What is the meaning of the Hadeeth:
كُلُّ بِدعةٍ ضَلالةٌ
This hadeeth was narrated by Abu Dawood and it means that most (not every one) of the innovations are innovations of misguidance.
It cannot mean that every innovation is misguidance, because this interpretation contradicts the previous proofs and the proofs of Islam do not contradict one another.
Linguistically, the word (كل) here is a general statement giving a specific meaning and it does not mean (every).
This usage is seen in Qur’an in ‘ayah 25 of surat alAhqaf:
تُدمِّرُ كلَّ شىء
which means the wind Allah sent as punishment to the people of `Aad demolished most of the things but not all the things like trees, skies or the mountains.
Similarly, in the explanation of Saheeh Muslim, anNawawiyy said: The saying of the Prophet, peace on him:
كلُّ عَينٍ زانية
is among the terms which refer to a general statement giving a specific meaning. It clearly does not mean that every eye gazes the look leading to adultery (the forbidden look). The Prophets would never commit such an abject sin and the person blind since birth would surely not have the forbidden look.