BID'AH (RELIGIOUS INNOVATION) AND IBTIKAR (CREATIVE INNOVATION)

[Taqavi]

What is the difference between Bid‘ah (religious innovation) and Ibtikār (creative innovation) in a society?

 

The fundamental difference between bid‘ah and Ibtikār (creative innovation) in religion lies in their roots and methodology. A correct understanding of these two concepts prevents intellectual stagnation and religious deviation.

Bid‘ah (Religious Innovation):

Linguistically, bid‘ah means creation or initiation.[1] In religious terminology, it refers to introducing something into religion that has no basis in the Qur’an or Sunnah. As ‘Allāmah Majlisī defines it, bid‘ah is the insertion of a practice or belief into religion that did not exist during the time of the Prophet (SAW). [2] This includes adding rituals or customs based on personal preference that were not part of the Prophet’s tradition. Bid‘ah may also involve altering religious rulings, such as turning a recommended (mustahabb) act into an obligatory (wājib) one. [3] In all cases, bid‘ah is unequivocally prohibited in Islam. [4]

Characteristics of bid‘ah include: 

1. Tampering with religion by adding or removing elements.

2. Having no roots in religious sources.

3. Being promoted and propagated as a religious or legal matter within society. [5]

Ibtikār (Creative Innovation):

Innovation or novelty refers to something or someone that differs from existing and familiar entities. For example, modern poetry differs from traditional forms. Innovation is the creation of something that contrasts with habitual mental constructs—in other words, it is a departure from routine. [6] In Persian, innovation means initiation, creativity, and doing something new. [7] In this sense, it resembles the word bid‘ah. In Arabic, the term "al-Ibtikār" also means doing something for the first time, [8] implying freshness and originality. However, in religious terminology, Ibtikār (Creative Innovation) is fundamentally different from bid‘ah.

Ibtikār (Creative Innovation) in religion refers to developing new methods for preaching, teaching, or understanding religious texts—not adding anything to the core of religion. In this view, religious principles and texts are fixed and immutable, but the methods of understanding and interpreting them can evolve based on the needs of time and society.

Given that Islamic sources like the Qur’an are meant for research, discovery, and deduction—and as Imam al-Sādiq (AS) stated, divine speech is not confined to a specific time or people—one can, with deep and broad insight, innovate within religion based on its principles. [9]

The desirable form of Ibtikār (Creative Innovation) in religion, emphasized by scholars and religious authorities, is ijtihād and scholarly research in Islamic sciences, especially jurisprudence (fiqh). This is done within the framework of the Qur’an, Sunnah, and divine teachings, using proper research methodologies as outlined in the principles of jurisprudence (usūl al-fiqh). In such Ibtikār (Creative Innovation), the mujtahid (jurist) does not introduce anything from himself into religion or fiqh. Rather, he presents new interpretations based on the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, extracting new rulings from general principles and sources to address emerging needs.

Through such scholarly and principled Ibtikār (Creative Innovation), Shia jurisprudence has undergone numerous developments throughout history. These Ibtikārs (Creative Innovations) have enriched and expanded fiqh in every era. Today, the scope and depth of fiqh cannot be compared to that of the time of Shaykh al-Sadūq.

In Shaykh al-Sadūq’s "al-Muqni‘", a concise book of jurisprudence, the texts of narrations—after omitting their chains of transmission—are presented as his legal opinions. After him, Shaykh al-Mufīd employed principles of jurisprudence in his deductions and authored "al-Muqni‘ah", which reflects his interpretations of narrations rather than their literal texts. Thus, "al-Muqni‘ah" differs from "al-Muqni‘".[10]

Because of this, opponents of Shaykh al-Mufīd’s rationalist approach—despite his greatness and the praise he received from Imam al-Mahdī (AJTF) [11]—claimed: “Two groups betrayed Islam: those who usurped the caliphate of Amīr al-Mu’minīn (AS), and Shaykh al-Mufīd and those like him who introduced principles of jurisprudence into the Shia school!” These Ibtikārs (Creative Innovations) and developments in fiqh continued. Even a towering figure like al-Muqaddas al-Ardabīlī, with his unmatched piety and sanctity, resolved many jurisprudential challenges through his Ibtikārs (Creative Innovations) and research, paving new paths for later scholars. Subsequently, Shaykh al-Ansārī, with his intelligence and deep insight, brought about a major transformation in fiqh and its principles. [12]

Therefore, Ibtikārs (Creative Innovations) in fiqh are entirely within the framework of scholarly principles and ijtihād. They arise from meticulous study of the Qur’an and narrations and align with the correct methodology of jurisprudence. For this reason, such Ibtikārs (Creative Innovations) are not only accepted but are considered among the honors of Islamic scholarship, clearly distinct from bid‘ah.

Correctly distinguishing between these two concepts—Bid‘ah (religious innovation) and Ibtikār (creative innovation)—is of great importance. At certain points in history, some Islamic movements became so intellectually rigid that they labeled every new idea or practice as bid‘ah. They even prohibited the use of modern tools simply because they did not exist during the Prophet’s time. For example, the group "Ikhwān al-Tawḥīd" believed that modern inventions like the telegraph, telephone, automobile, and airplane were tools of Satan. [13]

Conclusion:

Thus, we can conclude that the essential difference between Bid‘ah (religious innovation) and Ibtikār (creative innovation) in religion lies in their roots and methodology. Bid‘ah involves adding or removing something from religion without any basis in the Qur’an and Sunnah. In contrast, Ibtikār (creative innovation) is based on religious principles and sources (like the Qur’an and Sunnah) and employs proper methods of ijtihād and research to address new needs. Intellectual rigidity and rejection of Ibtikārs (creative innovation) that align with religious principles can cause serious harm to religion and society, as seen in the example of Ikhwān al-Tawḥīd. Therefore, correctly identifying the difference between bid‘ah and Ibtikār (creative innovation) is both necessary and vital.

 

 

 

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[1] . Majmaʿ al-Baḥrayn, al-Ṭurayḥī al-Najafī, Fakhr al-Dīn, vol. 1, p. 164 / Tahdhīb al-Lughah, al-Azharī, Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad, vol. 2, p. 142.

[2] . Biḥār al-Anwār, ʿAllāmah al-Majlisī, vol. 74, p. 202.

[3] . Farhang-e Shīʿah, Khaṭībī Kūshkak, Muḥammad, p. 153.

[4] . ʿAwāʾid al-Ayyām, al-Narāqī, al-Mawlā Aḥmad, p. 111.

[5] . Bidʿat (Miʿyārhā va Payāmadhā), Bayātī, Jaʿfar, p. 41.

[6] . Article: What is innovation?, Ganjī, Ḥamzah, p. 1.

[7] . Lughatnāmah, Dehkhodā, ʿAlī Akbar, vol. 14, p. 22767.

[8] . Tāj al-ʿArūs min Jawāhir al-Qāmūs, al-Murtaḍā al-Zabīdī, vol. 6, p. 113 /  Majmaʿ al-Baḥrayn, al-Ṭurayḥī al-Najafī, Fakhr al-Dīn, vol. 1, p. 233 / Tafsīr al-Tibyān, Shaykh al-Ṭūsī, vol. 9, p. 497.

[9] . Majmūʿah Āthār, Muṭahharī, Murtaḍā, vol. 3, pp. 199–201.

[10] . Behtarin-hā va Badtarin-hā az Dīdgāh-e Nahj al-Balāghah, Miṣbāḥ Yazdī, Muḥammad Taqī, p. 279.

[11] . Riyāḍ al-ʿUlamāʾ wa Ḥiyāḍ al-Fuḍalāʾ, Afandī, ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿĪsā Bēg, vol. 5, p. 177.

[12] . Behtarin-hā va Badtarin-hā az Dīdgāh-e Nahj al-Balāghah, Miṣbāḥ Yazdī, Muḥammad Taqī, p. 279.

[13] . The World Congress of Extremist and Takfiri movements from the point of view of Islamic scholars, Akhwan al-Tawheed article, History and Report, p. 39.