What are the consequences for me having previously said, out of ignorance, "Innovators are disbelievers"?
Innovations (Bid'ah) are of two types:
1. Innovation leading to disbelief (Bid'ah Mukaffirah): Such as statements that deny the attributes of Allah, or claim the distortion of the Qur'an, or assert that saints (awliya) possess knowledge of the unseen, or slander Abu Bakr and 'A'ishah, or deify anyone other than Allah. The proponents of this type of innovation are judged to be disbelievers. 2. Innovation not leading to disbelief (Bid'ah Ghayr Mukaffirah): Such as observing a fast on the middle day of Sha'ban and spending its night in prayer, taking the Prophet's birthday as a festival, reciting the Qur'an before the dawn adhan, and adhering to specific numbers and forms of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) for which there is no legal basis in the Sharia. The proponents of this type of innovation are not deemed disbelievers.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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