Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Wa alaykum Assalam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu,
Sayyiduna Umar was using the linguistic meaning of ‘bid`a’, namely ‘something not done before.’ Of such new matters, those in line with the Prophetic guidance are accepted; those against it are not. As Sayyiduna Umar’s ijtihad was in line with the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), it was not only acceptable, but most praiseworthy and was thus accepted by the consensus of the Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and subsequent generations.
Faraz Rabbani.
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