Bidah Meaning–Understanding Innovation in Islam

Table of Contents

  1. What is the Meaning of Bidah?
  2. Bidah in Simple Words
  3. Examples of Bidah in Islam
  4. Is Praying More Than 8 Rak'ahs in Taraweeh Bidah?
  5. FAQ


What is the meaning of Bidah?
 

The word bidah comes from Arabic. In simple terms, it means to start something new that did not exist before.

For example, in the Quran, Allah calls Himself "The Originator" of the heavens and the earth, meaning He created them without any previous example.

Bidah Meaning in Religion

In Islam, bidah means adding a new practice to the religion that was not taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is when someone makes up a way to worship Allah that was not shown to us.

The Prophet taught us how to pray, fast, give charity, and remember Allah. We are supposed to follow his way, which is called the Sunnah. If someone creates a new form of worship that was not done by the Prophet, that is bidah.
 

Bidah in Simple Words

If someone does not know Arabic or English, they can understand bidah like this:

  • Bidah is making up a new religious practice.
  • The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) showed us the correct way to worship Allah.
  • We should follow only what he taught.
  • Any new act of worship that was not done by him is bidah.

Examples of Bidah in Islam

Here are some simple examples to help understand bidah:

1. Making up new ways to remember Allah (Dhikr)

The Prophet taught us many beautiful ways to remember Allah, such as saying "SubhanAllah" (Glory be to Allah), "Alhamdulillah" (All praise be to Allah), and "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest).

Some people create new ways that were never taught. For example:

  • Saying only the word "Allah… Allah… Allah" over and over in a group in a specific way.
  • Saying only the word "Hu… Hu… Hu" (meaning "He… He… He").

Since there is no evidence that the Prophet or his companions did this, it is considered bidah.

2. Adding to the prayer

If someone adds an extra movement, a new supplication, or changes the prayer in a way that was not taught, that would be bidah.

Is praying more than 8 Rak'ahs in Taraweeh Bidah?

Many people ask about this. Here is the simple answer:

  • The Prophet (peace be upon him) usually prayed 11 rak'ahs at night during Ramadan. This means 8 rak'ahs of Taraweeh and 3 rak'ahs of Witr.
  • Sometimes he prayed 13 rak'ahs.
  • The Prophet said: "Night prayer is two by two." He did not say it must be only 8 or 11.

This means praying more than 8 rak'ahs is not bidah. The Prophet himself did not fix a specific number. He permitted to pray in sets of two. It is allowed to pray more, but following what the Prophet did most often (11 or 13 rak'ahs) is the best way.

FAQ

What is bidah meaning in simple words?

Bidah means adding a new practice to the religion of Islam that was not taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and thinking it is part of worship.

What are examples of bidah in Islam?

Examples of bidah include:

  • Inventing new forms of dhikr that the Prophet never did, such as repeating a single word like "Allah" in a group.
  • Adding new actions or words to the prayer.
  • Celebrating religious events with rituals that were not prescribed by the Prophet.

Is every new thing in life bidah?

No. New things in daily life, like using a car, a mobile phone, or a computer, are not bidah. Bidah only applies to acts of worship. If someone invents a new way to worship Allah that was not taught by the Prophet, that is bidah.

What is the difference between Sunnah and bidah?

Sunnah is the way of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) — what he said, did, and approved. Bidah is a newly invented act of worship that has no basis in the Sunnah.

And Allah knows best.