3. Another aspect of speaking about Alla ah without knowledge (cont.)

However, we must know that, even worse for the practitioner of Bid'ah, is what the Messenger of Allaah ~ said: ~l, / .:i; : / ~l, ~ ~ / I~~ /d: 01 :&\ /1 . y. ~ ~ " . . / r...r- ~ d. , \,__. , , ''Al/aah refuses to accept the deeds of the practitioner of Bid'ah (innovations in the deen) until he leaves his innovation (Bid'ah).'1671 Bid'ah is one of the most dangerous sins that send whoever (65] Ahmad. The concluding part of the hadith as underlined above is found in the hadith of Khutbah AI-Haajah with which the Prophet ~ usually starts his talk as contained in Sunan An-Nasaa'ee and sahih Jbn AI-Khuzaymah. It was graded sahih by AI-Albaanee. (66] At-Tabaraanee and it is authentic. (67] lbn Majah & lbn Abi 'Aatim. The hadith was graded Munkar by AIAlbaanee in Silsi/ah Al-ahaadeeth Ad-Da'eefah, vol. 3. Guarding the Tongue practices it into the fire (of Hell). Such action from a Muslim is most loved by Shaytaan. This is because the Muslim involved in Bid'ah feels that he is doing something good, but, in effect, it causes Allaah's wrath to descend upon him. A few examples of Innovation (Bid'ah) of the tongue are as follows: a) Bid'ah in Belief The statement that Allaah M is everywhere, as was discussed before. (And similar statements like the saying that the Qur'aan is created, etc.) b) Bid'ah in Dhikr (Remembrance of Allaah) Doing Dhikr in congregation behind one person, which is a common practise of the Sufis. The following narration beautifully clarifies the evil of such a practice. Amr bin Salmah reported: We used to sit at the door of 'Abdullaah bin Mas'oud * before the morning prayer, so that when he came out, we would walk with him to the mosque. One day Abu Moosa a AIAsh'aree * came to us and said: "Has Abu 'Abdur Rahmaan (lbn Mas'oud * ) come out yet?" We replied : "No!" So he sat down with us until he came out. When he came out we all stood along with him, so Abu Moosaa * said to him: "O Aba 'Abdir Rahmaan *' I have just seen something in the mosque which I deemed to be evil, but all Praise is for Allaah, I did not see anything except good." He (lbn Mas'oud * ) inquired: "Then what is it?" (Abu Moosaa * ) replied: "If you live you will see it. I saw in the mosque people sitting in circles awaiting the prayer. In each circle they had pebbles in their hands and a man would say: repeat Allaahu Akbar a hundred times. Then so they Golden Advice Series 04 would repeat it a hundred. Then he would say: Say Laa ii/aha i/la/laah a hundred times. So they would say it a hundred times. Then he would say: Say Subhaanallaah a hundred times. So they would say it a hundred times. (lbn Mas'oud ~ ) asked: "What did you say to to them?" (Abu Moosaa ~ ) said: "I did not say anything to them. Instead I waited to hear your view or what you declared." (lbn Mas'oud ~ ) replied: "Would that you had ordered them to count up the evil deeds they acquired and assured them that their good deeds would not be lost!" Then we went along with him (lbn Mas'oud ~ ) until he came to one of these circles and stood and said: "What is this that I see you doing?" Th2y replied: "O Aba 'Abdur Rahmaan ~ ! These are pebbles upon which we are counting, Takbeer, Tah/ee/ and Tasbeeh." He (lbn Mas'oud ~ ) said: "Count up your evil deeds! I assure you that none of your good deeds will be lost. Woe to you, 0 Ummah of Muhammad ~ ! How quickly you go to destruction! These are the companions of the Prophet ~ who are widespread. These are his clothes that have not yet decayed and his bowl which is unbroken. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! Either you are upon a religion better guided than the religion of Muhammad ~ or you are opening the door of misguidance." They said: "O Aba 'Abdir Rahmman! By Allaah, we only intended good." He (lbn Mas'oud ~ ) said: "How many are there who intend good but do not achieve it. Indeed Allaah's Messenger ~ said to us: "A people will recite the Qur'aan but it will not pass beyond their throats." Then he left them." 'Umar bin Salamah (the sub-narrator) said: "We saw most of these people fighting against us on the day of Nahrawaan, Guarding the Tongue along with the Khawaarij."[681 It should be observed from the above incident involving lbn Mas'oud ~ and the people who were making their congregational (Soofie like) Dhikr, that they were: i) in the right place (i.e. the Masjid), ii) saying the right and prescribed Dhikr -Tasbeeh, Takbeer, etc. iii) doing it at the right time, that is before, or according to some narrations, after the Salaah.