The Meaning of "Ahdatha" in the Hadith on Bid‘a
Question
In the noble hadith the word "ahdatha" (أحدث — "introduced something new") occurs. Please clarify this matter for me: I understand that the meaning of "man ahdatha" is to introduce something new. Is this understanding correct or not? By what rule can it be determined whether this new thing falls under "that which is not part of it" (ma laysa minhu) or not? Please explain with an example.
Answer
[ar]مَنْ أَحْدَثَ أَيْ أَتَى بِأَمْرٍ جَدِيدٍ فِي أَمْرِنَا الَّذِي نَشْتَغِلُ بِهِ مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ أَيْ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ سَنَدٌ ظَاهِرٌ أَوْ خَفِيٌّ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ أَيِ الَّذِي أَحْدَثَهُ مَرْدُودٌ[/ar] "‘Whoever introduces’ — that is, brings into this matter of ours in which we are engaged — ‘something that is not part of it’, that is,…
Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya
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