Obligations, Optionals and Inventions :

In surah Baqara, verse No. 158, it has been said about going around the mounts Safa and Marwah:

" Indeed (the mountains) Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allaah. It is therefore no sin for him who visits the House during Hajj or at other times, to go around them. And he who does good of his own accord, indeed Allaah is Responsive, Aware."

About going around the Ka'bah, it has been said : "and they should go around the ancient house." (22:29 part). There is an element of obligation in this; but in the case of Safa and Marwah, it has been said: " It is no sin to go around them; and he who does good of his own accord, indeed Allaah is Responsive, Aware."

From this, we come to know that what is obligatory, everyone should do that and as for the additional good deeds, they are optional and it depends on the individual will and enthusiasm :" and whosoever does good of his own accord " (2:158 part) and that whosoever does good of his own accord, Allaah is appreciative of him.

Inventions.

What is written above is about obligatory and optional good deeds. The verse quoted below is regarding inventions :

"Then We caused Our messengers to follow in their footsteps; and We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow, and gave him the Gospel, and placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him. But monasticism they invented - We ordained it not for them - only seeking Allaah's pleasure, and they observed it not with right observance." (57:27 part)

It has been said about the followers of Eesaa (Jesus ; peace upon him) that those who followed him, we placed compassion and mercy in their hearts; and as for monasticism, they invented it - We ordained it not for them.

Thus in very concise words, Allaah has informed us that bid'at - invention - is that which Allaah ordained not in the book.