30/8. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1718b — Acts Without Sanction Are Rejected
Rejection of wrong rulings and of newly-invented matters
Hadith About Acts Without Prophetic Sanction Being Rejected
Sahih Muslim : 1718b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1718b
وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَبِي عَامِرٍ، قَالَ عَبْدٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الزُّهْرِيُّ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ الْقَاسِمَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ، لَهُ ثَلاَثَةُ مَسَاكِنَ فَأَوْصَى بِثُلُثِ كُلِّ مَسْكَنٍ مِنْهَا قَالَ يُجْمَعُ ذَلِكَ كُلُّهُ فِي مَسْكَنٍ وَاحِدٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلاً لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ " .
Sa'd b. Ibrahim Narrated from:
I asked Qasim b. Muhammad about a person who had three dwelling houses and he willed away the third part of every one of these houses; he (Qasim b. Muhammad) said: All of them could be combined in one house; and then said: 'A'isha informed me that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1718bIn-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 24USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 18, Hadith 4267
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1718b
This Hadith is another key wording of the hadith about bidah and rejected acts. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever does an act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, it is rejected. The report also mentions a question about a man who had three houses and made a will involving one-third of each. Qasim b. Muhammad answered that they could be combined in one house, then quoted Aisha’s report. The main lesson from the Prophetic words is that religious acts need valid sanction. The Hadith does not invite people to create worship by personal choice. It teaches that an act connected to religion must agree with the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم command.
What we learn from this hadith
- Acts without sanction from the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم guidance are rejected.
- The narration connects legal decision-making with Prophetic guidance.
- A person should not treat unsupported religious acts as accepted.
- Religious practice needs a valid basis, not only good intention.
