Title: Some Clarification on Determining Bid`ah Question/Comments: Can you explain how you differentiate between a Bid`ah and Jaayiz ? Suppose if one were to say the following statements: Reciting Subhanallah , Alhamdullillah , Allahu Akbar 33 times each after every Salah is a virtuous deed based on a highly reliable hadith of the Prophet (pbuh). Reciting " Hasbiallahuhu wa alaihi thawakkalthu wahuwa rabbul arshil adheem " 7 times after Fajr and Asr Salah is a virtuous deed based on the hadith narrated by Abu Dawood . Reciting Darood more especially on Friday is a virtuous deed [which will even earn the intercession of the Prophet (pbuh)] based on a reliable hadith . Do you consider any of the above acts as a Bid`ah ? Similarly, suppose if one were to say that reciting La-ilaha illallah 101 times after every Salah is a virtuous deed but he does not base his opinion on a reliable hadith . Will this act be a Bid`ah ? My question is, if the reliability of the hadith is the key factor in determining a particular act to be a Bid`ah or not, does this not naturally follow that the determination of Bid`ah highly depends upon the reliability of Hadith even before determining the time of induction of such practice? Regards, Ameen India Answer: Bid`ah is to make an unauthenticated addition to the corpus of Islam, as it was taught by the Prophet (pbuh). In this sense, Bid`ah may include a belief or a practice that is promoted as an integral part of Islam without the authority of the Prophet (pbuh). For the determination of Bid`ah , the Qur'an, the Sunnah as well as the narratives ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) shall serve as a useful source of information. As for the examples that you have quoted, none of these examples fall in the category of Bid`ah . Some clarifications follow: The Qur'an has directed the Muslims to remember God often and to praise Him night and day. The Qur'an says: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً (الأحزاب 33: 41 - 42 ) Believers, remember God a frequent remembering and glorify Him morning and evening. In compliance with this directive of the Qur'an, one may recite any words of remembrance glorification and praise at any given time during the day. These words of remembrance, glorification or praise may also be recited for any given number of times or they may be recited without counting. Keeping the foregoing explanation in perspective, it should be clear that a person may prefer to recite any words of remembrance, praise and glorification for any - specific or unspecific - number of times, at any time during the day or night. Such a practice can in no way be considered a Bid`ah . However, if a person starts promoting his own preference of words, numbers or time of day as an integral part of the corpus of Islam, then such an act would come under the scope of making unauthorized additions to the corpus of Islam, i.e. Bid`ah . You write: My question is, if the reliability of the hadith is the key factor in determining a particular act to be a Bid`ah or not, does this not naturally follow that the determination of Bid`ah highly depends upon the reliability of Hadith even before determining the time of induction of such practice? Keeping in view the foregoing clarification, this question does not need to be answered. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad March 3, 2003