What is the ruling on one who sits with people who raise their voices in collective Dhikr after prayers, while knowing that this is an innovation (bid‘ah), and justifies his participation with them by saying: "I only join them to win over their hearts"?
Remembrance (dhikr) and supplication (du'a) are two great acts of worship, but performing them in a manner other than that of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, his companions, and the righteous predecessors, is an innovation (bid'ah). This is because the how of worship is prescriptive (tawqifiyyah), meaning it must be based on divine revelation. Innovation is an invented method in religion that parallels the lawful, such as adhering to specific forms or manners of remembrance, or dedicating specific times for acts of worship that the Lawgiver has not designated. Whoever introduces into the religion something that does not belong to it, it is rejected. And whoever knows that an act is an innovation, it is not permissible for him to sit with those who practice it except with the intention of advising them. If they persist in their innovation, he must leave them, based on the Almighty's saying: "So do not sit, after the remembrance, with the wrongdoing people."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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