‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎﺕ ِ ﻣﺮﻭﺟﮧ ﻭ ﺭﺳﻮﻡ ِ ﺑﺎﻃﻠﮧ‬

‫ﻌﻨﯽ‬
o m‫ﻳ‬
f .c
a
Current h n Innovations
.A and
w
w
Groundless
w Customs
by

Mufti Rasheed Ahmed Ludhyanvi [ Rahimahullah ]

Founder and chancellor of

Darul'ifta wal Irshad – Nazimabad # 4,Karachi

Pakistan

Translation into English

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Wahid Sayyid
Presented by : http://www.ahnaf.org
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
FOREWORD

m
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. In my sermons
o
f. c
(preaching) correction of wrong deeds and giving up of sins are empha-
sized because these are the foundations of piety and religiosity. From
a
among these wrong acts are the prevalent customs of sending over
n
A h
recompense to the dead which happen to be contrary to the way of
sending over recompense prescribed by Allah's Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi
.
w
wasallam) and which are an unapproved of innovation in the Islamic
w
religion because of their being a novel practice in Islam. That is why I keep
w
talking about the correction of these innovations also. Praise be to Allah
that due to this humble effort several people have renounced different
unacceptable deeds and unapproved-of innovations.

One recent event happens to be that a gentleman who was

susceptible to committing innovations received guidance from a talk of
mine and he repented from these innovations. Because of his forswearing
of unapproved-of innovations his brethren ostracized him. However, he did
not care for his brethren's approval in comparison with Allah's approval.
If the whole world gets angry.
One Should not worry.
One should keep the
Wish of one's love in mind.
You should decide by using
this -criterion only as to what should
be done and what should not
be done.
The Muslim's character and his relation with his Creator demand that:

‫اﮔﺮ اک ﺗﻮ ﻧﮩﯿﮟ ﻣﯿﺮا ﺗﻮ ﮐﻮﺋﯽ ﺷﮯ ﻧﮩﯿﮟ ﻣﯿﺮی‬

‫ ﻓﻠﮏ ﻣﯿﺮا زﻣﯿﮟ ﻣﯿﺮی‬،‫ﺟﻮ ﺗﻮ ﻣﯿﺮا ﺗﻮ ﺳﺐ ﻣﯿﺮا‬
If you are not mine, nothing belongs to me….
1
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
If you are mine, everything is mine-----the sky, the earth, everything
belongs to me.

o m
The sustaining beneficent Allah in all His mercy guided this man and
. c
blessed and directed him towards the right path. Allah saved this man
f
n a
from the devil's ambuscade and took him to the kindness of Allah's
Prophet, the master in the two worlds here and hereafter, the great bene-
h
factor, the mercy for all worlds (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam). In gratitude for
A
.
this blessing this gentleman wished that the discourse be published "as
w
much as possible as much as possible in the form of a booklet so it
w
becomes a source of guidance for other brethren gone astray. He
w
accordingly wrote out this discourse -from its taped version and asked for
my_ permission to publish it. I grant the permission to publish it after
having reviewed it from a critical point of view.
Oh Allah, we pray to you through that limitless mercy of yours--
---an emanation of which turned and changed the outlook or a heart and
mine and through which a person gone astray came back to the
right path-----that you grant us-----all the readers and audience of this dis-
course-------the same aforementioned, blessing of yours, and that you
help us, and make this discourse a means of guidance of your worship-
pers.

Oh Allah, accept our humble efforts, bless our deeds, make this
work a source of continuing requital till the Day of Judgment for us, for our
seniors and predecessors, and for your beloved Prophet, the. great
benefactor (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) and make it a means of your and
your beloved Prophet's(SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) pleasure and our
proximity to you and to him (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam).
Oh Allah, help us. Nothing can materialize without your help. You
are the resort of broken hearts. We return to you. Only you can fulfill our
aims.

2
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
May Allah bless His beloved Prophet, his people and
companions, and bestow upon then benediction and peace------
with your grace, oh the kindest of all.
o m
.c (Mufti) Rasheed Ahmad

n af (Rahimahullah)
30th Muharram, 1402 A.H.

A h
. ‫ﺑﺴﻢ اﷲ اﻟﺮﺣﻤٰﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ‬
w
w
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the beneficent.
w
INNOVATIONS:
The sin that ensues from innovations in Islam in considered wrongly by
some to be a virtue. How can a man repent from a vice which he considers to be
a virtue? One can eventually repent from a sin which one knows to be a sin.
Supposing one does not repent from a particular sin, at least one recognizes
oneself to be a sinner. If one confesses one's sin, professes it, is ashamed of it,
may be Allah will take pity on that person. But one, who takes a vice to be a
virtue, it is clear cannot repent, cannot feel ashamed in his heart pf hearts.
Instead having committed such like sins a man is overjoyed because he has
done a deed of virtue. That is why the Holy Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam)
has said. "Every innovation is a deviation and every deviation is in the fire".
The Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) says: Everything I have not
bidden nor have my companions (May Allah be pleased with them) bidden, and
which we have not acted upon, is an innovation in case people begin to do it as a
cause for recompense. Every such innovation is a deviation and every deviation
will lead to the fire of the Hell.

If we appeal to reason, reason is enough as a deciding factor, Is it

reasonable to consider a virtue what Allah did not command to be a virtue, His
prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) did not announce to be a virtue, the
Prophet's Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not, act according
to nor called a virtue, the generation following the Prophet's companions (may
3
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
Allah bless them) did not act according to nor informed about, the religious
scholars (may Allah's mercy envelop them) did not tell about nor acted upon. If
we commit such an act that we consider a virtue, let us think-----when we rise
m
from here, let us think------let us think real well, how it became a virtue. May
o
f. c
Allah give us the ability to think about this problem.

a
Whenever t happen to think of this problem, by Allah I feel disturbed as to
n
A h
what happened to the Muslim nation. The Muslims gainsay the teachings of Allah
and Allah's Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) and still call themselves
Muslims. .
w
w
It is painful to me-----not painful in the same way as to see the
w
sinful people------that some people who call themselves Muslims consider the
disobeying and gainsaying of Allah's and His Prophet's (may SallAllahu alaihi
wasallam) commands to be a virtue.
It is very distressing. Please pray that Allah may grant me the ability to explain in
such a way that we fully understand the issue, completely comprehend it, and
then be blessed by Allah with the ability to act accordingly. Amen.

Think, Think also when you have risen here. If you think continuously for several
days, you may understand to some extent. Think this that what Allah did not say,
Allah's Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) did not say, the Companions of the
Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) did not say or do, the religious
leaders (may Allah bless them) did not say or do, where did you learn from after
several hundreds of years? We are forced to answer that the devil inspires some
minds. It is said in the Holy Book that "the devils do inspire their minions to
dispute with you" (6:121).

There is a kind of revelation from Allah to His Prophets (peace be with

then). The other kind of inspiration is from the devil in the hearts of the sinful
disobedient people. The devil inspires evil ideas in the hearts of these people,
to oppose the ways of Allah tries to present irreligion in the form of religion. If
Allah has not ordained something which according to you deserves
recompense, then what shall we say? By adopting an innovation you claim
(Allah save me from the evil of that saying) more knowledge than
Allah's. You claim that Allah did not know the virtue of what you

4
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
knew. Or you can say that Allah knew its virtue but deliberately hid the
way that pleases Him and did not reveal it. Now after such a long time you
came to know of it. How did you, brother, come to know if it? When Allah
m
had hidden something, how did you learn about it?
o
f . c
You may alternatively suggest that Allah had told His Prophet
a
(SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) but, Allah forbid, the Prophet (peace be with
n
A h
him) did not grasp it, Or after grasping it forgot about it. In this way you
may suggest that (Allah protect us from that) the Prophet (peace be
.
with him) did not know about these things, his knowledge of these things
w
(Allah save us from saying that) was imperfect, and he did not know that the
w
things we claim have virtue had virtue, and if he knew will then say that
w
(Allah protect us from saying that) the Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam)
Allah forbid committed perfidy, or did not proclaim and impart religious
ordinances completely. Or would you say that the Prophet's companions
(may Allah be pleased with them) did not communicate the religion to their
followers nor did they abide by it themselves.

Think about each and everything what will your mind reply? Didn't Allah
know? Didn't Allah's Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) know? Or would you
say that Allah (Allah forbid) scrimped its propagation? Or would you say that
Allah's Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) did not (Allah forbid) communicate all
the ordinances? Or the Prophet's companions (may Allah be pleased with them)
did not sure up to their responsibility? What will you decide? For Allah's sake
think! Ponder! For Allah's Sake think again. The Most severe crime, the most
heinous sin, the most profane person is less than this innovation, this sin which is
a real vice but which you consider a virtue.

To consider something part of religion which actually does not belong to

religion and to attribute something to Allah and Allah's prophet (SallAllahu alaihi
wasallam) which they did not ordain, surely leads to infernal Fires. Allah's
Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) said, "One who intentionally lied about' me,
should take his abode from fire" That is, one who attributes mendaciously
something to the Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) will go to hell.

5
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
Think! If you call those things credit worthy that Allah did not ordain, then
are you not establishing your rule parallel to Allah's rule? You want to run your
own rule in opposition to the rule of Allah and His Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi
m
wasallam). The faith belongs to Allah, the rule belongs to Allah. Since Allah did
o
f. c
not make such a rule as you want, it seems as if you wish to ordain law opposing
Allah's law. This is known as high treason, establishing a parallel government.
a
The biggest lawbreaker can be forgiven but hot the one who establishes a
n
parallel government.
A h
Sending Over .Recompense: Yes, It is such a problem that its
introduction became so
reform the current w
wlengthy. That is because I know that it is very difficult to
methods. Only if Allah helps, then it will not be difficult. The
w over recompense to the dead is quite easy. But the methods
process of sending
of this process that are being currently adopted are such that neither Allah pres-
cribed them nor His prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam). These methods were
opted for neither by the Prophet's companions (may Allah be pleased with them)
nor by the religious leaders (may Allah have mercy on them).
Let me tell you the story of a religious person. Not only is this one religious, he is
the proprietor of a religious institution. In other words he is that kind of a religious
person who produces scholars on religion.

He is not only religious himself, he prepares others for religious careers.

He is the proprietor of the institution where persons equipped with religious
knowledge, where scholars or religion are produced. Also that religious person
has been a student of mine. Not only that, he has been a student unlike today's
(selfish) students-----he is very sincere, most loving, most obedient, most
helpful. Recently when his mother passed away, he began to plan to follow the
custom of sending over recompense on the third day of the death. I pointed out
to him that the third-day custom was not proper, was against the tradition of our
Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam). There is no evidence in our religion of
sending over recompense to the dead in this way. I told him he had better not do
that. In spite of his being my most helpful obedient student as well as a religious
scholar, he paid a deaf ear to my advice. Upon that I told him that if he still
continued that, I would not be party to this sin. He insisted on my joining the
ceremony, but I refused to participate in it. at last he said, If we do not do it,

6
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
people will become angry with us. That is why we are forced to do it. I answered
him by saying :

m
"At first I thought you are doing an innovation. Now I have come to know
o
f . c
what you are doing is not only an innovation in the religion, it is also idolatry. That
is because what you are doing is not for Allah's sake. You dread people so much
a
that you begin to worship them. That is idolatry parse. You are doing so to please
n
A hpeople rather than Allah."

. but he did not accept my advice. He was so obedient

I advised him a lot,
w me down. But now the devil taught him to insist to
that he had never turned
disobey me. At lastwhe celebrated the third day of the death. People are afraid
w will taunt them and say that this survivor has no regard for
that their acquaintances
his deceased relative. They think that their honor will be lost in society. People try
not to cut a sorry figure, even though one gets one's head chopped off.

To illustrate it the following story will help. A group of people whose noses
had been cut off was sitting together. A man with an uncut nose joined them.
Everybody began to laugh at him and mockingly say "The man with the nose
came1 The man with the nose came". This man with the nose was as courageous
as that religious person who feared that his brethren will get displeased with him
if he did not follow the third-day custom. So the man with the nose took out his
knife and cut off his nose. Just imagine how much people are afraid of their
brethren. These brethren on the other hand are so cruel that as soon as
somebody's relative passes away, they get ready to enjoy themselves and feast
at the deceased person's relatives' expense.

I tend to believe that these days should somebody fall sick his relatives
might not be praying for his quick recovery, instead they might be praying for his
instant death so they can enjoy a banquet. When they might be through with
one's third-day or the fortieth-day ceremony, they might be praying that some
else should fall sick and die so again they can feast. When they might be through
with his fortieth-day ceremony, they might be wishing ill-health to someone else.
As soon as somebody should reach hospital, they must begin to indulge in
overabundant merry-making and exclaim with joy: "The feast is ready: The feast
is ready1" in the manner of vultures hovering over a corpse.

7
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ

The shameless so-called Muslim of today as well as shame-faced

members of society hover like vultures over the dead body exclaiming "Now we
m
shall find food" Now we shall find food". If one does not fear Allah, if one does not
o
f. c
think of the Day of Judgment, if one is not worried how one will account for one's
deeds, and if one is not mindful of Allah and Islam, one should at least have
a
some shame, some pity for the person whose relative died. This person is
n
A h
aggrieved with his relative's death and a lot of money was spent on the sick
person's treatment before he died, but shameless society only thinks of feasting
.
on what remains. The members of Society Says,
w
w"Feed us with what is left in you house!"
w
Once in this area I noticed that big feast arrangements were being made.
I took it to be somebody's wedding. But when I asked around, I discovered that it
was somebody's death. These relatives are so heartless and cruel that they
enjoy feasts on their relatives' deaths as if these were wedding occasions. My
hair stands on end even imagining such shamelessness. I wonder how delicious
food goes down the throats of these shameless relatives.

If you really want to send the recompenses of good deeds to your

relatives, if you really love the dead soul, if you really feel sympathetic and
merciful towards the dead person, then why isn't the way prescribed by the
greatest benefactor of humanity Allah's Apostle (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam)
enough for you? Listen, what is the essence of sending over the recompense of
good deeds?

If you do any good deed that you normally do for yourself with the
intention of sending over its reward to others, they will receive the reward of this
good deed. If you intend in whatever virtues you do whether you offer voluntary
prayers, whether you keep fast of your own accord, whether you recite al-Qur'an
or bid Allah's name, whether you give out charity and alms, perform the
pilgrimage, visit the Holy Mosque, perform circumambulations, in short in
whatever voluntary good deed that you perform for yourself-----chat its reward
be given over to such and such a relative of mine, he will receive it if you have
so intended. Only this is called the sending over of the recompense of good
8
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
deeds to the dead. The full reward that was to come to you will come to you as
well as to those who you intended should receive the reward.

m
There is another widespread misunderstanding. People think that only the
o
f . c
dead can receive the reward of good deeds. Please understand clearly that as
you can send over the reward of good deeds to the dead, in the same way you
a
can send over this reward to the alive. I published in my will that recompense of
n
some
A h
good deeds should continually be sent over to me. A question came to

.
people's minds that this man was still alive so how could the reward of good
w
deeds be sent over to him.
w
That is why I am explaining that even an alive person could be given the reward
w
of virtuous deeds,. Intend in whatever virtues you do for yourself what so and so
should also receive the reward and he will receive the reward. Allah's
prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) said:

"There are seven types of people of people whom Allah will put will put in
the shade on the day when there will be no shade except Allah's shade.
(Prophet's saying) (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam). These seven kinds of people are
those whom Allah will grant shade in His mercy when there will be no shade
anywhere else. People will be drenched in their sweat because of their sins. The
more the sins, the more the perspiration. Some people ;will be drowned in their
sweat upto the knee, other upto the belly-button, others up to the chest, others
up to the lips, and thee will be quite a few who will be completely drowned in their
sweat.

Allah's Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) says that on that day Allah
will grant seven groups of people shade in His mercy who will be spared the
sweat and heat of that day. Mentioning here all seven will make this talk long.
Praise be to Allah that I read this saying of the Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi
wasallam) everyday without exception. It is one of my usual activities. I read this
saying from the viewpoint of checking as to in which groups I already am and into
which groups ;I can enter so I make an effort to enter into them. What good news
this saying of the Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) contains. We should think
as to which groups we can become part of but are not becoming because of our

9
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
negligence. Once in a lecture I explained in detail the method of joining all seven
groups. May Allah bless us all and include us in all seven groups. Amen'…….

m
One of those seven in Allah's shade is one who hides giving charity from
o
f . c
the people to the extent that his left does not know when his right hand gives the
charity as to whom the right hand gave and how much it gave. It is said that this
a
act has so much credit that Allah will protect such a person on the Day of
n
A h
Judgment from the heat of that day and will give him shade in his mercy. Let us
think now that since concealment of distributing .charity earns such a great
.
reward, why do you make such a public occasion when you give out charity to
w
send its recompense at somebody's death. Why do you not hide your alms?

Yes, one w
w
thing did not get mentioned. I enquired of that religious scholar
as to how much he would spend on his mother's third-day-after-death ceremony.
He mentioned a certain sum. I told him to spend twice as much if he wished but
not publicly. He could have privately distributed the money among his students or
he could have given it to the poor of his area. We do not stop people from giving
away alms. Give more, give double. But why do- you insist on holding a
banquet? Give away as much charity as you wish, but in accordance with the
tradition of the Holy Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) But other's taunt keeps
people from doing the right thing. They are afraid of being accused of not caring
for their relatives as per the Urdu Proverb that is "the cursed person died and
nobody cried". They fear that society will calumniate. People deify society will you
be able to get away with this answer in front of Allah on the Day of Judgment. On
that day you will have to account for all your deeds and nobody will be able to
help anybody else:

That will be the day when a person will run away from his brother, his mother and
father, his wife and sons.

Allah has said that on that day the husband will run away from his wife
and the wife from her husband, the father from the son and the son from the
father, the brother will run away from his own brothers. Only Allah in His mercy
will help people otherwise nobody there will help anybody else. For Allah's sake
think: Will this society for which you are putting your life hereafter at stake help

10
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
you on that occasion? The hidden charity has such a great credit. Will you still
say: No, we must throw out a banquet instead?

m
There is another thing with relation to this that should be pointed out. It a
o
f. c
man has a little bit of reason, he can understand that it is better to give money to
a poor person instead of holding of a banquet for him. The poor person can use
a
money for any of his needs. The poor person is in need of clothes to put on,
n
A h
house to live in, blankets to use in the winter, books and school supplies to study
in addition to school fees, medicine if he gets sick, fare if he needs to travel and
.
lots of other needs. Anything he needs in the world he can buy with money. In
w
case a person is not in need of something today, he may put aside money for
w
tomorrow's need. Even food can be bought with money. That is why it is better to
w
give alms in the form of money. Anything that is a greater use to a poor person
will have greater reward.

Another advantage in giving the money is that it is hidden and does not
require a ceremony. Giving in hiding credits shade in Allah's mercy on the
Judgment Day. The second merit in giving money in hiding is that money is more
useful to a poor man and that is why it has greater reward. But the Devil has
suggested to them to distribute food only. Even though the poor man has a
stomachache, still give him food and more food. Only then, they presume, one
will get credit otherwise one will get nothing. The strangest things that while the
reward of the virtue comes from giving alms to the poor, in holding a banquet
nobody lets a poor person get near; the relatives eat all of it. It is presumed that
the reward of the alms given to the poor is to be sent to the dead person, but
instead of alms the money is spent on the food to be gulped by the relatives.
Even the rich people on such occasions present themselves as if they are poor.
How do they accept to so shame-faced?

When it is time for the third-day ceremony or the tenth day or the fortieth
day ceremony and Allah knows for what other baseless things, well-to-do rich,
wealthy people participate in eating as if they are quite poor on such occasions
they make themselves extremely poor. That is great injustice. That is opposing
Allah's Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam). What cheating and what shame-
fadedness it is that one should wrongly show oneself to be poor and in that guise
eat up what belongs to the poor.
11
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ

When there is more credit in giving the money, also it is hidden, and the
money fulfils the need of the needy, and the money in the form of alms will go to
m
the poor only, then why do people not adopt the method of giving out money.
o
f . c
Why do people insist on holding a banquet? Another disadvantage is appointing
the time and the form is restricting and limiting what has no restrictions. Allah
a
says that you can send the credit of virtue in any form, whatever you can,
n
A h
wherever you can, whenever you can, and however you can. Allah in His great
mercy accepts every voluntary act of virtue performed with sincerity. Allah is
.
every where with us, He sees us, He accepts our good deeds. Allah listens to us
w
and looks at us. Allah knows us and is aware of our conditions. But the Devil has
w
taught the lesson of holding the credit-passing ceremony on the third-day alone
w
neither before nor after. Also it is done in the house of the dead person, they
send the credit of their virtues from their own respective houses, will Allah
not accept that. Also if they send the credit individually. What will happen. Why
does it have to be done collectively? If they send the reward of their good deeds
individually, will their leader, their lord "Devil" not accept it? They consider the
Devil their lord and that is why they follow the Devil's teachings in preference to
the teachings of Allah and His Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam).

Allah's mercy is vast. Wherever and whenever you send the reward of
your virtues, Allah will accept. People themselves have imposed so many
restrictions as to it should be done only on the third, the tenth and the fortieth
day, must be done at the dead persons house, must be done collectively, and the
same thing must be recited by everybody. People usually recite al-Qur'an from
the beginning to the end. If somebody says on such an occasion that he will
stand in prayer to Allah during that time or will repeat Allah's name and send its
reward to the dead person's soul, people will not permit that. Everybody has to
do what everybody else is doing. Allah may save us: once I joined such
ceremony. I did not know ahead of the time what will happen there. I thought that
people would be forwarding the reward of their good deeds in the right way, so I
joined. No sooner did they finish the recitation of Al-Qur'an, one gentlemen stood
up as their leader. The leader began to recite. Although the whole al-Qur'an had
been read, the leader again read first "Surah al Fatihah" then the first part of
Surah al-baqarah then the last part of the same "Surah" many other verses from
al-Qur'an which I do not now recall. He was reciting and all the rest were listening
12
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
to him. He was their leader and the others were his followers and were listening
to him. After that they made some long requests to Allah and then the food
began to be served. I told them that if they were not offering that food for credit
m
but only for fear of the community, even then that food was not in order, although
o
f . c
it was not an innovation. But if they were considering this way of offering food as
a religious ceremony which will gain them credit from Allah, then it was
innovation on their part.
n a
A h
This way of doing things is against the ways prescribed by Allah and His
.
prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) and is inventing a system in opposition to
w
Islamic system. Those people said: If we did not consider it a virtuous act, then
w
why shall we do it. We are doing it because we consider it virtuous. I said: then it
w
is an open innovation. If you do not consider offering food after death a virtue
then we may say that you are doing it for fear of people. People do not fear from
Allah as much, instead dread other people more. But when you say that you do it
because you consider it a virtue, that means that you rebel against Allah and His
Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) and oppose them. Who are you to consider
as virtuous what Allah and His Holy Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) did not
make virtuous. How can a worthless humble person oppose Allah and his Holy
Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam). For Allah's sake take pity on your souls. Be
thoughtful.
Allah has created facilities for his creatures. You can do voluntary
virtuous deeds whenever and wherever you want, and in whatever condition you
want. Whether you are among the people, or in the market peace, at home or in
your shop, in the mosque or whichever other place, whether you are walking or
sitting, whether standing or lying down, in whatever condition you are whatever
good deeds you do Allah will accept them. If you only intend, Allah will reward the
dead person with your good deeds. Only have the intention that the reward of
your virtuous deed reach so-and-so and it will reach the person you intended.
But you have determined that unless all of you exert collectively, the reward of a
good deed will not reach the dead person. There should be a good gathering
along with a driver and a guard. In order to convey the reward of good deeds the
driver should read in all directions., front and back, right and left. Only then the
reward will be conveyed. Allah save us there is an assumption that without all
this it will not capture Allah's attention.

13
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
Allah protect us from the avaricious hell of belly which never gets filled.
Self-acclaimed religious charlatans have deceived people to make a living and fill
their bellies with food. The need of a driver is conveying the reward of good
m
deeds arises from the necessity of making money. The deception takes several
o
f . c
forms and is practiced in different ways. The illusion is created that only the
religious charlatan can convey the reward of good deeds to the dead person and
a
only he can give a final wash to dead body.
n
A h
That reminds me of an event that took place when the uncle of a
.
knowledgeable pious friend of mine passed away. He started giving a bath to his
w
uncle. Although he is a very rich man, materially speaking, and owns several fac-
w
tories and sundry companies, he himself gave a bath to the dead body of his
w
uncle. As my friend was giving a bath to the dead body, a so-called religious
quack reached there and said that he would give a bath to the dead body. My
friend said to him, "Do not worry". I shall give you the money, but I will give a
bath to my uncle myself". Even so this quack tried to dominate the situation. My
friend who was the head of this household was praying the bath prayer with a low
voice, but this quack began to shout within prayer, and said so many different
prayers that even we did not know. I do not know from where he had
collected these prayers. I told him and my friend told him that he did not
have to worry as he will get the money anyway. It was better for him to relax and
not work hard in this way. As soon as we became free, we would pay him. But he
was shouting with his prayers. He was afraid that if he did not work hard, he
would not get the money. He worked real hard. When the dead body was laid in
the grave, he again began his job there. Again he was told that he would get the
money and he should not interfere in that way. But that quack did not stop. I
remarked that if he were given two to four hundred rupees at the outset, he
would have remained quiet. But my poor friend was busy in his work and thought
that he would pay money when he is free. This man on the contrary took it upon
himself to show off how hard he worked.

As for conveying the recompense of good deeds to the dead, the religious
charlatans have created the misunderstanding that by intention alone no credit
will go to the dead. They claim that, not to talk of intending, even though you
recite the whole al-Qur'an and pray for hours, unless you hire the driver the credit
will not reach the dead. It sounds to them logical that a driver is needed to haul a
14
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
commodity like that to the souls of the dead. That is why the driver is hired at a
very high rate.

m
There was a mosque, in which people gave food on Friday evenings to
o
f. c
the leader of prayers, the "Imam" to deliver to their dead relatives. It seems that
the "Imam" was given the job of a driver to convey the reward of good deeds.
a
The "Imam" was not only the leader and driver of the prayers but also the driver
n
A h
of conveying the reward to the dead. Once some travellers had stopover in the
mosque. People gave some food to them instead of the "Imam" to be given to the
.
souls of their dead relatives. The "Imam" sensed the danger of losing his weekly
w
supply of food. Before the morning prayers he closed the doors of the mosque
w
and began to beat the mosque walls with a stick. Sometimes he hit this wall and
w
sometimes that leaving the marks on walls. As he damaged the walls, he was
shouting: "Get out of here" What noise are you making" Get out of here". He
continued hitting with the stick sometimes the doors and' sometimes the walls.
People came along, knocked at the door of the mosque, and enquired, "What is
the matter?" The "Imam" answered that the souls were there and that he knew
each one. He knew all the families because he had long been there. The "Imam"
claimed to distribute the credit to the appropriate relative. But as the travelers
among whom people distributed the food, did not personally know these souls,
they did not distribute the credit of the food properly. That is why the souls came
to the mosque and kept making hue and cry all night. Now that it is time for the
morning prayers, I was chasing these souls away. The souls were fighting one
another, each one claiming a part of credit as its own. These souls were fighting
while the 'Imam' claimed to disperse them. People remarked that the 'Imam' was
right and promised never to give food to a poor person or a traveler in the future.
People told the 'Imam' that they will bring food only to him because he knew their
relative individually. All these acts are motivated by the gluttonous avaricious
stomach. May Allah save us all.

Another wrong belief needs to be rectified. If something is given to the

poor, that thing exactly does not go to the dead; instead its credit reaches the
dead. The belief of the common people that exactly the thing given in charity
reaches the dead is wrong.

15
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
Another point that needs to be clarified is this. If a family is accustomed to
unauthentic ways of sending over responses of good deeds to the dead, and one
of the members of that family is blessed with mending his ways and finding out
m
the right path, this person should advise every member of his family not to
o
f. c
indulge in innovations upon his death and instead the recompense of good deeds
should be sent over to him in the right way. Making this will is incumbent upon
a
the member of the family who has mended his ways. If he does not leave a will
n
A h
and unauthentic innovations are committed after his death, the sin and burden of
these misdeeds will reach the dead person also. It has been mentioned before
.
that the sin and burden of an unauthentic innovation is greater than the greatest
sin even. w
w
Hearing my sermon one lady got so impressed that she emphatically and
w
repeatedly advised her children not to celebrate the third-day or the fortieth-day
ceremony after her death. For further emphasis she insisted that her will should
be tape-recorded that upon her death no food should be cooked in an
unauthentic innovated way. Instead she wanted the credit of good deeds
forwarded to her in accordance with the Prophet's (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam)
tradition. She felt satisfied only when her children promised solemnly to keep
away from the unauthentic innovations. A few days ago that lady passed away
Praise be to Allah that no unauthentic innovation was committed on her death.
May Allah forgive her and make her holy effort a source of guidance and determi-
nation to others.

Whatever number of people gain guidance from her determined ness,

their reward collectively will be written in the record of this lady also if Allah so
wills. One who follows the tradition of the Prophet (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam)
in the environment where unauthentic innovations prevail, is promised the reward
of one hundred martyrs.

There is a contrast between the story of my former student who did not give up
the unauthentic innovation in spite of my repeated advice, and the account of this
lady who after hearing only one sermon followed Allah's path in such a way as to
insist on getting her will taped. May Allah grant us a submissive heart that
eagerly accepts Allah's commands, may Allah protect us from the impervious
density of the heart that is not influenced even by the lucid enjoining of Allah's
and His Holy Prophet's (may SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) May Allah grant our
16
Current Innovations and Groundless Customs ‫ﺑﺪﻋﺎت ﻣﺮوﺟہ و رﺳﻮم ﺑﺎﻃﻠہ‬
ّ
hearts a concern for life hereafter and a worry in His way that relieves us from
the frights of this world.

PRAYER
o m
f. c
Oh Allah. Grant us the true love of yourself and of your Prophet
n a
(SallAllahu alaihi wasallam), the real respect, the firm obedience' Give us the
h
ability to follow your Prophet's (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) tradition. Oh Allah,
A
.
make us such Muslims with whose faith you are pleased: Oh Allah, we believe in

w
you as our sustainer, we believe in your messenger (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam)

w
as our Prophet, we believe in Islam as our religion! Oh Allah protect us from the

w
deceptiveness of the devil. Oh Allah, enable us to follow that religion and keep us
away the ways prescribed by the devil.

May Allah bless the best of His creatures Muhammad, and his family and
his companions all of them in His utmost mercy.

Important Note :

If there are any mistakes in OCR , or textual work, please inform us using
the contact form of http://www.ahnaf.org.

Regards,
Ahnaf Online

17