Is giving up permissible things to draw closer to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) considered Bid`ah Shirkiyyah (innovation in Islam tantamount to associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)?
Some Muslims may abandon permissible things believing that doing so is an act of piety; they may consider some lawful things as prohibited or reprehensible without evidence or proof; hence, they avoid them. Not only this, but they may harbor animosity towards other Muslims based upon their erroneous thinking.
Please, advise. May Allah bless you!
It is not permissible for a Muslim to prohibit what Allah made lawful, or make reprehensible what Allah did not make reprehensible, or permit what Allah prohibited. Allah (may He be Praised) states: And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: "This is lawful and this is forbidden," so as to invent lies against Allâh.
Allah (may He be Praised) also states: Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ): "(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are AlFawâhish (great evil sins and every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allâh for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allâh of which you have no knowledge."
In this noble Ayah (Qur'anic verse), Allah (may He be Praised) made speaking in His Name without knowledge tantamount to Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) due to the great evil resulted.
In another Ayah of Surah (Qur'anic chapter) AlBaqarah, Allah (may He be Praised) made speaking in the Name of Allah without knowledge one of the tendencies of Satan. Allah (may He be Praised) states: O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy.
He [Shaitân (Satan)] commands you only what is evil and Fahshâ (sinful), and that you should say against Allâh what you know not.
There is no harm if a Muslim avoids some permissible things as a means of seeking closeness to Allah (may He be Praised) and helping him obey Allah and His Messenger on condition that he does not make them prohibited. For instance, a Muslim may refrain from wearing expensive clothes out of modesty, avoiding pride, and disciplining oneself to keep away from boasting, conceit, or arrogance; there is no harm in this and a Muslim is rewarded for it Allah Willing.