2. Seeking blessings at specific monuments and graves of dead persons

3. Bid'ahs related to religious ordainances and rituals Bid'ahs have spread nowadays due to the lack of religious knowledge, proliferation of heretics and innovators, as well as imitation of the disbelievers. The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: "You will surelyfollow the ways ofthose nations who were before you." 1. Commemorating the Prophet's Birthday During the Month of Rabt' ul-Awwal It is a means ofimitating the practices of the Christians who usually celebrate Jesus' birthday. Every year during the month ofRabrul-Awwal, the ignorant and deviating scholars among the Muslims celebrate the Prophet's birthday.

Some organize celebrations and festivals in the mosques while others celebrate it at homes where a large assembly oflay people gather, thus, imitating the festivals of the Christians in celebrating Christmas. In such celebrations, in addition to the perpetration of innovated matters, some acts of polytheism and disbelief may be introduced and practised. People may, thus, chant poems which excessively hymn the praise of the Prophet or extravagantly express seeking refuge with him instead of Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised 'lsa Ibn Maryam (Jesus, son ofMary), for I am only a servant (of Allah). So, call me the servant ofAllah and His Messenger." Those people, sometimes, assume the Prophet's presence at their festivals.

Among the abominable practices, which accompany these festivals, are the chanted and musically chorused hymns and other Sufi bid'ahs. Men may also mingle with women, which may lead to the spread and perpetration of disgraceful acts. Even if their celebrations were free of all such excessive and obscene deeds; that is, they only include meals and showing joy, as those people claim, it would still be held an innovated bid 'ah and the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Every innovation (in religion) is bid'ah and every bid'ah is an error." Moreover, such practices may turn to other practices in which denounced matters may be committed. Certainly, such celebrations are but heresies and bid 'ahs which have no origin in the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) or the practices of our righteous Muslim Sala! They were introduced during the fourth Islamic century by the Fatimids 7 who belonged to the Shiites.

ImAm Abu Haf~ Tljud-Din Al-Fllihhti (may Allah have mercy on him) said: '1\s for the frequently raised question of a righteous group of people about the legal ruling of assemblies held by some people during the month of Rabi'ul-Awwal and usually called AI-Mawlid (Birthday), they questioned me whether it has a basis in our religion or not. They further requested me to provide a clear and efficient answer to it. I may, thus, say that such a celebration has no basis either in the Quran or the Sunnah. No one of the scholars of the Muslim nation, who are our living example, is reported to have commemorated it. It is only a bid' ah innovated by wrongdoers and a means offulfilling the covetous desires of the gluttonous impostors." Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Similarly, the practices people carry out by either imitating the Christians or excessively adorning the figure ofProphet Munammad (PBUH) by celebrating his birthday, are all acts not offered by our righteous Muslim Sala!

Had it been an absolutely good deed, our righteous Muslim Salaf would have celebrated it. In comparison to us, they endeared the Prophet greater than anyone else. They, moreover, were concerned with doing good deeds. Love for the Prophet (PBUH) and exalting him lie in following in his steps, obeying his commands, reviving his practices and spreading his message either by heart, strength or word. This is the practice of the early Muhajirun (Emigrants) and AI-An~ar (the Supporters) and those who followed them." A number of old and new treatises have been written by Ibn Taymiyah on denouncing the bid' ahs of celebrating the Prophet's birthday.

In addition to being a bid'ah, celebrating the Prophet's birthday may be taken as a pretext for celebrating the birthdays of saints, scholars and prominent figures. It, thus, may open ways leading to evil. 2. Seeking Blessings from Specific Monuments, Places and Persons: Continuity and increase ofwell-being and prosperity are only to be sought from the One who is able to grant such blessings. Allah, Exalted be He, is the One Who can bestow all blessings. Contrarily, creatures can never confer blessings.

Therefore, seeking blessings from monuments, relics or persons, living or dead, is not permissible. Soliciting blessings from such objects and persons is an act of polytheism in case a solicitor claims that such blessings are conferred by such persons or objects. It will lead to polytheism if a man assumes that touching such places or those persons may be an influential reason for conferring the . blessings of Allah. As for the Companions' seeking of blessings through the Prophet's hair and saliva, it is one of the specific features for the Prophet (PBUH); such a practice was only practiced during his lifetime. Therefore, the Companions did not seek blessings through touching or approaching his tomb after his death.

They never intended to offer prayers at the places he used to offer prayer or sit. They also never sought blessings from righteous persons such as Abu Bakr, 'Umar and others, either during their lifetime or after their death. They never went to the Cave of Hira' to offer prayers or supplicate Allah there. Also they did not intend to travel to Al-Tur (Mount Sinai) where Allah spoke to Musa (Moses, PBUH) or offer prayer there. Similarly, the Companions did not approach any mount or place deemed to be a memorial of a prophet to seek blessings.

Likewise, our righteous Muslim Salaf (early Muslim scholars) did not approach the places where the Prophet (PBUH) used to offer prayers in order to seek his blessings. Any place where the Prophet (PBUH) stepped was never kissed or approached for blessings. Therefore, another place touched or dwelled by others can never be taken as a source of blessings. Such practices are not held legal or permissible in the Sharl'ah (Islamic Law). 3. Bid' ahs in Religious Ordinances and Rituals Bid 'ahs innovated in religious ordainances and rituals are numerous nowadays.

The main principle governing religious ordinances is that they are received intact from Allah and His Messenger. Rituals should never be decreased or increased except according to substantiating proofs. Any act, which lacks substantiating proof: is a bid'ah. The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: "He who does any act which does not conform to the principles ofour religion, that act is to be rejected." Rituals which are frequently offered nowadays and lack substantiating proofs, are numerous. They include the following: • To publicly utter the intention in offering prayer, such as commencing one's prayer by saying, "I have intended to pray such and such a prayer:' This is held as a bid' ah 8, since it is not stated in the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH).

Almighty Allah says: "Say, 'Would you acquaint Allah with your religion while Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allah is Knowing ofall things?' " (Quran: Al-Hujurat: 16) That is, intention lies in one's heart; hence, it is amongst the deeds of the heart not the verbal ones. • Congregational hymns which are always offered upon the conclusion of daily obligatory prayers. According to the legislated ordinances, every person should offer such remembrance separately. • Reciting AI-Fatib.ah (the Opening surah of the Quran) on special occasions or when asking forgiveness for the dead. • Holding funeral ceremonies where meals are served and reciters of the Quran are hired. Those people claim that such practices are held as a kind of consolation for the people of the deceased person and that they avail him. All such practices are of no avail and are all regarded as bid' ahs. • Celebrating specific religious occasions such as AI-Isra' and AI-Mi'raj (the Prophet's Night Journey and Ascension), his Hijrah (Emigration) to Medina and other occasions which have no basis in the religion. • Special practices offered during the month ofRajab such as offering 'Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage), observing voluntary fast and performing additional prayers. The month of Rajab has no advantage over the other months with regard to offering special prayers, fasting or sacrifices. • Sufi hymns and chants are all bid' ahs since they contradict the exemplary words of remembrance in form and time and in how they are offered. • Offering special prayers during the eve of the fifteenth of Sha'ban or observing fasting on that day.

The Prophet (PBUH) was not reported to have done so. • Constructing buildings over graves, taking them as mosques, visiting them seeking blessings, etc. Additionally, women's regular visits to such places are prohibited since the Prophet (PBUH) cursed the women who recurrently visit graves and those who take tombs as mosques and decorate them with lights. To conclude, bid' ahs are preludes to disbelief. They are usually additions to the religious ordainances enacted by Allah and His Messenger (PBUH). Bid' ahs are graver than sins.

Satan is more pleased with them than he is with a grave sin. A perpetrator of a sin may repent of his sins while being fully convinced that it is an abomiI).able act. On the other hand, an innovator offers a bid'ah while being convinced that it is a good deed and a ritual act through which he can draw near to Allah, so he does not repent of it. Moreover, bid'ahs may also overwhelm the exemplary practices enacted by the Prophet (PBUH). Moreover, bid' ahs cause those believing in them to be bored with following the practices of the Prophet and to hate the Adherents of the Sunnah.

Furthermore, bid'ahs may entail the wrath of Allah and His chastisement. In addition, they cause the deviation and corruption of hearts. Chapter Seven How to Treat a Heretic It is prohibited to visit a heretic or sit with him except for admonishing him and renouncing his acts. Mingling with an innovator or a heretic may lead to corruption and spread of enmity. Muslims should also warn against their evil if they are not able to deter them from practicing such bid' ahs.

Also, Muslim scholars and those in authority should prevent and deter them from practicing bid'ahs, since their consequence is grave. Non-Muslim countries encourage bid'ahs to proliferate and give them full support in order to spoil Islam and misrepresent its image. We ask Allah to support His Religion, raise His Word and make His enemies low, and all bleSSings be upon our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his family and his Companions. Endnotes 1 The Tarawlh Prayer: Supererogatory prayers performed after the 'Isha' (Night) Prayer during the month of Ramadc\n 2 AI-Qadariyah: A sect that denies the Divine Decree and Predestination and claims that Allah has no foreknowledge of the events and actions of His creatures. It also maintains that man creates his actions and thus such actions are not produced by Allah.

Above all, this sect negates Allah's Sublime Attributes. 3 The NQ5.ibah: it is a straying sect that denies the Caliphate of ' Ali Ibn AM TIllib. Moreover, its followers excessively criticize 'Ali for his decision to fight Mu' c\wiyah and his followers inSiffin 4 It is a part of a Prophetic l!adtth related by AM. Dc\wt1d and Al-Tirmidhi. Al-Tirmidhi judged it as a l!asan (good) and §.al!tl! (authentic) l!adlth. 5 Abu 'Abdur-Rahman means that there are only two choices and since their religion could not be better than that of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), so they must be on a way that leads to going astray. 6 Ihram: A state of ritual consecration during Hajj or ' Umrah 7 A Muslim dynasty that ruled North Africa and parts of Egypt (909-1171). 8 This is a controversial issue and the author here is in line with the Hanbali School of Fiqh.