Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan states that claiming the first Jumu‘ah adhan was an innovation and labeling ʿUthmān a non-Sunni is itself a bid‘ah. He emphasizes that ʿUthmān is a rightly-guided caliph, and such claims show ignorance of the difference between Sunnah and innovation.
Esteemed Shaykh, one of the du’āt (callers) says, “We do not declare ʿUthmān an innovator – but we say that the first ʼadhān on the day of Jumu’ah is an innovation.” He (the questioner) says, what is the ruling of this statement of his?
This itself is bidʿah (innovation), the man, this itself is bidʿah [to hold this position], he is an innovator. It is obligatory to withhold his tongue from the likes of this speech. ʿUthmān is a rightly-guided caliph, and the Messenger ﷺ said, “You must follow my sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly-guided caliphs after me…” Is this [speech of his against ʿUthmān] from his eagerness for the sunnah?? He declares the Companions innovators, declares the Caliphs innovators!! Is the sunnah like this?! We ask for pardon! This is from ignorance (jahl) and not knowing the bidʿah from sunnah. Yes.
