The Concept of Bid‘ah in Islamic Thought
https://doi.org/10.22311/2074-1529-2025-21-3-45-62
Abstract
The paper provides a detailed examination of the concept of bid‘ah (“innovation”) in Islamic religious thought. It considers the term’s origin and its usage in theological-legal literature. An analysis of the diversity of interpretations of the concept of bid‘ah by various representatives of Muslim theological-legal thought is conducted, with particular attention to Russian Muslim theologians. The most important features and determining factors that influence the practical application of this concept in religious life have been identified. Alongside this, the relationship between the concepts of bid‘ah and al-masalih al-mursalah (“unrestricted benefits”) is examined in detail, including the boundaries of their intersection and the separate domains of application for each concept. This provides a better understanding of the nuances distinguishing these two concepts in the legal and ethical dimensions of Islam. In addition, this paper focuses on contemporary trends in the perception of bid‘ah among neo-modern Muslims living in the context of global cultural and civilizational integration. It discusses the problems of compatibility of the traditional understanding of Islamic law with the evolving social environment.
Keywords
Islamic theology,
Islamic law,
bid‘ah,
innovation,
Qur’an,
Sunnah,
Shariah,
theologians,
maslaha,
neomodernism
УДК: 28-24+002.2+297.18
About the Author
R. I. Baishev
Moscow Islamic Institute
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ruslan I. BAISHEV, Dr. of Islamic Studies, acting dean, Faculty of Theology
12, Kirova Lane, 109382, Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Baishev R.I. The Concept of Bid‘ah in Islamic Thought. Islam in the modern world. 2025;21(3):45-62. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22311/2074-1529-2025-21-3-45-62
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