بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Q: Is there a difference between innovation and opposing the Sunnah?
Sheikh Rabee: Opposing the Sunnah is more universal than innovation. Opposing the Sunnah can be sinfulness, often times it is innovation, thus opposing the Sunnah is more general. Innovation, with respect to it, is opposition to the Sunnah as opposition to the guidance of the Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- is to enact that which is not in accordance to what Allah legislated. It is devotion in worship with that which Allah has not legislated. Therefore being devoted to Allah in worship is in accord with what He legislated.
The innovator opposes the Sunnah without a doubt. Likewise the sinner opposes the Sunnah, in fact we say they oppose the Book and the Sunnah. In this case we say about the Sunnah that it often times -refers to- minhaj. “So upon you is my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Successors.”
Translated by Najeeb ibn Yusuf Al Anjelesi
Source: فتاوى فضيلة الشيخ العلامة ربيع بن هادي عمير المدخلي