Muharram Rituals: Shari’ah Ruling

The Shari’ah Ruling on the Rituals of the Tenth of Muharram al-Haram

The Shari’ah Ruling on the Rituals of the Tenth of Muharram al-Haram

From the very beginning of the 1st of Muharram al-Haram, the rituals of innovations and superstitions commence. Some rituals are related to cooking food, some to mourning and grieving, and some to polytheism and innovations.

As we know, this month is one of the sacred months. Therefore, on one hand, we must protect the sanctity of this month, and on the other hand, one of the best deeds of this month is fasting. For this reason, one should fast as much as possible, at the very least, the fast of Ashura. But alas, it is a matter of great sorrow that the people of innovation, in imitation of the Shia, have on one hand declared this a month of grief and committed innovations and superstitions, and on the other hand, have arranged for various types of food in the name of Sabeel-e-Hussain (water stalls for Hussain) and Nazr-o-Niyaz (votive offerings). Where is the sanctity of Muharram, and where is the fast of Ashura? In such circumstances, we must examine these rituals and customs to keep our faith and deeds safe.

(1) Majalis-e-Aza and Marsiya (Mourning Gatherings and Elegies):

From the first to the tenth of Muharram, mourning gatherings are held in which lamentation takes place. Especially, false and fabricated stories related to Karbala are narrated. In this context, hidden attacks are made on Ameer Mu’awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him). Just as the Shia openly curse the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet), they want Muslims to also destroy their faith by cursing a Sahabi. Yazid is cursed and reviled without any proof. Remember that Islam has forbidden us, the Muslims, from mourning. Whoever mourns or establishes a gathering for mourning is not from among the Muslims.

It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said:

ليس مِنَّا من ضربَ الخدودَ ، وشَقَّ الجيوبَ ، ودعا بدَعْوَى الجاهليَّةِ .(صحيح البخاري:1297)

Translation: “He is not one of us who slaps his cheeks, tears his clothes, and calls with the call of the Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance).” (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1297)

Similarly, in the context of the martyrdom of Hussain and mourning, those who open the door to slandering the companion of the Messenger, Ameer Mu’awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), should listen to this statement of the Prophet ﷺ.

عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال : قال النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم :لا تسبوا أصحابي فلو أن أحدكم أنفق مثل أحد ذهبا ما بلغ مد أحدهم ولا نصيفه۔(صحيح البخاري:3673،صحيح مسلم:2541)

Translation: It is narrated from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not revile my companions, for if any of you were to spend gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not reach the measure of one of them, nor even half of it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari: 3673, Sahih Muslim: 2541)

Furthermore, even cursing Yazid without any definitive proof is a transgression and sin. On one hand, Yazid is the son of a companion of the Messenger of Allah, and on the other hand, there is the glad tiding of Paradise for them. Even if we look in the light of the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, it becomes clear that Yazid could not have killed the grandson of the Prophet, because the Prophet ﷺ could not call a murderer maghfoor (forgiven). Upon this, my faith is complete and my conviction is firm.

We must even refrain from insulting a common Muslim. The command of the Prophet ﷺ is:

كَسرُ عَظمِ الميِّتِ كَكَسرِهِ حيًّا(صحيح أبي داود: 3207(

Translation: “Breaking the bone of a deceased person is like breaking it when he is alive.” (Sahih Abi Dawood: 3207)

Here, breaking the bone means disrespecting the deceased, as stated by al-Tibi.

It is a separate issue that one can mourn for three days upon someone’s death. Mourning for three days is permissible, but wailing (i.e., crying, beating oneself, tearing clothes, lamenting) is never permissible.

(2) Mournful Appearance and Condition:

Wearing black clothes, abandoning bathing, removing jewelry, turning stoves upside down, newlywed women staying at their parents’ home, etc., are all acts of mourning. And I have stated above that mourning is permissible for only three days, and then one should not mourn for that deceased person in the second or third year. And no form of wailing is permissible. And then to mourn year after year is to make it a substitute for Sunnah. To such people, I recite this command of the Prophet ﷺ.

من سنَّ في الإسلامِ سُنَّةً حسنةً ، فعُمِل بها بعده ، كُتِبَ له مثلُ أجرِ مَن عمل بها . ولا ينقصُ من أجورِهم شيءٌ . ومن سنَّ في الإسلامِ سُنَّةً سيئةً ، فعُمِل بها بعدَه ، كُتب عليه مثلُ وِزرِ من عمل بها ، ولا ينقصُ من أوزارِهم شيءٌ(صحيح مسلم:1017(

Translation: “Whoever introduces a good practice (Sunnah Hasanah) in Islam, and it is acted upon after him, he will have a reward equivalent to that of those who act upon it, without any reduction in their rewards. And whoever introduces an evil practice (Sunnah Sayyi’ah) in Islam, and it is acted upon after him, he will have a burden of sin equivalent to that of those who act upon it, without any reduction in their burdens.” (Sahih Muslim: 1017)

You should know that all the rituals of mourning are inventions of the Shia. In the year 352 AH, the extremist Shia Ibn Buwayh ordered the closing of shops, wearing mourning clothes, scratching faces, tearing collars, making women wear black clothes, and coming out on the streets and in markets mourning, reading elegies, and beating their chests. The Shia imposed this order on the Sunnis by force, which continues to this day, to the extent that it became customary in India during the rule of Shia rulers.

(3) Liveliness of Graves and Graveyards:

From the beginning of Muharram, the process of cleaning, plastering, and beautifying graves begins, to the point that on the 10th of Muharram, the graves are illuminated and the graveyards become lively. Then men and women, young and old, small and large, all reach the graveyard in crowds, where a fair is held. The business of flowers, garlands, incense sticks, and candles on one side, and the intermingling of men and women on the other. Then, performing rituals of offerings, flowers, garlands, and incense/candles at the graves, bestowing rewards upon the dead through Qul and Fatiha, and seeking help from them.

Visiting graves is a Sunnah act, but turning graves into fairgrounds, prostrating to them, asking for fulfillment of wishes from them, making offerings to them, and praying there are all polytheistic and innovative acts. The Prophet ﷺ forbade these things:

اللهم لا تَجْعَلْ قبري وثنًا يُعْبَدُ، اشتد غضبُ اللهِ على قومٍ اتخذوا قبورَ أنبيائِهم مساجدَ(تخريج مشكاة المصابيح للالبانی : 715، اسنادہ صحیح)

Translation: “O Allah! Do not make my grave an idol that is worshipped. The wrath of Allah is severe upon a people who took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.” (Takhrij Mishkat al-Masabih by al-Albani: 715, its chain is Sahih)

The intermingling of women there is forbidden (haram), the rituals of Qul, Fatiha, incense sticks, and candles are innovations (bid’ah), and plastering graves and making the graveyard lively is a sign that such a person is a grave-worshipper and heedless of the Hereafter. Otherwise, the place from which a lesson is to be learned is not to be embellished; one should shed tears there and refresh the memory of the Hereafter.

(4) Offerings and Water Stalls in the Name of Imam Hussain:

This month is entirely one of offerings. From the first day, women make elaborate preparations for offerings at home. Khichra, Haleem, Biryani, Matar Pulao, Zarda, and Firni etc., are cooked. This is distributed among people and presented as offerings at graves and shrines, especially at Ali Hujwiri, also known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, Hazrat Mian Mir, Hazrat Pir Makki, Hazrat Madho Lal Hussain, Hazrat Khwaja Tahir Bandagi, Hazrat Inayat Hussain Qadri, Hazrat Mauj Darya, and other shrines. Offerings to Imam Hussain are also presented specifically.

Offerings, vows, sacrifices, and slaughter in the name of anyone other than Allah are all forms of polytheism (shirk). Allah Almighty states:

إِنَّمَا حَرَّ‌مَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ‌ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ‌ اللَّهِ (البقرة: 173)

Translation: "He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah." (Al-Baqarah: 173)

Similarly, water stalls (sabeels) are set up in the name of Imam Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him). As a justification, they sometimes say that water was cut off from them, and sometimes they say: “The person who provides generously for his family on the day of Ashura, Allah Almighty will provide for him generously throughout the year.”

Firstly, the matter of water being cut off is itself incorrect. Even if it is accepted, then on the tenth of Muharram, which is the day of Ashura, water stalls should not be set up today. Those who love the Ahl al-Bayt and Muhammad ﷺ should fast on Ashura. The Prophet ﷺ along with the companions were besieged in Shi’b Abi Talib for three years, and food and water were cut off. Do we cut off food and water for ourselves for three years in memory of the companions and the Prophet ﷺ? Worshippers of the stomach can never do this; they are addicted to making excuses to eat good food. The hadith presented for this act is fabricated. Therefore, we must completely refrain from this act.

(5) Procession of Winged Horses:

This horse, named Dhul-Janahayn, resembles a Hindu idol in appearance. It is taken out in the form of a procession on the streets, and participating in it is considered a cause of reward. Seeing this scene, the distinction between the Hindu and Muslim communities seems to fade. There is no concept of idols in Islam; on top of that, considering participation in its procession as a cause of reward is to include it in the worship of Allah. This is how the door to the worship of other than Allah opens. An inanimate object does not possess any benefit or harm, but to give it such a status is to waste one’s other acts of worship. May Allah protect us.

(6) The Ritual of Ta’ziyah:

The origin of the Ta’ziyah is the same as mentioned above for the origin of mourning under point number two. That is, it is an invention of the Shia. Then the event of Karbala was narrated with a lot of color and embellishment to create a strange and unique history of martyrdom. For this, exaggerated and false tales and stories were fabricated. You should know that all these strange stories, false tales, and fabricated accounts related to Karbala have been spread through Shia personages, including Abu Mikhnaf Lut ibn Yahya, Muhammad ibn Sa’ib al-Kalbi, and Hisham ibn Sa’ib al-Kalbi, among others.

The Ta’ziyah, which is a replica of Imam Hussain’s grave, is made of paper, bamboo, and sticks. This is the height and extreme of mourning. In it, besides causing harm to the human body, there are such actions and beliefs that cause faith to leave the heart.

• The replica grave in the Ta’ziyah is considered to be of a living Imam, who is thought to be the knower of the unseen. He is venerated to the extent that he is also called upon for help.
• When the Ta’ziyah is lifted, young children are passed under it with the belief that they will come under the protection of the Imam.
• Just as a grave-worshipper prostrates, stands, makes vows, and seeks help at a shrine, the exact same belief and actions are performed here.
• In the Ta’ziyah procession, polytheistic elegies are sung to the sound of drums and tabors. And in the name of Islam, shameful acrobatics and games are demonstrated. The body is harmed with fire and swords.
• In this procession, a crowd of Muslim women is shoulder to shoulder with men; in fact, it goes so far that young girls are semi-naked, with their hair open, performing ecstatic dances (dhamal).
• The old and young, all together, dance, sing, and perform shameless acts.

Besides these, who knows what other acts are performed? Pray, what do these acts have to do with Karbala, with martyrdom, and with Imam Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him)?

These acts have no connection not just with the event of Karbala but with Islam itself. In fact, most of them fall into polytheism (shirk), and the abode of shirk is Hell.

Allah’s command is:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا(النساء : 116)

Translation: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray." (An-Nisa: 116)

It is a reality that the martyrdom of Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) is a heartbreaking event in Islamic history; no one denies this. But because of this event, people have forgotten all the events of martyrdom in Islamic history. Three of the four rightly guided caliphs were martyred; no mourning, Ta’ziyah, or grief is observed for any of them, nor are they mentioned. Why is only the event of Karbala publicized to such an extent? When you learn its reality, you will find that this is all the work of the Shia. Under the guise of Karbala, they are distorting the face of Islam, spreading polytheism and innovations among Muslims, disrespecting the companions, and inciting one Muslim against another so that the strength of Muslims can never be united. When did we ever get a chance to think about and understand these things?

For Allah’s sake, respect the sanctity of the month and try to fast as much as possible in it. May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to understand the right thing and act upon it. Ameen.

🖋️ Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi, may Allah preserve him
❪Jeddah Da’wah Center, Hayy As-Salamah — Saudi Arabia❫