[Machine] Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan sent for me and said, "O Abu Asma, we have united the people on two matters." I asked, "What are they?" He replied, "Raising hands on the pulpits during the Friday sermon and telling stories after the Fajr and Asr prayers." I said, "Indeed, these are the most tolerable of your innovations in my view, but I will not comply with either of them." He asked, "Why not?" I said, "Because the Prophet ﷺ said, 'Whenever people introduce an innovation, its equivalent is removed from the Sunnah. Holding onto a Sunnah is better than introducing an innovation.'"  

بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا أَسْمَاءَ إِنَّا قَدْ جَمَعْنَا النَّاسَ عَلَى أَمْرَيْنِ قَالَ وَمَا هُمَا؟ قَالَ رَفْعُ الْأَيْدِي عَلَى الْمَنَابِرِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَالْقَصَصُ بَعْدَ الصُّبْحِ وَالْعَصْرِ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُمَا أَمْثَلُبِدْعَتِكُمْ عِنْدِي وَلَسْتُ مُجِيبَكَ إِلَى شَيْءٍ مِنْهُمَا قَالَ لِمَ؟ قَالَ لِأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ مَا أَحْدَثَ قَوْمٌ بِدْعَةً إِلَّا رُفِعَ مِثْلُهَا مِنَ السُّنَّةِ فَتَمَسُّكٌ بِسُنَّةٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ إِحْدَاثِ بِدْعَةٍ