Please explain the concept of bid'ah hasanah of Imaam Rabbaani Mujaddid Alf-e-Thaani (rahmatullah alayh) in the light of the Naqshbandiyyah Silsilah.

Answer

Mujaddid Alf-e-Thaani (rahmatullah alayh) was a Mujaddid and a great Wali of Allah Ta‟ala. Whether people understand his opposition to bid‟ah and his rejection of bid‟ah hasanah or not, they should simply accept that this illustrious Buzrug knew exactly what he said, and that his view is correct.

The ashghaal (spiritual practices) of the Auliya are not bid‟ah hasanah. Since the contemplative exercises of the Auliya of the Four Silsilah are not acts of the Deen, the classification of bid‟ah hasanah is not applicable. These exercises are in the category of remedies. These are spiritual remedies. They are not acts of ibaadat which are the Maqsood (Objective). They only facilitate achievement of the Maqsood which is the permanent remembrance of Allah Ta‟ala.

However, in our era the bogus khaanqas are conveying the idea of these ashghaal and innovated forms of athkaar being Sunnah acts. In view of this erroneous idea, these ashghaal and athkaar have now also become bid‟ah sayyiah (evil and sinful acts). Similarly, the act of bay‟t has been elevated to near-wujoob and is considered to be among the Maqaasid (incumbent objectives) in Tasawwuf, hence it too is bid‟ah.

The bid‟ah which the Mujaddid criticized are acts which are presented as deeds of ibaadat and of Sunnah proportions when in reality they are not deeds of ibaadat and Sunnah, e.g. moulood, urs, etc. Thus, there is no contradiction. Any new act given the form of ibaadat when in actual fact it is not ibaadat cannot be given validity by terming it bid‟ah hasanah, hence Hadhrat Mujaddid said that he „sees only darkness in bid‟ah‟. He did not regard any of the innovations to be bid‟ah hasanah.

A. If the brother is deserving, one may give one‟s Zakaat to him. It is not permissible for a person to give his Zakaat to his parents, children nor may a husband give his Zakaat to his wife and vice versa.