What are the sources of innovation in our Ummah today?

There are two main sources of innovation today - ignorance and blind following.

Ignorance is the major source of innovation. The main areas of ignorance causing this problem today are ignorance of the Arabic language and ignorance of the Sunnah.

Allah says in the Quran:

أَفَحُكۡمَ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبۡغُونَ‌ۚ وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكۡمً۬ا لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُوقِنُونَ

“Do they seek the laws of ignorance? Who is better in law-making than Allah for people who have firm faith” [1]

The other source of innovation is blind-following. It includes following ambiguous opinions and obeying other people above the Prophet (ﷺ) like one’s culture or forefathers.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُواْ بَلۡ نَتَّبِعُ مَآ أَلۡفَيۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ‌ۗ أَوَلَوۡ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَا يَهۡتَدُونَ

“When they are told to follow what Allah has revealed. They say: No, we will follow what we found our forefathers following. Even though their forefathers did not know, nor were they rightly-guided” [2]

I have discussed the sources of innovation with examples as well as solutions in depth in my book “The Clash of Civilizations: An Islamic View” in pages 43 to 51. I highly recommend you to read it for further understanding on the topic.

References:

[1] Surah Al-Maaida, 5:50

[2] Surah Baqarah, 2:170