Ittiba la Ibtida - Qawaid wa Usus fi al-Sunnah wa al-Bidah
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- Ittiba la Ibtida - Qawaid wa Usus fi al-Sunnah wa al-Bidah
Ittiba‘ la Ibtida‘: Qawa‘id wa-Usus fi al-Sunnah wa-l-Bid‘ah (Adherence, Not Innovation: Rules and Foundations Concerning the Sunnah and Innovation) is a treatise by the Palestinian scholar Husam al-Din Afana on the legal definition, foundational principles, and contemporary manifestations of religious innovation (bid‘ah) in Islamic law.
Background and Purpose
Afana composed the work after observing numerous customary and ritual practices widely observed among the populace in Palestine—particularly inside mosques—that lacked textual basis. He noted that the silence of many scholars and students of Islamic law regarding these practices had led the public to regard them as established religion. The author aimed to compile these widespread practices, demonstrate why they constitute unlawful innovations contrary to the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah, and outline the fundamental principles governing adherence (ittiba‘) in worship.
The author concluded the first edition on Thursday morning, 1 Safar 1422 AH (26 April 2001 CE) in Abu Dis, Jerusalem. A second, corrected edition was completed on Tuesday, 21 Sha‘ban 1425 AH (5 October 2004 CE), formatted and typeset by Hudhayfah ibn Husam al-Din Afana and printed at the expense of an anonymous donor.
Structure and Contents
The book is structured into two main chapters (faslan), followed by scholarly indexes:
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Chapter One: Foundations and Rules Concerning the Sunnah and Innovation (Qawa‘id wa-Usus fi al-Sunnah wa-l-Bid‘ah): This section opens with textual evidence from the Quran, hadiths, and statements of the early generations (al-salaf) commanding adherence to the Sunnah and warning against innovation. It examines the linguistic and technical definitions of bid‘ah, discusses scholarly disagreements over its scope, and presents the author's preferred definition. Afana establishes legal maxims, including the rule that the default presumption in acts of worship is adherence to precedent (al-asl fi al-‘ibadah al-ittiba‘) and that general textual evidence cannot be used to legitimize specific ritual forms without particularized textual proof. It also covers classifications of Sunnah and innovation, the legal rulings governing innovators, and the causes behind the emergence and spread of innovations.
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Chapter Two: Widespread Innovations (al-Bida‘ al-Muntashirah): This section addresses prevalent innovations in ritual and seasonal practices. Topics examined include:
- Additions to the call to prayer (adhan), such as vocalized invocations before the dawn prayer, audible blessings upon the Prophet following the call, and reciting Surat al-Ikhlas three times prior to the iqamah.
- Innovations in intention (niyyah), such as uttering the intention aloud before prayer.
- Practices connected to prayer, supplications, Friday gatherings, and the two Eid prayers.
- Funeral and grave rites, including placing palm fronds and flowers on graves, scheduling grave visits specifically for Eid days, and reciting the Quran over graves.
- Local and regional festivals, including the pilgrimage festival to the shrine of the Prophet Moses (Mawsim al-Nabi Musa), examining traditions regarding his burial site and travel to shrines.
- Practices at al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, including designating al-Aqsa as a sanctuary (haram), Sufi gatherings and musical performance troupes inside the mosque, circumambulating the Dome of the Rock, wiping or kissing the sacred rock, and popular myths attached to it.
- Seasonal celebrations, such as the Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid), Christmas, the night of al-Isra' wa-l-Mi‘raj, and Islamic New Year celebrations.
- Innovations associated with Quran recitation, specifically regarding Surat al-Fatihah.
The volume concludes with bibliographic references and indexes of Quranic verses, prophetic traditions, ancestral narrations (athar), and contents.
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