Answers to miscellaneous questions
Assessment of the authenticity of the Hadith that says: "Whosoever introduces a good practice in Islam, there is for him its reward and the reward of those who act upon it (until the Day of the Resurrection)"
Q 1: Is the following passage a Hadith: "Whosoever introduces a good practice in Islam, there is for him its reward and the reward of those who act upon it (until the Day of the Resurrection)" ? If so, did the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) leave anything in religion for anyone to introduce? Please, explain this matter in detail.
A: This is a Sahih (authentic) Hadith which indicates that it is prescribed for Muslims to revive and call people to the Sunnah and warn against the Bid'ahs (innovations in religion) and their evils. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whosoever introduces a good practice in Islam, there is for him its reward and the reward of those who act upon it after him without that detracting from their rewards in the slightest. And whosoever introduces an evil practice in Islam will bear its sin and the sins of those who will act upon it after him without that detracting from their rewards in the slightest." (Related by Muslim in his Sahih [Authentic Hadith Book])
Similar in meaning is the Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whosoever calls (others) to guidance will have a reward like the rewards of those who follow him, without that detracting from their rewards in the slightest. And whosoever calls (others) to misguidance will bear a burden of sin like the sins of those who follow him, without that detracting from their sins in the slightest." Moreover, Abu Mas'ud AlAnsary (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "One who guides to something good shall have a reward similar to that of its doer." (Related by Muslim in his Sahih)
The phrase "introduce a good practice in Islam" means that whoever revives, manifests and highlights an act of Sunnah that is unknown to people, so he calls people to practice it and clarifies it to them, his reward will be equivalent to those who follow him in acting upon it. It, however, does not mean to introduce a new matter in religion, for doing so is prohibited by the Prophet (peace be upon him).
He (peace be upon him) said, "Every Bid'ah (innovation in religion) is misguidance." The words of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are affirming and not contradicting each other by the Ijma' (consensus) of scholars. It is evident that the Hadith means that Muslims should revive and manifest a deserted act of Sunnah. For example, if one of the scholars visits a country where the Qur'an is being taught but the Sunnah is not, he should gather people to teach them the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah or bring teachers to do so on his behalf to revive this act of Sunnah. If another one is in a country where its people shave or cut the beards. He should advise them to let the beards grow aiming at reviving this act of Sunnah. His reward will be equivalent to that of those who follow him in this guidance. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Trim closely the moustache and let the beard grow do the opposite of the Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)." (Agreed upon its authenticity by AlBukhari and Muslim from the Hadith of Ibn 'Umar [may Allah be pleased with them])When this scholar lets his beard grow, calls people to do so, and they follow him, he then revives a stressed Sunnah which should not be abandoned according to the said Hadith and the other narrations to that effect. Thus, his reward is equal to those who follow him.