Q 2: I would like Your Eminence to explain the two Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him), in detail: Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours (Islam) which is not a part of it will have it rejected and Whoever introduces some good practice in Islam which is followed after him (by people) will be assured of reward like one who follows it (until the Day of the Resurrection)..."

A: The first Hadith means that when someone introduces a Bid`ah (innovation in religion) to be counterpart to what Allah has legislated, it will not be accepted and he will be a sinner. You may refer to the examples mentioned in the answer of the first question: reciting Ayat-ul-Kursy (the Qur’anic Verse of the Throne, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255) out loud after praying the five obligatory Prayers, adding the formula, "ash-hadu anna `Aliyyan waliyyul-lah (I bear witness that `Aly is the chosen of Allah) to the Adhan, and what some Mu'adhins (callers to Prayer) do when they invoke Allah's peace and blessings upon the Prophet (Part No. 2; Page No. 468) after calling the Adhan. However, doing so subvocally is an act of Sunnah. As for the Hadith, He who introduces some good practice in Islam, there is a reward for him for this (act of goodness)...'' it means that whoever acts according to an authentic Sunnah which people have abandoned, will get the reward of reviving it. If he preaches and reminds people of it, people will start practicing it again, thanks to him. This is confirmed by the Hadith narrated by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) book, on the authority of Abu `Amr Jarir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said, We were with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) shortly after dawn when there came to him some people clad in woolen rags, or covered with sleeveless blankets; and with swords hanging down from their necks. Most of them rather, all of them, belonged to the Mudar tribe. The face of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) changed when he saw that they were starving. Then he went into his house and came out; then commanded Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) to say Adhan (call to prayers). So he called Adhan and established Iqamah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) led the Salah. Then he delivered a Khutbah (sermon) saying, O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam) to His saying Surely, Allâh is Ever an All-Watcher over you. He also recited the Ayah which is in Surah Al-Hashr, O you who believe! Fear Allâh and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allâh. "A man can give in charity Dinars, Dirhams, clothes, measure-fulls of wheat and measure-fulls of dates ..." until he said, "(Give in charity) even if it is half a date." Then a man of the Ansar came with a bag which was too heavy to carry. Thereafter, the people came successively (with charity) until I saw two heaps of food and clothes. I noticed that the face of Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was glowing like that of the bright moon or glittering gold. Then he (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam, there is for him its reward and the reward of those who act upon it after him without anything being diminished from their rewards. Whoever introduces an evil practice in Islam, will shoulder its sin and the sins of all those who will act upon it, without decreasing their burden." (Part No. 2; Page No. 469) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.