Muharram Celebration Of Shia Is Against The Shari'ah

MUHARRAM BEING THE FIRST MONTH OF HIJRA IT IS NO DOUBT OF GREAT HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE. MOREOVER, IT IS ALSO A VERY SACRED MONTH AS THE GREAT DELIVERANCE DAY OF ASHURA FALLS ON THE 10TH OF THIS MONTH. IT IS A VERY SACRED DAY AND MANY EVENTS RELATING TO THE PROPHETS OF YORE TOOK PLACE ON THIS DAY SUCH AS DELIVERANCE OF:

(1) PROPHET IBRAHEEM (A.S.) FROM FIRE;
(2) PROPHET MOSSA (A.S.) FROM THE PURSUING ARMY OF PHARAOH WHO WAS DROWNED AND MOSSA (A.S.) WAS SAVED BY ALLAH.

THE HOLY PROPHET ASKED HIS FOLLOWERS TO RESPECT THIS DAY OF ASHURA BY OBSERVING FAST AND BY DEVOTION TO WORSHIP. THE SHI'ITES HAVE TURNED THIS DAY INTO A DAY OF MOURNING ON ACCOUNT OF THE UNFORTUNATE EVENTS OF KARBALA WHERE HAZRAT HUSSAIN (R.A.) WAS MARTYRED. THE SHI'ITES DEVOTE THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST 10 DAYS, TO MOURNING BY CELEBRATING EVENTS OF THE BATTLE OF KARBALA AND CRYING AND WEEPING, SHEDDING TEARS, BEATING CHESTS BY HANDS AND CHAINS, TAKING OUT TA'ZIA (REPLICA OF THE FUNERAL BIER) AND YELLING "YA-HASAN, YA HUSEIN, YA ALI" ETC. ALL THESE ACTS ARE INNOVATIONS AND PROHIBITED BY THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM. EVEN IN THE CASE OF NEAR AND DEAR ONES, CRYING ALOUD IS NOT PERMITTED AND MOURNING WITH TEARFUL EYES AND PAINFUL HEARTS IS ALLOWED ONLY FOR THREE DAYS. THERE AFTER IT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

IN THE QUR'AN THE MUSLIMS ARE ADVISED :

"O YE WHO BELIEVE !
SEEK HELP IN PATIENCE AND PRAYER; FOR VERILY ALLAH IS WITH THOSE WHO ARE PATIENT." (2 : 153).

IN THE FACE OF QUR'ANIC VERSE AND AHADITH OF THE PROPHET (SAW) HAZRAT HUSSAIN MADE A WILL ( ) TO HER SISTER ZAINAB IN THE PLAINS OF KARBALA WHICH READS: "O MY DEAR SISTER ! I BESEECH YOU IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THAT IF I FELL MARTYR IN THE PATH OF ALLAH, DO NOT TEAR YOUR CLOTHES OR BISMERCH YOUR FACE; DO NOT RAISE HUE AND CRY. THUS HE CONSOLED HIS MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND PREPARED HIMSELF FOR THE JOURNEY TO THE WORLD HEREAFTER" ( VOL. II P. 178).

THE PROPHET (SAW) AT THE TIME OF HIS DEMISE ADVISED HIS BELOVED DAUGHTER FATIMAH NOT TO WAIL OR PLUCK HER HAIR AFTER HIS DEATH OR REPEAT SUCH OTHER PRACTICES OF THE DAY OF JAHILIYAH."

ABDULLAH BIN MASUD REPORTED ALLAH'S MESSENGER AS SAYING, "HE WHO BEATS THE CHEEKS, TEARS THE FRONT OF THE GARMENTS, AND CRIES OUT AS PEOPLE DID IN PRE-ISLAMIC TIMES, DOES NOT BELONG TO US." (BUKHARI AND MUSLIM).

HE ALSO REPORTED ALLAH'S MESSENGER AS SAYING," IF THE WAILING-WOMAN DOES NOT REPENT BEFORE SHE DIES, SHE WILL BE MADE TO STAND ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION WEARING A GARMENT OF PITCH AND A CHEMISE OF MANGE." (MUSLIM).

THE ULAMA OF SHIA RELIGION SHOULD DO SOME SOUL SEARCHING AND SEE WHY IN DEFIANCE OF THE SAYINGS OF THE PROPHET (SAW) AND HADHRAT HUSSAIN, THEY DO ALL SORT OF FLAGRANTLY UN-ISLAIMC THINGS OF THE DAYS OF IGNORANCE ON THE DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF IMAM HUSSAIN EVERY YEAR?

PRESIDENT KHAMENEI OF IRAN TOLD A FRIDAY PRAYER MEETING THAT WRONG CUSTOMS WERE BEING PRACTISED IN COMMEMORATING ASHURA HUSSAINI.

HE SAID ALL CUSTOMS WHICH WERE MERE DEMONSTRATION AND A SHOW ARE AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM. EXCESSIVE AND AIMLESS USE OF MONEY AND RESORCES FOR MERE DISPLAY IN OBERSVING ASHURA KEEPS US AWAY FROM THE PATH OF HUSSAIN. MAKING OF "ALAMS" (FLAGES) AND "TAZIA" WHICH IS NEITHER IN THE SHAPE OF A DOME NOR AN ISLAMIC ARE IS ANOT AN ISLAMIC SYMBOL FOR THESE CELEBRATIONS, THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT SAID. THIS TYPE OF EXPENDITURE IS UN-ISLAMIC (HARAM) AND MARS THE VERY SPIRIT OF ASHURA WHICH SHOULD NOT BE A DAY OF RECREATION.

REFERRING TO THE "FATWA" OF IMAM KHOMENI, HE SAID THAT DURING THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES, LOUNDS SPEAKERS SHOULD NOT BE TOO LOUD AND AT THE PLACES OF MOURNING, NEIGHBOURS SHOULD NOT BE DISTURBED. NOR SHOULD PEOPLE BE COMPELLED TO MOURN IN THE DAYS OF MUHARRAM. MOURNING SHOULD NOT BE A NUISANCE FOR THE PEOPLE." (DAILY THE MUSLIM ISLAMABAD 14TH OCTOBER, 1984).

QAZI MAZHAR HUSSAIN, AMIR, TAHRIK KHUDDAM AHLE-SUNNAH, PAKISTAN HOWEVER, IS OF THE CONSIDERED OPINION THAT BEWAILING AND OTHER SUCH PRACTICES CONNECTED WITH MUHARRAM HAVE BECOME A PART OF SHIA RELIGION AND THE ABOVE REFERRED PERSONALITIES ONLY BY WAY OF TAQIYA HAVE TENDERED THIS ADVICE TO SHIA TO GAIN THE GOODWILL OF THE SUNNIS WHO WANT PEACE AND TRANSQUALITY TO PREVAIL IN THE BEGINING OF THE HIJRI YEAR I.E. MUHARRAM.

A MAJOR FACTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROGRESS AND ADVANCEMENT OF SHIA RELIGION IS THE MOURNING ASSEMBLIES AND PROCESSIONS ON AUSHRA FROM 1 TO 10 OF THE MUHARRAM EVERY YEAR. IN INDO-PAKISTAN THESE MOURNING ASSEMBLIES AND PROCESSIONS ARE CONTINUING SINCE THE DAYS OF BRITISH COLONIALISM WHEN THE COLONIAL REGIME ISSUED REGULAR PERMITS FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE BRITISH WANTED TO BOOST THE POWER TO SHIAS AGAINST THE SUNNIAS SO THAT THROUGH SUCH DIVISION THEY COULD NOT ONLY PROLONG THEIR RULE IN INDIA BUT ALSO TO WEAKEN THE STRENGTH OF MUSLIMS THROUGH PROMOTING DIVISION AND MUTUAL RIVALRIES. EVEN AFTER THE CREATION OF PAKISTAN, THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN GIVING PATRONAGE TO SUCH SHIA FESTIVALS AND ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THE SHIAS ARE WELL-ENTRONCHED IN KEY POSITIONS. THE SHIA ACTIVITIES ON THE RELIGIOUS FRONT ARE ON THE INCREASE EVERY YEAR. ONE OF THE MAJOR REASON FOR SHIA-SUNNI CLASHES IN PAKISTAN DURING THE BEGINNING OF MUHARRAM IS THAT THE SHIAS TAKE OUT TAZIA ETC. IN FRONT OF THE SUNNI MASJIDS AND EVEN RAISE OBJECTIONALBE SLOGANS WHICH HURT THE RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS OF THE MUSLIMS AND CLASHES START ON THIS ACCOUNT.

SWAD-E-AZAM AHLE-SUNNAH, PAKISTAN & TEHRIK KHUDDAM AHLE-SUNNAH, PAKISTAN ( ) HAVE THEREFORE, DEMANDED THAT:

(1) ALL MOURNING PROCESSIONS BE BANNED OR THEY MAY BE RESTRICTED TO SHIA IMAMBARAS ONLY AS IS THE CASE IN IRAN.

(2) PAKISTAN BE DECLARED AS A SUNNI MUSLIM STATE ( JUST AS IRAN IS A SHIA STATE NOT WITH STANDING ITS CLAIM TO 'ISLAMIC REVOLUTION' WHICH HAS POLITICAL OVERTONES FOR THE PROPAGATION OF SHIA TENETS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD).

(3) THE SHIA KALIMAH AND AZAN (WHICH IS AGAINST THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM ) SHOULD BE BANNED.

(4) SHIA LITERATURE CASTING ASPERSIONS ON SAHABA, WIVES AND DAUGHTERS OF THE PROPHET (SAW) SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN FROM CIRCULATION FORTHWITH.

(5) ORDINANCE RELATING TO (PROTECTION OF THE HONOUR OF SAHABA AND AHLE-BAIT) SHOULD BE ENFORCED IN LETTER AND SPIRIT.

ALTHOUGH A FEW SHIA BOOKS AGAINST THE SAHABAH HAVE BEEN PROSCRIBED BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AGAINST THE CULPRITS BY THE LAW AND ORDER MACHINERY. THE SHIA THUS CONTINUE TO FLOUT THIS ORDINANCE WITH IMPUNITY WHICH SHOULD NO LONGER BE PERMITTED ANY FURTHER.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT BOWING TO SHIA PRESSURE THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN ON 18TH OCTOBER, 1980 AMENDED ARTICLE NO. 227 OF 1973 CONSTITUTION WHEREBY QU'AN AND SUNNAH WOULD MEANS THE QUR'AN AND SUNNAH AS INTERPRETED BY THAT PARTICULAR SECT. THIS WOULD OBSCURE THE CHANCES OF ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT ON THE PATTERN OF KHALIFAT-E-RASHIDAH IN PAKISTAN ALGHOUTH IN THE UNDER-MENTIONED HADITH THE PROPHET (SAW) HAD LAID GREAT EMPHASISES TO THEIS EFFECT:

"I ENJOY YOU TO FEAR ALLAH AND TO HEAR AND OBEY YOUR LEADERS EVEN IF IT BE AN ABYSSINIAN SLAVE, FOR THOSE OF YOU LIVE AFTER ME WILL SEE GREAT DISAGREEMENT. YOU MUST, THEREFORE, FOLLOW MY SUNNAH AND THAT OF THE RIGHTLY GUIDED CALIPHS. HOLD TO IT AND STICK FAST TO IT. AVOID NOVELTIES FOR EVERY NOVELITY IS AN INNOVATION, AND EVERY INNOVATION (IN RELIGION) IS ERROR." (AHMAD ABU DAUD, TIRMIDHI AND IBN MAJAH).

NOTES

1. UMM HAKIM DAUGHTER OF HARITH BIN HISHAM WHO WAS IN THE WEDLOCK OF IKRAMA BIN ABU JAHAL ASKED THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH: WHAT IS THAT PARTICULAR VIRTUE ABOUT WHICH ALMIGHTLY ALLAH HAS ORDERED THAT WE SHOULD NOT DISOBEY YOU ? THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH REPLIED: THAT VIRTUE IS THAT YOU DO NOT BEAT YOUR CHEEKS (IN GRIEF), DO NOT BESMIRCH YOUR FACES, DO NOT UNLOCK YOUR HAIR, DO NOT TEAR YOUR CLOTHING, DO NOT DYE BLACK YOUR CLOTHES AND TO NOT YELL WHILE WEEPING." THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH TOOK BAYAT (OATH OF ALLIGIANCE) FROM WOMEN UPON SUCH A CONFESSION. THIS HADITH IS ALSO FOUND IN SHIA BOOKS LIKE FAROOH KAFI, VOL. II AND AS SUCH MOURNING AND YELLING STANDS PROHIBITED EVEN ACCORDING TO SHIA SOURCES.

2. MAULANA AHMAD RAZA KAHN BRELVI, FOUNDER OF BRELVI SCHOOL OF THOUGHT AMONG THE SUNNI MUSLIMS OF INDO-PAKISTAN SUB-CONTINENT HAS DECLARED. (TAZIA MOURNIG PROCESSION) AS BIDAH, NOT PERMISSIBLE AND HARAM ( PP. 3 & 4). THE SAME MAULANA WAS ONCE QUESTIONED ABOUT ENTERING INTO MATRIMOMAL TIES WITH RAFIDA (SHIAS). HE REPLIED THAT THIS IS NOT PERMISSIBLE (IN SHARIAH). THIS SITUATION (OF SOCIAL INTERCOUSE WITH SHIAS) ARISES WHEN IMAN (FAITH) HAS DQINLED AND LOVE OF ALLAH AND RASUL-ALLAH (S.A.W.) HAS DEPARTED. ALMIGHTY ALLAH SAYS IN THE QUR'AN: "AND IF THE DEVIL CAUSE THEE TO FORGET, SIT NOT, AFTER THE REMEMBRANCE, WITH THE CONGREGATION OF WRONGDOERS." (6 : 68).
RASUL-ALLAH (SAW) IS REPORTED TO HAVE SIAD: "KEEP AWAY FROM THEM AND DO NOT LET THEM TO COME NEAR YOU LEST THEY MISLEAD YOU AND LAND YOU IN TROUBLE ( )".
THERE IS A SPECIFIC HADITH ABOUT RAFIDA: "A SECT IS GOING TO EMERGE WHO WILL BE KNOWN BY A BAD CONNOTATION. THEY WILL BE CALLED RAFIDA. THEY WILL COME NEITHER ON FRIDAY NOR IN THE CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS. THEY WILL VILLIFY THE FIRST GENERATION (OF UMMAH). YOU SHOULD NEITHER KEEP THEIR COMPANY NOR DINE WITH THEM, NOR HAVE MATRIMOMIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. IF THEY FALL ILL DO NOT GO TO GREET THEM AND IF THEY DIE DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THEIR FUNERAL PRAYERS."
NOW-A-DAYS RAFIDAS GENERALLY DENY THE FUNDAMENTALS OF DEEN AND (AS SUCH) ARE DEFINITELY RENEGADES ( ). NONE OF THEIR MEN OR WOMEN CAN LAWFULLY BE MARRIED TO A SUNNI MALE OR FEMALE.

EARLIER IN OCTOBER, 1974 DURING THE BHUTTO GOVERNMENT SEPARATE SYALLABUS FOR SHIA STUDENTS IN RESPECT OF DEENIYAT (ISLAMIC STUDIES) WAS INTRODUCED AT THE DEMAND OF SHIAS SHICH TENDED TO SHOW THAT SHIA ARE DIFFERENT FROM AHLE-SUNNAH. THE MUSLIMS OF PAKISTAN LET BY TEHRIK KHUDDAM AHLE-SUNNAH AND OTHER ISLAIMIC ORGANISTIONS PROTESTED OVER THIS MOVE AND DEMANDED: "DEENIYAT IN GOVERNMENT AND SEMIGOVERNMENT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE TAUGHT ACCORDING TO SUNNI MUSLIMS BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES WHO ARE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY IN THIS COUNTRY AND SHIAS SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT AT PAR WITH THEM BY INTRODUCING SEPARATE COURSE OD DEENIYAT FOR THEM AS THAT WOULD LEAD TO DISPUTES AND DISSIPIATION. THE EXAMPLE OF NEIGHBOURING COUNTRY IRAN IS BEFORE US AS A PRECEDENT WHERE DEENIYAT IS TAUGHT ACCORDING TO THE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF SHIA ATHNA ASHARA."

MAULANA MUHAMMAD YUSUF BENORI, PRESIDENT, MAJLIS TAHAFAZ KHATME NUBBAWAT, PAKISTAN WROTE THE FOLLOWING AGAINST THE PROPOSAL FOR A SEPARATE SYALLABUS OF DEENIYAT FOR THE SHIAS:" SUCH A PROPOSAL IS (EVEN) AGAINST THE POLITICAL INTERESTS OF THE STATE. THE SHIAS SHOULD CLARIFY THEIR STAND IN REGARD TO SUCH A DEMAND. IF THEY THINK THAT SINCE THEY ARE UNANIMOUS IN LEVELLING THE CHARGE OF KUFR AGAINST HADHRAT ABU BAKAR AND HADHRAT UMAR AND THEY CONSIDER ALL THE SAHABAH AS KAFIRS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THREE OR FIVE THEY CONSIDER MUTA AS PART AND PARCEL OF THEIR FAITH AND TAQIYAH AS THE BASIS OF ISLAM AND SUCH OTHER UNTENABLE BELIEFS -- AND IN THE LIGHT OF SUCH KNOWN BELIEFS THEY SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MUSLIMS. IT WAS DEEMED NECESSARY THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE PUBLIC THEIR INTENTIONS MUCH BEFORE SO THAT THE SHIAS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TREATED AS AN ISLAMIC SECT HERE AND INCLUDED AMONG THE MONORITIES . . . . . . . IN REALITY SUCH PROPOSALS AND EXPEDIENCIES TEND TO SHOW THAT THE STATE RELIGION OF PAKISTAN IS NOT ISLAM BUT IN FACT IT IS A SECULAR STATE." (MONTHLY MISAQ, RAMADAN 1392 H).

HOWEVER, SUCH REQUESTS AND PLEADINGS FELL ON DEAF EARS AND SHIAS WHO WHERE VERY VOCAL IN THEIR DEMAND CARRIED THE DAY AND BHUTTO WAS HER-SELF AN IRANIAN SHIA AND WESTERNISHED WIVES HAVE GREAT INFLUENCE OVER SECULAR MINDED PERSONS AS IS EVIDENT IN THIS CASE.
WHILE IN IRAQ THE FORCES OF KHOMENI ARE HAVING A DIRECT HIT AGAINST THE ARABS, IN CASE OF PAKISTAN THEIR POLICY SEEMS TO BE IN HAVING AN INDIRECT ONE THROGH THE SHIAS BY NOT LETTING HER GROW INTO AN IDEOGICAL STATE ON THE MODEL OF KHALIFAT-E-RASHIDAH.