2. The levels of Bid'ah: Religious Bid'ah is of two levels.
The first, verbal Bid'ah, which is related to creed (Aqqdah), such as the assertions of the Jahmites [1], the Mu'tazilites [2] and the Rafidah, and the rest of the beliefs of the deviant sects.
The second, the Bid'ah in acts of worship, such as worshipping Allah by rituals which He does not sanction.
This level of Bid'ah is of four kinds:
1. Which is relevant to the basic acts of worship, that is, to innovate an act of worship which has no base in Islam, such as innovating a prayer which is not legitimate, or observing fasting which is not originally legitimate, or illegal festivals or feasts such as the celebration of birthdays or the like.
2. To introduce an extra act of worship to a legitimate one such as adding a fifth Rakah in Zuhr or Asr prayer, for instance.
3. A Bid'ah which is related to the format of legitimate acts of worship; to perform it, for instance in a different manner, such as reciting the legitimate formulas of the remembrance of Allah, chanting it in congregation or by over burdening one's own self and performing acts of worship to the extent of exceeding the Sunnah of the Messenger.
4. Which is related to timing of a legitimate act of worship which the Prophet did not designate; such as dedicating the day and night of the middle of Sha'ban for praying and fasting. In this case, fasting and night prayer are legitimate acts of worship, but to do so at certain times for observing them without a textual proof, is Bid'ah.
