - as there is no innovation that is only makrooh (disapproved), as some people think - and how can that be when Rasoolullah said: Every innovation is a going astray. And every going astray is in the Fire. That is the one who does it. Imam ash-Shaatibee has fully explained this point in his important book Al I'tisaam - and because of this the innovation is something very dangerous - and most people remain heedless of this, except for a small group of the people of knowledge and enough as a proof of the seriousness of innovation is the saying of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم): Verily Allah has refused to admit the repentance of anyone committing an innovation, until he gives up the innovation. Narrated by Tabaraanee and ad-Diyaa-ul-Maqdisee in Al Ahadith ul-Mukhtaarah and others - with saheeh isnaad - and was declared by al-Mundharee to be hasan. I complete this with a word of advice which I convey to readers from a great Imam from the first scholars of the Muslims - Shaikh Hasan ibn Ali al Barbahaaree - one of the companions of Imam Ahmad - who died in the year 329 H, may Allah be pleased with him - who said: "And beware of the smallest of the newly-invented matters, as the small innovations due to repetition become large innovations, and in that way every innovation introduced in this Ummah began as a small innovation - resembling something correct and thus is the one who falls into it enticed - then he is not able to leave it - some of it grows and becomes part of the religion, practiced as such.

So examine - may Allah have mercy upon you - everything that people of your time say and do not make haste (in accepting it) until you ask and find Out: Did any of the companions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) or any of the people of knowledge speak about it? So if you find a narration from them, then accept it and do not leave it for anything - and do not prefer anything over it and thus fall into the Fire. And you should know - may Allah have mercy upon you - that a worshipper's Islam is not complete until he is a follower (of proof), consenting and submitting (to the Truth). So whoever claims that anything remains of Islam which the companions of Rasoolullah did not fully explain to us - then he has invented a lie against them, and that is enough for him that he has reviled them - so he is an innovator, misguided and misguiding, introducing into Islam what does not belong to it." I (Al-Albaanee) say: "And may Allah have mercy upon Imam Maalik who said: 'The last part of this Ummah will not be corrected except by that which corrected its beginning, so that which was not part of the religion then - is not part of the religion today." And may Allah send blessings upon our Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) who said: I have not left anything that will draw you nearer to Allah - except that I have enjoined upon you. And I have not left anything that will take you away from Allah and draw you to the Fire except that I have forbidden for you. And all praise is for Allah by Whose blessing good actions are completed.

Hajj And Umrah Guides, Pilgrimage Essentials, Mecca & Medina Topics Links:

Advice To Pilgrims | A Step by step Hajj and 'Umrah | Adhkar (Pertaining to the remembrance of Allah) | A Lasting Word For Hajj And 'Umrah | An Account of the Miqat | An Account of visiting the Prophet's Mosque | Ayaam at-Tashreeq | Binding on the pilgrim to refrain from sins | Command about the Menstruating and similar women | Conditional Ihram | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day One | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Two | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Three | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Four | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Five | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Six | Day of Arafah | Day to Day Activities of Hajj | Dhabh | Duties of pilgrims at 'Arafah | Entering Mecca | Entering Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) and Tawaf | Errors Often Committed by Pilgrims | Etiquette of Ihram | Etiquette of Visiting the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Grave | Farewell Pilgrimage of the Messenger of Allah | Farewell Tawaf | Farewell Tawaf is binding on everyone except the menstruating and women with post childbirth bleeding | Fixed time for Hajj | Fixed time for Hajj | Four Khutbahs in Hajj | Hajj in Pre-Islamic Times | Hajj of a woman | Hajj, Umrah & Ziyarah At a Glance | Halq or Qass | Halq or Qasr: Shaving or Clipping | Ihram | Ihram for youngsters | Ihram: Introduction And Significance | Innovations of `Arafah | Innovations Before Ihraam | Innovations of Hajj, `Umra and Visiting Madinah | Innovations of Ihraam and Talbiyyah, etc. | Innovations of Muzdalifah | Innovations of Sacrifice and Shaving the Head | Innovations of Sa'y Between Safaa and Marwah | Innovations of Stoning | Innovations of Tawaaf | Innovations of Visiting Madinat-ul-Munawwarah | Innovations of Visiting Bait-ul-Maqdis | Innovations: Various Innovations | Istilaam | Kinds of Ihram | Leaving Arafah to spend night in Al Muzdalefah | Many `Umrahs after Hajj is not encouraged by the Shari`ah | Maqaam Ibraaheem | Meeqaat | Merits of Hajj | Merits of 'Umrah | Minaa | Neglecting and delaying the throwing of pebbles | No Specific Supplication for Tawaf and Sa'y | Not allowed to shave the beard | Not obligatory to visit the Prophet's Mosque | Objective of Hajj - To seek the Divine Pleasure | Obligations during Hajj and Umrah | Performing Hajj on behalf of others | Permitted and Forbidden things in the State of Ihram | Pilgrim with Sacrificial Animal in the month of Hajj should intend Qiran (accompanied Hajj) and the one | Pillars of Hajj | Prayers at Arafah | Preparations for Hajj, Umrah and travelling to the holy lands | Preparing for Hajj or 'Umrah | Prerequisites and Sunnahs of valid Tawaf | Ramy | Reaching Miqat at a Time other than the Hajj Season | Regulations Concerning Hady (Sacrificial animals) | Restrictions of Ihram | Rites, obligations and Sunnahs of Umrah | Sa'y | Sa'y between Safa and Marwah | Sa'y and its rituals | Sacrificial animals | Shaving or clipping hair | Sunnah and allowed throwing | Sunnahs of Tawaf | Supplication at the beginning of the journey | Supplication on entering the Mosque | Supplications at Arafah | Supplications: Some All-Inclusive Supplications | Supplications: Some Supplications which may Be Recited At 'Arafat, at the Sacred Sites, and at Other Places of Supplication | Talbeeyah | Tawaaf | Tawaaf al-Ifaadah | Throwing Al Jemar | Throwing pebbles on behalf of other people | Types of Hajj | Umrah | Veiling and giving up the display of beauty is compulsory for women | Verdict on spending the night at Mina | Visitation of the Prophet's Mosque | Visiting Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi | Visiting Quba Mosque and Al-Baqi' cemetery | What a Pilgrim should do when he reaches the Miqat | What Is Required of the Pilgrims | What is allowed to a Muhrim | Where to pick the pebbles from and the number and size of pebbles | Woman's Hajj with Mahram, expenses of Hajj, taking husband's permission | Woman may enter into the Ihram in any dress | Wuqoof 'Arafaat | Wuqoof Muzdalifah | Zamzam