Friday Talk – Part 1: The Danger of Innovations and Following the Prophet ﷺ
Praise be to Allah. He completed our religion, gave us His blessings and made us followers of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Brothers and sisters, first remember to always be mindful of Allah. Allah told all people before us and us: “Be careful of Allah.” [An-Nisa 4:131]
Today, many bad things are increasing in the world, and one of the most dangerous is “innovations in religion” – doing new things in worship that the Prophet ﷺ did not teach. Why are innovations dangerous? Because people think they are doing good and obeying Allah but they are actually doing something wrong. This makes it very hard for them to correct themselves. Sufyan ath-Thawri said: “An innovation is more loved by Satan than a sin. A sin can be forgiven, but an innovation cannot.”
Innovations spread fast. Even the companions of the Prophet ﷺ saw some of their effects. Imagine if it was happening in their time, how much more it happens now with so many wrong ideas and customs! The scholars said: innovations destroy the religion little by little. Hassan ibn Atiyah said: “Whenever people introduce a new way in religion, something from the Sunnah disappears.” Ibn Muhairiz said: “Religion is lost step by step like a rope losing its strength.”
Innovations are worse than normal sins because people think they are doing good. Ibn Taymiyyah said: “People who follow innovations are worse than those who commit sins for desire.” Allah has completed our religion. He said: “Today I have completed your religion and chosen Islam for you as your way of life.” [Al-Ma’idah 5:3]
Anyone who adds to the religion claims it is incomplete and is questioning the trust of the Prophet ﷺ. That is why the early Muslims were very strict about innovations. The rule of the scholars is: everything in worship is forbidden unless Allah allowed it and we cannot make up new acts of worship. For example, using loudspeakers in the call to prayer or making group dhikr after prayers like it was never done in the Prophet’s time is an innovation.
Part 2: Following the Sunnah is Very Important
The Prophet ﷺ warned those who wanted to add extra worship: “Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me.” Even small changes in how we pray, or how the Prophet ﷺ used to do things are not allowed. The companions showed us this by correcting people who changed things. So the most important thing is: follow the Sunnah, avoid innovations and hold tightly to the Qur’an and Sunnah. Allah says: “This is My straight path, so follow it and do not follow other ways that will lead you away.” [Al-An’am 6:153]
We should always ask Allah:
- To keep our hearts firm on His religion.
- To show us the truth and help us follow it.
- To show us what is wrong and help us avoid it.
- To make us among the people of Sunnah and guidance.
- To protect us from trials and misguidance.
- To guide our leaders so they guide us correctly.
- To forgive all Muslims, alive and dead.
download the pdf