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Sunan Ibn Majah 210 — Reward for Reviving a Forgotten Sunnah
One who revives a Sunnah that had died out
Hadith About Reviving a Forgotten Sunnah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 210
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 210
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي أُوَيْسٍ، حَدَّثَنِي كَثِيرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ " مَنْ أَحْيَا سُنَّةً مِنْ سُنَّتِي قَدْ أُمِيتَتْ بَعْدِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مِنَ الأَجْرِ مِثْلَ أَجْرِ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا مِنَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أُجُورِ النَّاسِ شَيْئًا وَمَنِ ابْتَدَعَ بِدْعَةً لاَ يَرْضَاهَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَ إِثْمِ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا مِنَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَنْقُصُ مِنْ آثَامِ النَّاسِ شَيْئًا " .
Kathir bin 'Abdullah Narrated from:
Kathir bin 'Abdullah narrated from his father, that his grandfather said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Whoever revives a Sunnah of mine that dies out after I am gone, he will have a reward equivalent to that of those among the people who act upon it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest. Whoever introduces an innovation (Bid'ah) with which Allah and his Messenger are not pleased, he will have a (burden of) sin equivalent to that of those among the people who act upon it, without that detracting from their sins in the slightest.'"
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 210In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 0English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 210
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 210
This Hadith speaks about reviving a Sunnah of the Prophet after it has died out among people. The Prophet said that the one who revives it receives a reward like those who act upon it, without reducing their reward. The Hadith also warns against introducing a Bid'ah that Allah and His Messenger are not pleased with. If people act upon it, the one who introduced it carries a sin like theirs, without reducing their sins. This hadith about forgotten Sunnah teaches love for the Prophet's way and caution in religion. It encourages returning to the Sunnah, not making disliked religious innovations.
What we learn from this hadith
- A Sunnah that has died out can be revived and practiced again.
- People who act on that revived Sunnah keep their full reward.
- Introducing a displeasing Bid'ah brings serious responsibility.
- A person should care about whether Allah and His Messenger are pleased with an act.
