Anything that was not part of the religion at the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cannot be considered to be part of the religion today, no matter how sacred it is considered in the minds of men.
"Verily, the best words are those of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta'ala); the best guidance is that of Muhammad (ﷺ); the worst matters [in creed or worships] are those innovated [by people], for EVERY such innovated matter is a bid'ah, and every bid'ah is a misguidance which shall reside in the Fire."
To many people, celebrating eids is a non-religious matter, and one has the choice to participate in celebrating any eid, for any nation or religion, as long as that does not involve engaging in Haraam (prohibited) actions. This view is the basis for what we witness repeatedly of Muslims engaging in various celebrations and in sharing in the holidays of other nations.
There is no doubt that this era is a time of confusion. There is tremendous amount of differences pertaining to beliefs, pertaining to ibaadat (rituals), pertaining to akhlaq (character).
By Allah's blessing and mercy, Islam is complete, perfect, and universal in nature. Anyone who tries to bring a bid'ah into the Deen has accused the Deen of being incomplete and has denied the truthfulness of Allah's statement:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينا ً
...This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion... (Surat Al-Ma`idah, verse 3)
It is narrated by Muslim that some mushrikoon (idol worshipers) tried to mock of Islam by saying, "It seems as if your prophet has taught you everything, even how to defecate!"
When Salmaan (Radhi Allahu anhu) heard this he responded with the strong dignity of a true believer: "Yes indeed! He (ﷺ) prohibited us from turning our faces or backs to the Qiblah when defecating or urinating, from using the right hand to cleanse ourselves, from using less than three stones to cleanse ourselves [in the absence of water], and from using animal waste or bones to cleanse with."
Allah's mercy has required that people be informed of all what would save them from the Fire and what would let them into the Gardens of the Hereafter. This was the mission of all prophets, as declared by Muhammad (ﷺ): There was never any prophet before me but that his duty was to reveal to his people what he knew to be best for them, and to warn them of what he knew to be evil for them. [Narrated by Muslim] And this was certainly the mission of the Final Messenger (ﷺ) as he said: Nothing of what would bring you closer to the Jannah and further away from the Fire but have been clarified [through me] to you. [Authentic; narrated by Amad].
With His encompassing Wisdom, Allah made His Final Revelation, Islam, a universal message meant for all peoples, at all times, without any distinction:
"We have not sent you [Muhammad (ﷺ)] otherwise than to mankind at large, to be a herald of glad tidings and a warner. "[Surat Saba (34) 28]
Furthermore, this most important Message is preserved intact through the centuries, as is clearly observed today by any impartial examiner. This is in fulfillment of Allah's promise: It is We Ourselves who have sent down the dhikr (the Message - Qur'an and Sunnah), and it is We who shall surely guard it [from corruption]. [Al-Hijr (14) 9]
We conclude then that:
1 - Islam contains the complete and perfect guidance for humanity.
2 - Islam did not neglect any information that would be needed by people to reach happiness and to avoid harm, in all matters, whether minute or large.
3 - Islam is the only guidance tailored for all peoples at all times.
4 - Islam has been preserved, and will remain intact through the ages, as the only true guidance capable of helping and saving people.
Completing That Which Had Been Completed?!
The completeness of Islam obviously means that it cannot be completed further. Whether people realize it or not, believing otherwise would imply one or more of the following dangerous conclusions:
1 - that Allah was not truthful in declaring this completeness (I seek refuge in Allah from such a blasphemous thought.)
2 - that Allah has forgotten or missed some details needed to complete the Deen (again, I seek refuge in Allah from such a blasphemous thought.)
3 - that Muhammad (ﷺ) has neglected or forgotten to convey to us some matters needed to complete the Deen (and again, I seek refuge in Allah from such a blasphemous thought.)
This shows why Islam warned so strongly against introducing bid'ahs into the Deen. We have cited in the Introduction above the Prophet's (S) words warning of bid'ahs.
Imaam Maalik said,
"Whoever innovates in Islam what he believes to be a good bid'ah would be [implicitly] claiming that Muhammad (ﷺ) has betrayed the trust (of delivering the full Message) He then recited the aayah from Surat al-Maaidah:
"This day I have perfected (completed) your religion for you, have completed my favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." [Surat Al-Maa idah (5) 3]
This present time, is a time wherein, innovations have spread so much that it is looked upon as being a Sunnah by the ignorant and majority of the common people.
When a knowledgeable person who follows the correct creed in this present time talks of anything being from the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, then he is looked upon as if he is the one introducing new matters in the religion.
He is rebuked by the followers of innovations for this and when he does not act upon these innovations, then he is considered as if he is abandoning a Sunnah.
Keep in mind that the religion of Al-Islam is that which Allah legislated. Allowing Bid'ah and innovative (false) principles, and neither forbidding them nor warning against them would result in the religion being altered.
Refuting the bid'ah and their people, the scholars do not divide the Ummah, but rather the scholars distinguish between the truth and falsehood, and the people of truth and the people of falsehood for the benefit of the Ummah.
Imaam Al-Awzaa'ee (rahimahullaah) said, "When innovations emerge and the People of Knowledge do not show rejection against them, they become the sunnah [in the mind of the ignorant]."
[Tahdheeb Sharaf Ashaabul-Hadeeth of al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee]
Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said, "In fact, the kufr of Jews and Christians is because of bid'ah. They introduced new things into the religion and those things took them completely away from the true message of Musa (Moses) and 'Eesa (Jesus) 'alaihumma salam."
It is obligatory upon us to follow the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Messenger – ﷺ to hold on firmly to the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ and to bite onto that with our molar teeth, just as the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ mentioned – when he gave an eloquent sermon whereby tears fell and the hearts trembled – the Companions requested him to give them some advice they said ; O Messenger of Allāh it is as if this is a farewell sermon, so advise us, he said: ‘I advise you to fear Allāh…….’ pay attention to this advice.
‘..to hear and obey, whoever lives from amongst you will see many differences so it is upon you to hold on to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Khulafah, bite on to it with your molar teeth, beware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is a Bid'ah and every Bid'ah is misguidance.’
The best of creation after the Prophets, are those with the most complete knowledge and religion, those who clung firmest to the rope of Allah and who followed the religion of Islam most closely were the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُوْلَائِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ
Verily, those who believe [in the Oneness of Allāh, and in His Messenger Muhammad (ﷺ)) including all obligations ordered by Islām] and do righteous good deeds, they are the best of creatures.
(Surat Al-Baiyinah 98:7)
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