Bilal b. Harith al-Muzani reported God’s messenger as saying, “Whoever revives a sunna of mine which has been neglected after my time will have a reward equal to the rewards of those who act upon it, without their rewards being diminished in any way. But whoever invents a misleading innovation with which God and His messenger are not pleased will be charged with a sin equal to the sins of those who act upon it without that diminishing their loads in any way.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Kathir b. ‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr from his father from his grandfather.
The Excellence of Reviving Neglected Sunnahs
This noble hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) establishes a profound spiritual principle: reviving a neglected sunnah carries immense reward equivalent to all who subsequently practice it, without diminishing their rewards. This demonstrates Allah's boundless mercy and encourages Muslims to preserve prophetic traditions.
The term "revives" (ahyā) implies both knowledge and practice - one must first learn the forgotten sunnah then implement it publicly so others may follow. This requires scholarly verification to ensure authenticity and proper understanding of context.
The Danger of Misguided Innovation
In contrast, introducing blameworthy innovations (bid'ah dhalālah) incurs sin equivalent to all who adopt it. The condition "with which God and His messenger are not pleased" distinguishes true innovations from permissible new matters that don't contradict Islamic principles.
Scholars clarify that innovation in religious matters is particularly dangerous as it implies deficiency in divine revelation. The preservation of both reward and sin for originators reflects divine justice while maintaining individual accountability.
Practical Implications for the Ummah
This hadith motivates scholars and laypeople alike to research, teach, and practice authentic sunnahs that have fallen into disuse, while exercising caution against unwarranted changes to religion.
It emphasizes collective responsibility in preserving Islamic tradition and warns against introducing practices that lack proper religious evidence, thus maintaining the purity of Islamic teachings for generations.