Title: “Bid`ah” & “neither Bid`ah nor Sunnah ” Question/Comments: Please explain how to differentiate between Bid`ah and “neither Bid`ah nor Sunnah ” category. I understand Bid`ah as whichever act done thinking that it is a part of Sunnah of the Prophet when it is actually not. Is my understanding correct? Could you please explain whether wearing cap (thinking that it is a part of Sunnah ), congregational supplication, saying Ameen aloud in Qunoot behind Imam , reciting Darood before Adhan , reciting Fathihah for the deceased, fasting during night of Mehraj , “ Sabeh-Baraat ” etc. are bid`ahs ? The person practicing Bid`ah will easily argue that they practice the above mentioned acts only as an additional good deed and not thinking that it is Sunnah . How to counteract the argument? Thanks. MN Answer: I would define Bid`ah slightly differently. In my opinion, Bid`ah is an unsubstantiated addition to the corpus of Islam. Incorrectly considering something to be a part of Sunnah can merely be an error of understanding, placement and categorization of a particular directive of action and may not necessarily amount to Bid`ah . Nevertheless, when any belief, concept or action is added to the corpus of Islam, without any basis for it in teachings or actions of the Prophet (pbuh), then such an addition, in my opinion, is a bid`ah . Keeping the foregoing explanation in perspective, it should be clear that all those actions which fall within the category of 'Jaayiz' or 'allowable' are those, which are neither Sunnah nor Bid`ah . With the above explanation in mind, I consider the recitation of Darood with the Adhan , reciting Faatihah for the deceased, celebrating Shab-e-Bara'at and making a general routine of offering congregational supplications at the end of Sala'h to be bid`ah . In the case of fasting on a particular night, it cannot be considered as Bid`ah as doing so is 'allowable' in Islam. However, giving a particular night a special status, without the authority of the Prophet (pbuh) is clearly incorrect. Covering the head during Sala'h also falls within the 'allowable' actions. Nevertheless, considering the covering of the head to be a part of the religious directives is not correct. Finally, saying "Aameen" - whether audibly or inaudibly - at the end of any supplications is also 'allowable' and should, therefore, not be considered as bid`ah . However, it would not be correct to consider it necessary to say "Aameen" loudly at the end of any given supplication. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad December 10, 2001