al-Tamassuk bil-Sunan wa al-Tahdhir min al-Bida
- Author died
- 748 AH
- Editions
- al-Jāmi'ah al-Islāmīyah bi-al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah
al-Tamassuk bil-Sunan wa al-Tahdhir min al-Bida (Holding Fast to the Sunnahs and Warning Against Innovations) is a treatise by the Damascene historian and hadith scholar Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi (673–748 AH / 1274–1348 CE) dedicated to expounding adherence to the prophetic Sunnah and refuting religious innovations .
Title and Attribution
The manuscript of the work does not bear a title on its cover, nor did al-Dhahabi state a title in his introduction . It was initially cataloged in the manuscript collection of the Islamic University of Madinah as Risalah fi al-Bid'ah (Treatise on Innovation), a description derived from its opening statement . However, classical biographers including Ibn Taghri Birdi, Sibt Ibn Hajar, and Ibn al-Imad al-Hanbali listed a work by al-Dhahabi entitled al-Tamassuk bi-l-Sunan . The editor of the treatise adopted this attested title, appending "wa al-Tahdhir min al-Bida" in parentheses to reflect its contents .
Its attribution to al-Dhahabi is confirmed by the copyist's note at the end of the manuscript affirming that it was transcribed directly from and collated against al-Dhahabi's autograph . The text also exhibits al-Dhahabi's characteristic stylistic practices, such as appending supplications for steadfastness when mentioning the Sunnah, seeking divine refuge from trials and theological innovations, and praying for individuals whose errors he discusses .
Contents and Themes
The treatise begins by stating that religious innovation (bid'ah) is blameworthy in general as an unauthorized form of legislation in religion, affirming that following what the Prophet brought is a guiding light and foundation, whereas deviating from it leads to ruin . Al-Dhahabi emphasizes the necessity of mastering the Sunnah and outlines the hierarchy of legal deduction: examining the Quran first, followed by the Sunnahs, and then the consensus (ijma') of the Muslim community .
The work explores the definitions of sunnah and bid'ah, explaining how disagreements arose among those who restricted innovation merely to what the Prophet, his Companions, and the Successors did not do or say . Al-Dhahabi presents the approach of the traditionists (ahl al-athar) in distinguishing between legal innovation (bid'ah shar'iyyah) and linguistic innovation (bid'ah lughawiyyah), citing the division of innovation articulated by al-Shafi'i . He refutes the opinion claiming that innovation applies solely to acts prohibited specifically by text, pointing out that such an interpretation nullifies the general warning in the prophetic hadith: كل بدعة ضلالة ("Every innovation is misguidance") .
Al-Dhahabi also traces the historical emergence of theological sects, identifying the earliest deviation as Kharijism, followed chronologically by Rafidism and defaming the Companions, the denial of divine decree (qadar), fatalism (jabr), Jahmism, and anthropomorphism (tashbih), concluding with the Khurramiyya and Qarmatians whose rejection of religious duties he classifies as apostasy . Additionally, the treatise addresses practical innovations, warning Muslims against participating in non-Muslim festivals, such as Christmas (al-Milad), Maundy Thursday (al-Khamis), and Nowruz (al-Nayruz), evaluating the legal status of individuals partaking in them based on their knowledge and intentions .
Publication
The work was edited by Muhammad Bakarim Muhammad Ba'abdullah and published in the academic journal of the Islamic University of Madinah (Majallat al-Jami'ah al-Islamiyyah bi-l-Madinah al-Munawwarah), issues 103–104 (1416 AH / 1995–1996 CE) .
Answer updated