Evidence of Bidah in Hadith

There are a number of evidences from the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which prove that not all Bidah are bad.

First Evidence

It is related in Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Hurayra that at the dawn prayer the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Bilal: ‘Tell me which of your acts in Islam you are most hopeful about, for I have heard your footsteps in Paradise?’ And Bilal replied: ‘I have done nothing I am more hopeful about than the fact that I do not perform wudu at any time without praying with that wudu whatever has been destined for me to pray.

Second Evidence

Bukhari and Muslim relate Rifa’a ibn Rafi said: ‘We were praying behind the Prophet (peace be upon him) and he raised from bowing and said :’Allah hears whoever praises Him’ a man behind him said ‘Our Lord, Yours is the praise, abundantly, wholesomely and blessedly therein’

When the man was about to leave, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked who said it, and when the man replied it was he, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘I saw thirty-odd angles each striving to be the one to write it.’

Third Evidence

Bukhari relates from Aisha that the Prophet (peace be upon him) dispatched a man at the head of a military expedition who recited the Quran for his companions and finished each recital with Surah al-Ikhlas. When they returned, they mentioned this to the Prophet (peace be upon him) who told them to ask him why he does this. When they asked him, his reply was ‘Because it describes the All –Merciful and I love to recite it.’ The prophet (peace be upon him) said to them ‘Tell him, Allah loves him.’

Fourth Evidence

Bukhari relates from Abu Sa’id al Khudri that a group of sahaba were on a journey when they asked some desert Arabs to be their host but they refused.

The leader of these Arabs was then stung by a scorpion and his followers tried everything to cure him but were unsuccessful. They then asked the group of sahaba who said they would help but would charge a fee as when they asked the desert Arabs to host them, they refused.

A herd of sheep was agreed upon as the fee and a sahabi began spitting and reciting the Fatiha over the victim until he got up and began to walk as if nothing had happened to him. Before dividing up the sheep amongst the sahaba, they decided to ask the Prophet (peace be upon him).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to them ‘How did you know it was of the words which heal? You were right. Divide up the heard and give me a share.’