Is reading Surah Al-Kahf in its entirety weekly on Thursdays in a Tajwid teaching circle, and distributing its recitation among students to apply the rules, considered an innovation (bid‘ah)?

To identify an innovation (bid‘ah), one must refer to the Sharia-based restrictions and controls. Among these is Imam Al-Shatibi’s definition of innovation as “an invented way in religion that resembles the Sharia, by which one intends to exaggerate in the worship of Allah.” Innovation includes adhering to specific manners and forms or acts of worship at particular times that were not mentioned in the Sharia.

Based on this, dedicating Thursday to reading Surat Al-Kahf is an innovation because it was not reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him), whereas it is Sunnah to read it on Friday due to authentic hadiths regarding its virtue, such as his (peace be upon him) saying: “Whoever reads Surat Al-Kahf on Friday, a light will shine for him between him and the Ancient House.” Imam Al-Shafi‘i also recommended reading it on the night of Friday, but no authentic narrations to that effect have been reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him).