It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ghudayf (may Allah be pleased with him) that Abdul Malik bin Marwan sent a message to me saying, "O Abu Asma! We have united the people upon two things." I asked, "Which two things?" He replied, "Raising the hands on the pulpit on Friday and delivering admonition after the Fajr and Asr prayers." Sayyiduna Ghudayf (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "In my view, these two things are your most exemplary innovations. I do not accept even one of them." Abdul Malik asked the reason, so he replied, "The reason is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Whenever a people introduce an innovation, an equal amount of Sunnah is taken away from them. Therefore, holding firmly to the Sunnah is better than introducing an innovation.'"