Mourning Muharram and Other Innovations

In the previous post we discussed the virtues of Muharram and the significance of fasting the day of Ashoora. If you haven't read it, please pause and go through it to understand this article better.

In this post, we will look at some of the popular innovations that take place in the month of Muharram, especially on the 10th (Ashoora).

What is Bid'ah (Innovations)

Let us first understand the meaning of bid'ah according to Islamic Shari'ah.

Bid'ah means introducing things into Islam that have no evidence (daleel) in the Quran and Sunnah to support it.

We have been taught the way to worship Allah by our Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. There is no place of self innovated deviations in the religion.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Every newly invented thing is a bid'ah (innovation), every bid'ah is a going astray, and every going astray will be in the Fire." 

(Reported by Al-Nisaa'i in al-Sunan)

Look at the following hadeeth reported by Al-Bukhari. It clearly states that if someone introduces a new thing in deen, his deed will be rejected. Allah عزوجل won't accept that deed. Therefore, there is no point in claiming that a Bid'ah is acceptable.

The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, 'Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours that is not a part of it will have it rejected.'"

 (Reported by al-Bukhaari)

What Happened on 10th Muharram

Before we dig into the main topic, let us first understand the background and root of these innovations.

10th Muharram marks the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali رضي الله عنه. In 61 A.H, Al-Hussain was killed wrongfully in the battle of Karbala. He was the son of Ali رضي الله عنه (fourth rightly guided caliph) and Fatima رضي الله عنها (daughter of the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم).

Several groups immerged over the years and many innovations started taking place after this incidence. While the Raafidis of Iraq took this day as a day of wailing and expressing sadness, the Naasibis of Syria took this day as a day of Eid and celebration in order to annoy and be different from the Raafidis.

Source - Islamqa

Let's go through some of the common innovations that are followed during Muharram.

 

Public Mourning and Self-mutilation

The Shia and the Rafidis go to extremes to commemorate the martyrdom of Al-Hussain. They take this day (Ashoora) as an annual mourning anniversary and get involved in practices like publicly gathering and wailing, slapping their cheeks, whipping themselves, blood shedding, staying thirsty, walking barefoot, you name it.

This is clear misguidance because such acts are completely prohibited in Islam.

People gathered to observe the Mourning of Muharram

The Prophet الله عليه وسلم صلى said, “He is not one of us who strikes his cheeks, rends his garment, or cries with the cry of the Jaahiliyyah.” 

(Al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

Our reaction to a loss or a calamity is supposed to be completely different from this. We are required to exhibit patience and remember Allah.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “There is no man who suffers a calamity, and when he remembers it, even if it is old, he says ‘Innaa Lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji’oon (Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return),’ but Allaah will give a reward equal to the reward He gave him on the day he suffered the calamity.” 

(Muslim)

This is how we are supposed to react to a calamity. Of course, we love Al-Hussain, we love Ali, we love Ahl ul bayt (family members of the Prophet) - May Allah be pleased with all of them.   We mourn the death of Al-Hussain but we don't go to extremes and take his death as a mourning ritual.

Celebrating this day as Eid

Two extremes have emerged over the years. While one sect goes to an extreme to mark this day as a day of mourning, the other sect has taken this day as a day of celebration or Eid. There are people who perform ghusl, apply kohl, make special food and drinks, and express joy on the 10th Muharram.

This is yet another innovation. Neither of the four imams nor any other scholar of Islam considered such practices as Mustahab.

Refraining from Marriage 

Some people believe that it is Makrooh (disliked) to get married or to propose a marriage in Muharram.

The basic principle is that for something to be considered as impermissible, there should be a sound report to support it. There is nothing in the Quran and the Sunnah to support that marrying in Muharram is haram or makrooh (disliked). Such blatant claims have no place in Islam.

Observing a Special Prayer

Some people pray a special evening prayer consisting of 4 rakats or so on Ashoora. In each rakah they recite Surah Al Ikhlas 50 times. There belief is that the sins of past 50 years and coming 50 years is forgiven by this prayer.

Again, this prayer is not backed by any Islamic evidence.

Preparing a Special Drink and Sweet

On 10th Muharram, people prepare special "Muharram sweet" & "Muharram drink" and distribute it to family, friends and neighbours.

Such customs are not reported from the life of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. None of the companions did it, nor anyone from the tabieen do it.

Final Thoughts

These and several other innovations that have no basis in Islam is widespread in most of the Muslim world. It is our duty to open our eyes to the reality and read the correct history. It's our job to enlighten ourselves and guide others to stop these practices and stick to the sunnah of the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Whenever you are introduced to a righteous deed, ask one question; "Is this deed prescribed in the religion?" Being prescribed in the religion means either mentioned in the Quran or taught to us by Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and followed by the companions and the successive generations.

If your answer after going through all the authentic sources is a "NO", then there is no good practicing that deed.

What is prescribed in the Sunnah is to fast the day of Ashoora, that too for a completely different reason. 10th Muharram (Ashoora) was the day when Allah gave victory to Moosa عليه السلام and saved his people from firaun and his army.

As Muslims, we should practice that which is prescribed in the religion and not that which has been innovated by people over the years.

The core principle of Islam is to worship none except Allah Alone and to worship HIM in the manner as taught by the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Only if we stick to this principle, we can achieve success in Dunya and Aakhirah.