Definition of Bid'ah and it Categories

Bid’ah- is every belief, saying or action which came about after the death of the Prophet (sallaahu alaihe wa sallam) with the intention of worship and seeking nearness (to Allaah) without any evidence for it from the Book (Qur’aan) or from the Sunnah.

There are five categories of bid’ah. All of them are misguidance and some of them are more evil than others.

Bid’ah I’tiqaadeeyah

It is every belief opposing the Book and Sunnah.

Bid’ah Lafdheeyah

It is every saying which a person utters [intended] as worship and it is in opposition to the Book and the Sunnah.

Bid’ah Badaneeyah

It is every movement, which originates from a person [intended] as worship, in opposition to the Book and the Sunnah.

Bid’ah Maaleeyah

It is every item of wealth, which is spent as worship on things which are in opposition to the Book and the Sunnah.

Bid’ah Tarkeeyah

It is everything that is abandoned from the Deen or permissible and lawful, intended as worship, such as the one who leaves marriage or leaves eating meat intending worship, piety and self-denial.

 

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-This was taken from the book " Beneficial Speech in Establishing the Evidences of Tawheed" By Shaykh Muhammad Bin Abdil- Wahhaab Al- Wasaabee

Foreword by the Noble Scholar, Al-Allaamah, Ash-Shaykh Muqbil Bin Haadee Al- Waadi'ee (Died 1422 AH May Allaah's mercy be upon him, ameen)