Title

In reference to Fatwa # 17293 about smileys or emoticons...Arent emoticon bid'at

Question

But aren't "emoticons" bid'a? They are an innovation of the West, which is bid'a, too.

Therefore, we should shun emoticons like pigs-in-blanket marinated in alcohol made out of silk served to you by a female.

Original Fatwa Link : http://www.askimam.org/fatwa/fatwa.php?askid=9016456ed766d5857a9c0cab045d1e99

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh

Since the very computer and internet which you used to send this question, your phone, car, radio, fridge, microwave and all appliances etc. are innovations of the west, should they all be shunned like (your analogy)‘pigs-in-blankets marinated in alcohol made out of silk served to you by a female?’  : )

It is essential that you understand what exactly is the definition of bidah as explained by the Jurists and linguistics.

Allamah Ash Shatbi (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) explains the definition of bidah as follows:

كتاب الاعتصام للشاطبي - (ج 1 / ص 21)

 فالبدعة إذن عبارة عن طريقة في الدين مخترعة تضاهي الشرعية يقصد بالسلوك عليها المبالغة في التعبد لله سبحانه

“The Shari definition of bid'ah is: “A newly invented way [beliefs or action] in the religion, which resembles the Sharee'ah (prescribed Law), seeking nearness to Allaah through that act, increasing in the worshipping of Allah.” (Al-I’tisaam (1/21)

Furthermore, Imam Shatbi has said,

كتاب الاعتصام للشاطبي - (ج 1 / ص 23)

فلو كانت لا تضاهي الأمور المشروعة لم تكن بدعة

 “If these actions do not resemble actions of Shari’ah, they will not be bidah…”(Ibid 1/23)

In Daleel al faaliheen the technical meaning of ‘bidah’ has been defined as,

دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين - (ج 2 / ص 101)

 (كل بدعة) وهي لغة المخترع على غير مثال سابق. وشرعاً ما أحدث على خلاف أمر الشارع

 “…that which is innovated in contrast to the command of the legislator.” (Daleel al faaliheen 2/202)

Likewise, Allamah An Nihlawi (May Allah Ta'ala be pleased with him) mentions that an action would become bidah if the person carrying out the action considers it to be a action of obedience via which Allah Ta’ala is worshipped. (Ad Durar al mubahah 1/108)

الدرر المباحة للنحلاوي - (ج 1 / ص 108(

وشرط البدعة في الشرع: أن تكون في الدين، بأن يتخذها فاعلُها طاعةً، يعبد اللَّه تعالى بها، فهذه - أي البدعة في الدين - هي: مراده صلى اللَّه عليه وسلم في الحديث المتقدم

From the afore-mentioned it becomes clear that if something is merely a novel it is not necessarily a bid`a; it must also contradict the Religion.

During the time of Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم there was not such technology as there is today. Just as we write on computers today, in the same way we can express our emotions on a computer by the usage of emoticons, which are not pictures.

And Allah knows best

Wassalam

Ml. Ismail Moosa,
Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa