Question:
What is the correct explanation of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1848, which states that whoever introduces a good practice in Islam will receive its reward and the reward of those who follow it, and whoever introduces an evil practice will bear its sin and the sin of those who follow it?
Answer:
We have understood that Islam does not permit introducing new things into the religion (bid‘ah). The Prophetﷺ (peace be upon him) warned against newly invented matters, saying that every newly invented matter is an innovation, every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to Hell.
We have many evidences warning against innovations. If Islam forbids introducing new things into religion, then how does this hadith say that someone who introduces a good practice in Islam will receive reward?
The Arabic phrase in the hadith is: “Man sanna fil-Islami sunnatan hasanatan” — meaning, whoever establishes a good practice in Islam. If a person teaches or encourages a good deed and others follow it, he will receive a reward similar to theirs, without reducing their reward.
At first glance, it may seem that Islam allows creating new religious practices. But this understanding is incorrect. To understand the correct meaning, two things must be clear. First, is it allowed to introduce something new into the religion that is not part of it? The Prophetﷺ (peace be upon him) said that whoever does an action not in accordance with his teachings, it will be rejected. He also said that the worst matters are newly invented ones, and every innovation is misguidance leading to Hell. Therefore, this hadith does not speak about inventing new religious acts.
This hadith is actually part of a longer narration connected to a real incident. If we understand the incident, the meaning becomes clear.
The incident describes a group of poor villagers who came to the Prophetﷺ (peace be upon him). They were in extreme poverty and distress. Seeing their condition, the Prophetﷺ encouraged people to give charity and help them. However, initially, no one donated anything, and this made the Prophetﷺ concerned noticeably.
At that moment, one man quietly went home, brought a bag of silver coins, and donated it. When he initiated this act, others began donating one after another. Seeing this, the Prophetﷺ became happy and then stated the hadith about introducing a good practice.
The man did not create a new religious act. Charity already exists in Islam. He only initiated and encouraged people to practice something already prescribed in the religion. Islam allows creating methods or ways to implement existing good deeds, but not inventing new religious obligations or rituals.
For example, charity is part of Islam. Today, people use methods like bank transfers, cheques, or digital payments such as GPay. These are new methods of performing an existing religious act. If someone teaches others such methods, he may receive reward for facilitating charity.
Similarly, if someone introduces donation boxes for mosques and people start contributing daily, the person who initiated this system may also receive reward. This is not inventing a new religious practice but creating a practical method to implement an existing one.
Another example: In earlier times, mosques were small and accommodated fewer people. If someone builds additional floors to allow more people to pray, he is not introducing a new religious act. He is facilitating an existing act of worship in a better way and will be rewarded.
The hadith also warns about introducing harmful practices. For example, if someone introduces dowry in the name of Islam, which is not part of the religion, and others follow it, he will bear the sin of everyone who follows that harmful practice.
Therefore, this hadith is not evidence supporting religious innovation. It only means encouraging or establishing practical ways to implement good deeds that already exist in Islam while avoiding practices that the religion prohibits.