41/16. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2677 — Reviving a Forgotten Sunnah
What Has Been Related About Adhering To The Sunnah And Staying Away From Innovation
Hadith About Reviving the Sunnah
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2677
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2677
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ مَرْوَانَ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْفَزَارِيِّ، عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لِبِلاَلِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ " اعْلَمْ " . قَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " اعْلَمْ يَا بِلاَلُ " . قَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " أَنَّهُ مَنْ أَحْيَا سُنَّةً مِنْ سُنَّتِي قَدْ أُمِيتَتْ بَعْدِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مِنَ الأَجْرِ مِثْلَ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا وَمَنِ ابْتَدَعَ بِدْعَةَ ضَلاَلَةٍ لاَ يَرْضَاهَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلُ آثَامِ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا لاَ يَنْقُصُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَوْزَارِ النَّاسِ شَيْئًا " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ . وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ هُوَ مِصِّيصِيٌّ شَامِيٌّ وَكَثِيرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ هُوَ ابْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ الْمُزَنِيُّ .
Kathir bin 'Abdullah Narrated from:
Narrated Narrated Kathir bin 'Abdullah [and he is Ibn 'Amr bin 'Awf Al-Musani]: Narrated From His Father, From His Grandfather That The Prophet (ﷺ) Said To Bilal Bin Al-Harith: "Know." He Said: "I Am Ready To Know O Messenger Of Allah!"He (ﷺ) Said: "That Indeed Whoever Revives A Sunnah From My Sunnah Which Has Died After Me, Then For Him Is A Reward Similar To Whoever Acts Upon It Without Diminishing Anything From Their Rewards. And Whoever Introduces An Erroneous Innovation Which Allah Is Not Pleased With, Nor His Messenger, Then He Shall Receive Sins Similar To Whoever Acts Upon It, Without That Diminishing Anything From The Sins Of The People.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2677In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 33English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 2677
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2677
This Hadith reports that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told Bilal bin Al-Harith to know something important. He said that whoever revives a Sunnah from his Sunnah that has died after him receives a reward similar to those who act upon it, without their rewards being reduced. He also warned that whoever introduces an erroneous innovation that Allah and His Messenger are not pleased with receives sins similar to those who act upon it, without reducing their sins. A hadith about reviving the Sunnah gives both encouragement and warning. It encourages bringing neglected prophetic practice back into action. It also warns against introducing misguidance that others follow.
What we learn from this hadith
- Reviving a neglected Sunnah can bring reward like those who act on it.
- The rewards of others are not reduced in the Hadith wording.
- Introducing misguiding innovation carries serious responsibility.
- A person should care about what others may follow from him.
