Bida: A path to Satan (part 1)

Many of us have heard of bida, but what is it? And why should we concerned about it? Bida in Arabic simply means innovation. There are really two types of innovation, worldly and religious. In terms of the worldly, innovation can be good, ie faster computers, curing cancer, ecetra. However, in the religious, innovation is the first step towards the hellfire.

Some forms of bida may seem good and appear to enhance the religion. One prime example is that of Mawlid al-Nabi, or the Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) birthday. While this seems not to openly fly in the face of the teacjing of Islam, it does open the door to shirk. Celebrating the Prophet birthday can lead to what the Christians have done with Jesus. Bida can, in extreme, go against a teaching of faith. Looking at Christianity we see this very clearly. In Genesis 9:7, the Bible states "As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it." YET, Priests are not to be married and Nuns are to be chaste. This clearly demonstrates that some in the Christian church believe they can know better than God! Astrafigallah!!

If one can easily start to go into bida, then the road to the hellfire is short. The only way to guard against bida is to constantly research anything you may doubt or is new to you. Read the Qur'an and Hadith's, and if any doubt still lingers, go to a scholar and ask. It is best to know before commiting an act than to commit an act out of ignorance.

Please note this is the first in a series on Bida