A) Heresy:
B) Innovation that may be in belief or practice:
1. Bidat-e Amaliyyah (Innovation in practice):
a) Bidat-e hasanah (praiseworthy innovation)
Bidat which is in accordance with the principals and canons of Islamic law and the sunnat and has been deduced analogically from the Quran Shareef or sunnat (through qiyas).
Bidat-e hasanah are of three sorts:
I. Bidat-e jaizah (permissible)
This is an act that Shariah has not prohibited and that is done without expecting any reward or punishment for it. For example: Wearing nice and attractive clothing.
II. Bidat-e Mustahabbah (appreciable):
This is an act that is done with anticipation for earning reward. For example: to hold gathering of Maulood {gathering to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad salallahoAlaiheWasalam nativity} to say Fatihah for souls of deceased Muslims etc.
III. Bidat-e vajibah (essential):
This is an act that has not been prohibited in the Shariah but to omit it will lead to critical breakdown in religious practices. For example: taraveeh namaz/ salat, to construct religious institutions, mosques, and water reservoir (tank) for ablution, to print the Holy Quran in press, to put expressions (Irab) in the Holy Quran such as zabar, zer, pesh etc.
b) Bidat-e sayyeah (Offensive innovation)
Contradicts the Quran Shareef and sunnat. e.g. khutbah of Eid and Jumah in a language other than Arabic
Bidat-e sayyah are of two sorts:
I. Bidat-e makroohah (abominable)
This is an act, performance of which will lead to annihilation of sunnat. It is makrooh-e tahreemee if sunnat-e muakkadah is annihilated. And, it is makrooh-e tanzeehee if sunnat-e ghair- muakkadah is annihilated. For example: Delivering khutbah in a language other than Arabic is bidat-e makrooh-e tahreemee.
II. Bidat-e haram (unlawful, forbidden)
This is an act, performance of which will lead to annihilation of vajib. For example: Test-tube baby developed from sperm or ovum of other than husband and wife.
2. Bidat-e itiqadi (innovation in belief):
This is new belief (which is in contradiction of Quran Shareef and sunnat), which has found its way in Islam after the blessed age of Prophet Muhammad salallahoAlaiheWasalam.