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I thought Innovation in Islam was Forbidden?

Salam All, 003.032.227 - Praying at Night in Ramadaan (Taraweeh) - - - - Narrated Abu Huraira Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." Ibn Shihab (a sub-narrator) said, "Allah's Apostle died and the people continued observing that (i.e. Nawafil offered individually, not in congregation), and it remained as it was during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr and in the early days of 'Umar's Caliphate." 'Abdur Rahman bin 'Abdul Qari said, "I went out in the company of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in different groups. A man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. So, 'Umar said, 'In my opinion I would better collect these (people) underthe leadership of one Qari (Reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!)'. So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Ka'b. Then on another night I went again in his company and the people were praying behind their reciter. On that, 'Umar remarked,'What an excellent Bid'a (i.e. innovation in religion) this is; but the prayer which they do not perform, but sleep at its time is better than the one they are offering.' He meant the prayer in the last part of the night. (In those days) people used to pray in the early part ofthe night." Can someone explain this for me please? JazakAllah Khair Edit: @Abu Maryam: Salam, You said it's not a bid'ah but clearly Umar said "What an excellent Bid'a", Also when the Prophet (pbuh) says “I saw what you did, and nothing kept me from coming out to you except the fact that I feared that it would be made obligatory for you." Wasn't he supposed to to expound the Shari'ah of Islam? lebanese Spirit: Salam, I thought only Allah can bring Innovations, not even the Prophet (pbuh) was allowed even though his status was so high he was the messenger and propagator of Islam. "so what Umar(ra) didnt change islam, he was making things easy on the muslims since muslims are trained to pray in jama'aa" Making things easier is still an Innovation or am I wrong, because an Innovation could be for example to make marriage temporary to "make things easier". I'm trying to keep an open mind, you're opinions are important to me. Edit: @Abu Maryam: The Issue I have is that it seems to me like a new innovation because the Prophet(pbuh) did not do it in his time and even when people did, the Prophet (pbuh) stopped coming to the Mosque out of fear it would become Obligatory. Surely if the Prophet(pbuh) wanted taraweeh to be prayed as a group he would have done it himself and instructed people that it is not obligatory like the other recommended prayers. @ lebanese Spirit - The Qu'ran isn't an Innovation like in your example because it was intended to be recorded in the form of a scripture hence the verses "We revealed to you this scripture" and we as Muslims know that the Qur'an has remained unchanged so the book I hold contains the exactly words of that spoken to the Prophet (pbuh) by Gabriel which was intended to be recorded, does that make any sense? Edit: @ abouterachess: This is news to me that there are Good Innovations and Bad Innovations, surely Allah(swt) is the only one who is allowed to make changes to religion since He is Omniscient (All knowing) and every religious aspect is perfected by Him alone. With all due respect this view is flawed and any Innovation is prohibited otherwise Allah knows how many deviations would have occurred if Good Innovations were Permissible.

Public Comments

1. This is not a bid'a, as it was prayed behind the Prophet (saaw) already in his life. This is indicated by the Sunnah and the actions of the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them). al-Bukhaari (1129) and Muslim (761) narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed one night in the mosque, and the people followed him in prayer. Then he prayed the next night, and many people came. Then they gathered on the third or fourth night, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not come out to them. The next morning he said: “I saw what you did, and nothing kept me from coming out to you except the fact that I feared that it would be made obligatory for you.” And that was in Ramadaan. This indicates that praying Taraweeh in congregation is prescribed according to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), but he refrained from doing it because he feared that it would be made obligatory for the ummah. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) died, this reservation was no longer required, because the sharee’ah was established. Asad ibn ‘Amr ibn Abi Yoosuf said: I asked Abu Haneefah about Taraweeh and what ‘Umar did. He said: Taraweeh is a confirmed Sunnah, and ‘Umar did not base his decision on speculation and he was not introducing bid’ah (an innovation). He did not enjoin it except because of what he knew from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). ‘Umar introduced this and gathered the people behind Ubayy ibn Ka’b and he offered this prayer in congregation, at the time when the Sahaabah – the Muhaajireen and Ansaar – were still alive, and no one among them objected to that, rather they helped him and agreed with him, and also enjoined it. End quote. ==== Bid'a in this context is to gather all the Muslims behind one Imam and in one congregation, like was done behind the Prophet (saaw), and not have multiple congregations in the same masjid. It's not a "new innovation" because it was already done in the Prophet's life.
2. Umer introduced many Bidahs in Islam. It is all written in Sahih books but his followers are just blinded.
3. wa alaykom assalam u know the quran was not revealed as a book....so the quran u have in ur hands isnt the way the prophet(as) had.... so are u holding a bid'aa ?? nope whatever faciliate islam isnt bid'aa. the women shouldnt hold the quran when she have her menses, but when this woman is studying quran then she is able.....islam is easy. so what Umar(ra) didnt change islam, he was making things easy on the muslims since muslims are trained to pray in jama'aa.
4. Agree with Abu Maryam.
5. Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that the muadhdhin came to Umar ibn al-Khattab to call him to the subh prayer and found him sleeping, so he said, "Prayer is better than sleep," and Umar ordered him to put that in the adhan for subh.
6. If it wasn't bid'a (innovation), then Umar wouldn't have stated "what an excellent bid'a", because the word bid'a means, something that wasn't done or practiced before, so it is something created. Also, another lame excuse is that the prophet thought that this sunna might be confused as an obligatory act....doesn't that mean that this should apply to many other sunnahs the prophet (pbuh&hh) taught us... surely like the nawafil, salat al layl, shaf' wal watr......etc Why only that sunna he thought would confuse the people, when the book of Allah(sw) describes what's obligatory?? Thus, it was a bid'a. @sister LS: Gathering the quran is not classified as bid'a because there is no change-addition-takeaway to the religion or creating a new act of worship..simply putting together the pages. An example would be the sadaqa or zakat box, where zakat of many individuals is gathered and the sum of it is paid to the poor later on, yet, although zakat is still the same and nothing is added or changed. Wasssalam
7. Thanks a lot for your question :) Well this is very informative a lot of people think that any innovations in Islam is prohibited..it's not, there are good innovations and bad innovations, like Umar said this is an excellent innovation...but if someone said that this innovation "must" be done that it is "fard" or "farida" then that is definitely prohibited..and God knows best :) here are good linka for reading quran and reading hadith hope they help :) http://quran.com http://searchtruth.com
8. “‘Umar was the first who set the example of the night prayer of Ramadan, the Tarawih, and gathered people for it, and instructed different regions regarding it. This was during the month of Ramadhan of the year 14 (hijri). He appointed for the people reciters of the Qur’an who led the Tarawih prayer for men and women.” [Ibn Sa’d, Kitab al-Tabaqat, volume 3, page 281] [al-Suyuti, Tarikh al-Khulafa', page 137] [al-‘Ayni, ‘Umdat al-Qari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 6, page 125] The Prophet (saw) said: “O people! Perform your prayers at your homes, for the best prayer of a person is what he performs at his home, except the compulsory (congregational) prayer." [Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 9, book 92, number 393] [al-Nasa’i, Sunan, volume 3, p. 161, p. 198] Even Sunni scholars have agreed that the prayers are to be done at home. Al-Nawawi says: “The scholars agree on its merit, but they differ on whether it is better to pray it in one’s home individually or in congregation in a mosque.” He also says: “Malik, Abu Yusuf, some Shafi’i scholars, and others say that it is better to pray it individually in the home”. [al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim, volume 6, page 286] The hadith you posted said it all anyway, if only they would understand.
9. Good game.
10. Kullu bida'tin daiala!!!