IslamCrunch Lifestream

Today, a new Muslim wrote to me and asked me about whether a certain practice was innovation or sunnah. Up front, I informed him that I am not a scholar and not in a position to give him an answer. I offered my opinion and then shared with him some notes that I had taken from a class with Sidi Yahya Rhodus.

Here are the 5 levels of bidah (innovation) in 5 minutes or less:

necessary (wajib) acceptable (mandub) neutral (mubah) disliked (makruh) forbidden (haram)

Wajib: Understanding theology Mandub: building schools, writing books of knowledge Mubah: Wearing different styles of clothes, taking airplanes Makruh: Overly decorating mosques Haram: Changing integrals of prayer Before we decide to label an action or deed as an innovation, consider the 5 levels. innovation, bidah, bida, yahya rhodus, theology, clothes, mosques, prayer