This world, on innovation (bidʻah)

Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 145
Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 1, Chapter 145

This world, on innovation (bidʻah)

[منها في ذمّ البدعة :] وَمَا أُحْدِثَتْ بِدْعَةٌ إِلاَّ تُرِكَ بِهَا سُنَّةٌ، فَاتَّقُوا الْبِدَعَ، والْزَمُوا الْمَهْيَعَ، إِنَّ عَوَازِمَ الاْمُورِ أَفْضَلُهَا، وَإِنَّ مُحْدِثَاتِهَا شِرَارُهَا.
[A part of the same sermon on innovation (bid‘ah) :] No innovation is introduced unless one sunnah is forsaken, keep away from innovations and stick to the broad road. Surely the old tested ways are the best and the innovated ones are bad.