BENEFIT 161: Commiting an act of innovation does not automatically render one an innovator!

Sheikh Yūsuf Al-Jazaa’iri hafidahullāh said: "We do not say that the one who adopts the Adhan of Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, is an innovator. There is a difference between deeming an act to be an innovation and applying this ruling on its doer. It is not absolute. There are cases in which one may be deemed an innovator for engaging in bid'ah, and there are other cases where such a judgment does not apply, like in this case (the issue of Adhan Uthman). It is established from Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, as mentioned in Musnad As-Siraaj with a chain authenticated by Imam Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, that Ibn Umar said, "The Sunnah is shortening the prayers while travelling. Whoever opposes the Sunnah has indeed disbelieved." Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, opposed this by completing the prayers during Hajj instead of shortening them. This is when Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Whoever opposes the Sunnah has indeed disbelieved." Do we then say, as Shaykh Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, said or inferred, that Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, meant by this statement that Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, is an innovator?? Far be it from us!! Rather, this is a judgment on the act itself; that it contradicted the Sunnah - not the doer (Uthman). Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, was among the leaders of the companions, and there is no innovator among the companions by consensus of the scholars! The companions are leaders of guidance, but individually, they are not infallible and may err like others, though they are the least likely to err. Similarly, Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned a principle that: "The predecessor may be excused in matters for which the successor is not excused." So, if a knowledgeable person or a companion errs and it is known to be an error, it is not permissible for those who come after to follow him in that error. He gave an example of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her; her denial of the dead being able to hear. Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "If someone after Aisha denies this matter, they are deemed an innovator." He said, "Aisha was not deemed an innovator because the hadith did not reach her." This indicates that this act (denial) itself is indeed an innovation. Do we then say that Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, is an innovator because of this? May Allah protect us! Just as these people (Baraamikah, Spubs and Co.) accuse Ahlus-Sunnah in Dammaj due to them considering the first Adhan on Jumu'ah an innovation, that this implies/necessitates that Uthman is innovators?! These are established principles among scholars which they (the Baraamikah and Co.) contradict and impose upon people without any basis from the Quran or the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him. It was Imam al-Wadi, may Allah have mercy on him, who advocated for this in several printed books and tapes, and Sheikh Rabee' was aware of this and others, so why did he not object to Sheikh Muqbil, may Allah have mercy on him? Throughout these long years, they heard this and did not object to it, so why are they objecting it from Sheikh Yahya alone?! It well known, they are merely hunting (for mistakes). They could not find a way to attack the people of the Sunnah and Sheikh Yahya, so they entered through this door and failed, just as Al-Jabiri attempted to enter through the door of the Islamic University and failed. People did not accept this from Sheikh Rabee; the issue of the first Adhan. The campaign he led against the honorable people of the Sunnah under the pretext of the first Adhan was not accepted by the people, and praise be to Allah. It was only accepted by the ignorant, the biased, or the uninformed. The fair-minded and the people of true knowledge did not accept it. Source: https://t.me/almanhajussalafi/497