Nur al-Sunna wa Zulumat al-Bida fi Daw al-Kitab wa al-Sunna
- Author died
- 1440 AH
- Editions
- Maṭba'at Safīr
Nur al-Sunna wa Zulumat al-Bida fi Daw al-Kitab wa al-Sunna (The Light of the Sunnah and the Darkness of Innovation in the Light of the Quran and the Sunnah) is a concise theological treatise by Saeed bin Wahf al-Qahtani detailing the nature and virtues of adherence to the prophetic tradition alongside the definition, categories, and perils of religious innovation.
Composition and Publication
Al-Qahtani completed the drafting of the treatise on the night of Wednesday, 17 Shawwal 1419 AH. Its first edition appeared in 1420 AH (1999/2000 CE), printed by Matba'at Safir in Riyadh and distributed by Mu'assasat al-Juraysi. The treatise forms part of the author's collected booklets (Rasa'il Saeed bin Ali bin Wahf al-Qahtani) and was also incorporated as the eleventh treatise in his larger compilation, Aqidat al-Muslim fi Daw' al-Kitab wa al-Sunna.
Structure and Contents
The author divided the work into two core chapters (mabhath), each arranged into topical subsections (matalib):
- The Light of the Sunnah (Nur al-Sunna): Divided into five subsections addressing the conceptual definition of the Sunnah—beginning with the linguistic and technical meanings of aqidah and Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah—the names and titles given to the adherents of the Sunnah, the characterization of the Sunnah as an absolute divine blessing, its theological rank, and the contrasting spiritual conditions and characteristics of the follower of the Sunnah versus the practitioner of innovation.
- The Darkness of Innovation (Zulumat al-Bida): Divided into ten subsections discussing the definition of religious innovation (bid'ah), the conditions required for religious deeds to be accepted, scriptural dispraise of introducing innovations into the faith, the primary causes behind innovations, the divisions and categories of innovations, their legal rulings, innovations associated with graves, widespread contemporary innovations, the ruling on the repentance of an innovator, and the harmful spiritual and societal consequences of innovations.
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