In recent times a section of misled Muslims sought to destroy Islam by creating splits in the community. Their modus operandi was a very simple one but it was very efficient in causing havoc in the Islamic community by splitting it up. The Rabbiul Awwal looks into the ‘Bid’dath’ Fiasco.
With the name of Allah most Beneficient, ever Merciful
These people caused huge rifts in the Muslim community—rifts that cause neighboring Muslims to be estranged—mosques to be built next to each other, Eids to be celebrated on different days and so forth.
This group outwardly created the impression that they were pious by always praying, keeping long beards, dressing up religiously with a three quarter pants, wife in a hijab and then the venom – ‘Bid’dath’
This word ‘Bid’dath’ was used to criticise the way Muslims practiced the religion and in this way to deviously sow doubts in their minds about a whole range of age old practices such as sending blessings (‘Salami’) on our Holy Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam to a simple thing like putting flowers on a loved one’s grave.
‘Bid’dath’ means an innovation or adding something new to the religion. There are good ‘Bid’dath’ and bad (but they don’t tell you this because their object is to mislead and sow doubt.)
As an example, the Holy Quraan was not in a written form but only read orally in the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam. After careful consultation it was written down and made into a book only after the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam’s passing away. It’s regarded as a good innovation (‘Bid’dath’). The translation of the Holy Quraan into other languages by reputable organizations can also be regarded as a good ‘Bid’dath’.
The hypocrisy of the ‘Bid’dath’ story is that there are so many innovations (‘Bid’dat’) that have come about in very recent times and no one is making a “hoo ha” about these additions to the religion because it’s about MAKING MONEY through it.
Take the halaal certification issue as an example.
This concept was never heard of in Islam fifty years ago and it is most definitely a ‘Bid’dath’. When an organization charges a fee to certify a product ‘halaal’, then this can easily lead to unscrupulous individuals or organisations manipulating the situation to make a quick buck.
In other words the halaal certificate can be reduced to a commodity that can be purchased. In fact, it already is because when people talk about halaal they refer to it as “The Halaal Certification Industry.”
At present there is much to show that all is not well in this department. The mere fact that one halaal organization cannot respect the certification of another halaal organisation shows that something is majorly wrong.
(Example: December 2025, Clover South Africa did not get a Halaal certificate from the local Organizations and decided to then get one from India. Maybe it was cheaper. Anyway the local Halaal groups are up in arms)
Then, when one notices a take away owned by a drunk non-Muslim certified halaal or a take away in a casino certified halaal then one begins to wonder…
If The Halaal Certification Industry is to get back any of its credibility then perhaps it needs to issue certificates without charging a fee (or even accepting a donation from the business they certify as halaal). No business then would be able to buy or bribe a halaal certificate but businesses would have to earn it by meeting the strict standards of halaal.
A few years ago a retired Pakistani judge started the concept of Islamic banking and suddenly banks that have been built on interest for years are following suit by adorning pictures of archways and domes advertising “sharia compliant banking”.
Some even go to claim that banking started from Islam yet when you read the Qur’aan and the hadith they talk against hoarding. The Prophet (SAW) never saved or invested.
It gets worse. Everyone seems to be coming up with new ideas along the ‘halaal lines. Halaal investments, halaal insurance etc. Of course these banks and companies have some ‘moulana’ on their payroll to back up their claims of halaal.
Then, there is the concept of the ‘mail order qurbanie’ which has come about in the last few years. They advertise by saying that the meat would go to the poor and they advertise it at a fraction of the normal price.
Recently the Muslim community suddenly developed old age homes which never existed in our community before. Islam teaches us to revere our parents and to take care of them kindly and lovingly. It teaches us that old age comes with senility and we must tolerate this without saying a word.
If you are involved in an Islamic organisation then you would definitely come across the saying that “You have to treat the organisation like a business in order to make a success of it.” The Prophet (SAW) did not treat the affairs of the Ummah as a business.
He did not build shops and offices next to ‘Musjid Al Nabawi” and rent them out for the benefit of the Ummah. He did not have fairs and dinners to raise funds. The Sahaba Ikraam (RA) did not gain income from adverts to print the Quraan and the hadith kitabs. Etc. They did not get paid to be the imaam or do Islamic work.
Even under South African law a non-profit organisation is defined differently than a business and it can only derive a certain percentage of its income from business practices.
If we are not cautious then our Islamic organisations can become businesses and they could make business their focus instead of religion. Perhaps this is already the case as property that was obtained for religious activity is now being used for business.
Islam is a dynamic religion and from its history one would notice that changes have come about. These changes were for the betterment of the religion and not for financial or personal gain.
It is hypocritical that the these people should encourage their followers to argue those changes that have no financial gain or worldly benefits and not argue those changes that have financial gain.
What we eat and how we do business is just as important in Islam when compared to how we pray. Halaal certificates, Islamic banking, Halaal insurance, mail-order qurbanie, adverts, fairs, Islamic magazines and fund raising dinners are biddat (innovations) and they are about name and money.
No one says it is ‘Bid’dat’ or questions the merits and demerits of such innovations.
Perhaps we Muslims that are living in western countries need halaal certification, perhaps we need Islamic financial institutions to cater for our financial transactions, perhaps we need to use innovative ways to raise funds for our Islamic organisations but the way in which we need to do them has to be given greater thought and we must not make bone out of some innovations and fish out of others.
In implementing these changes we must not lose sight of our Islamic identity. All innovations must be based upon Islamic principals catering for the well being of the community and our religion and not based upon financial reasons.
Here is a warning from Allah and His Messenger (SAW) to those people that make our religion into a business:
“But say not for any false thing that your tongue may put forth, “This is lawful, and this is forbidden.” So as to ascribe false things to Allah. For those who ascribe false things to Allah, will never prosper. In such falsehood is but a paltry profit: but they will have a most grievous chastisement.”
If there is anything to learn from all of this, it is this: let’s not criticise other Muslims to cause splits but instead let’s focus on our similarities. We pray the same way, we read the same Holy Quraan, we do the same hajj.
More importantly we need to be constantly looking at ourselves to find our faults and try to put them right. Allah SWT is not going to question us about why we did not correct others but we’re going to be questioned for our actions.
May Allah SWT guide us all. Ameen.
Peace and Salutations be upon Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi in 2010 edited in 2025 – Author: Mohammed Hassan Gaffoor (WhatsApp +27849101486)