Evolving Innovations and Rituals Deserve to be Rejected

Hadrat ‘Amr Bin al-‘Aufra has narrated that the Holy Prophetsa said, ‘The person who revives any one of my sunnah so that others start practicing it, he will reap the reward equal to all those persons’ rewards who act upon that sunnah, and their reward shall remain with them as well. The person who introduces an innovation and others adopt it, he shall share in the sins of all those who act on it, and their sins will remain with them as well.’ (Sunano Ibn-e-Majah, Kitabul-Muqaddimah, Babu man Ahya Sunnatan qad umitat)

In short, the Holy Prophetsa told us in the above-quoted ahadith that those innovations that have nothing to do with faith, which take one away from faith, which disrespect the commandments of Allah and His Apostle, are all worthy of rejection. They are all useless and ought to be shunned. Stay away from them because they will gradually corrupt faith.

You can see that innovations have taken a firm foothold in other religions and have corrupted them. This, indeed, was bound to happen because it was destined that Islam should remain the only living faith. But if you make a close examination you will find that other religions such as Christianity— despite being one religion—have made many local customs in different countries as a part of faith in that country. We observe the same phenomenon in Africa. When the path of innovations is opened, new innovations continue to creep up.

The Holy Prophetsa has expressed grave concern and has given severe warnings to those who create innovations in

matters of religion. He was very concerned about it. A hadith relates that he said, ‘I am terrified at the thought of you falling prey to these innovations and lustful inclinations. I am afraid that this may cause great harm to the religion and may lead you astray!’

These days, you are living in Western societies that have many customs and rituals of their own which can create distance between you and your religion and that can diminish the beauty of Islamic teachings for you. The lustre of worldliness is far more attractive; therefore, there is need for great caution at every step. Instead of adopting their wrong customs, we must present the beautiful teachings of Islam. Each Ahmadi should possess such a strong character that Western culture should have no effect on him/her whatsoever. For instance, women are enjoined to observe purdah [the veil] according to Islamic teachings. It is in the interest of a woman’s integrity that she attains a prominent status in society due to the fact that she observes Islamic purdah. When a woman observes purdah willingly and she herself tells others the benefits of this Islamic injunction, it will have a far greater impact on others as compared to men who propagate the advantage of purdah in this society. Those women who observe purdah acquire many more chances to perform tabligh due to their unique prominence in society. This matter requires great attention.

There exist many other social evils in Western society. To adopt them merely because we live in this society and we feel compelled to do so is, indeed, a worrisome situation. For instance, it is wrong on your part to befriend someone who consumes alcohol and to accompany him to a restaurant or a

bar thinking that: ‘he would drink alcohol but I will drink coffee or some other beverage.’ Great caution is required. One day, you may be influenced by him to try just one sip and then God forbid, it becomes your habit to drink. Keep the following hadith of the Holy Prophetsa in mind:

Hadrat Abu Barzahra relates that the Holy Prophetsa said, ‘I fear that you may be tempted by the lusts of the flesh and sexual cravings, and I am afraid of the evil consequences of sensual temptations.’ (Musnadu Ahmadabni Hanbal, vol. 4. p. 423, printed in Beirut)

The Promised Messiahas says:

Until a man truly endeavours and works hard, he cannot attain the treasure of divine understanding which Islam contains and which brings a death upon the life tainted by sin. Allah the

Almighty says very clearly:66

It is easy for someone to boast that he believes in God, and despite this claim, to lack altogether the impact caused by real belief. Such a claim would be utter nonsense. Such people have no regard for God, and God cares for them not. (AlHakam, vol. 9, No. 29, August 17, 1905, p. 6)

66.But as for him who fears to stand before his Lord, and restrains his soul from evil desires, the Garden shall surely be his home. (al-Nazi‘at, 79:41–42)