Why do we mourn in Muharram?
Mu'
meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters
has asked this question:
salam
mr burhan
my
questions are
1. In the holy days of muharram we beat our chest,cry, yell and remember the great people who saved islam, first of all why do we mourn, is it required to do so & why,
2.
At the same time we curse the people who were responsible for the deaths of
those great people. what i donot understand is if we are as we say muslims
why do we curse the whole sect of people for the wrong doings of their
ancestors, because as far as i know the base of Islam means forgiveness .I
donot know much about islam as is the case with most of our d bohras, but this
point makes me raise a doubt.
kindly
help & clarify
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Answer:
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Your comment: In the holy days of muharram we beat our chest,cry, yell and remember the great people who saved islam, first of all why do we mourn, is it required to do so & why?
In Islam, according to several authentic narrations and the traditions of the Messenger of Allah (saws), the maximum mourning period for anyone who dies or is martyred in Islam, is three days. The Messenger of Allah (saws) cursed the people who wail, beat themselves, etc. when afflicted by any calamity. It does not behove one who believes in Allah and the Last Day, to act and mourn the dead in this manner.
The actual act of ‘matam’ or physically beating oneself, or even wailing upon the dead, has nothing to do with Islam and its teachings. Wailing refers to mourning in a loud voice and crying in a high pitch voice, which was absolutely prohibited by the Prophet (saws).
Many companions were martyred in the life of the Prophet (saws), but the Prophet (saws) never wailed over their death, nor allowed anybody else to wail or beat themselves. This act of matam, or physically beating oneself, and wailing are considered acts of ‘jaahiliyaa’ (pre-Islamic days of ignorance), and the Prophet (saws) strictly forbade the muslims from doing it.
It has
been reported in an authentic narration that the Messenger of Allah (saws)
cursed the wailing woman and the woman who listens to her.
It is
reported in an authentic narration that the Messenger of Allah said: “He is not
a believer, who beats his face, or tears his clothes, or wails, when afflicted
by a misfortune.”
It has
been reported in an authentic tradition that the Prophet (saws) said: "A
(professional) mourner, unless she repents before her death, will be raised on the
Day of Judgement wearing a garment of tar and an armor of blistering
puss."
It has
been reported in an authentic narration that the Prophet (saws) said, "Two
sounds are accursed in this world and in the hereafter: the sound of wind
instruments (to celebrate) good fortune, and of moaning aloud when afflicted
with a misfortune.”
It has
been reported in an authentic narration that the Prophet (saws) said, that some
women who took allegiance to Islam with the Messenger of Allah (saws) asked
him, 'O Messenger of Allah, some women helped us (in mourning our dead) during
the pre-Islamic days. Should we (also in return) help them (in mourning their
dead), now that we are Muslims? ' He replied: 'There is no such thing in Islam
(i. e., helping each other to mourn the dead loudly)'."
The
Prophet, peace be upon him, wept on the death of his son, Ibrahim, and said:
"The eyes shed tears and the heart feels pain, but we utter only what
pleases our Lord.
O
Ibrahim! We are aggrieved at your demise." He also wept when his grand
daughter, Umaymah, daughter of Zainab, died. At this Sa'ad ibn 'Ubadah said:
"O Messenger of Allah! Are you weeping?" The Prophet, peace be upon
him, replied: "This (weeping) is the mercy that Allah has placed in the
hearts of His servants. And surely Allah bestows mercy upon those who are
merciful among His servants."
Weeping for the dead is permissible in Islam, whereas wailing, matam (physically beating oneself) and crying in a high pitch voice is absolutely prohibited in Islam.
May Allah guide you and us all to the Straight Path of Islam and guide us to obey and follow the Messenger of Allah (saws).
Your comment: At the same time we curse the people who were responsible for the deaths of those great people. what i donot understand is if we are as we say muslims why do we curse the whole sect of people for the wrong doings of their ancestors, because as far as i know the base of Islam means forgiveness .I donot know much about islam as is the case with most of our d bohras, but this point makes me raise a doubt.
What happened with Imam Hussain (r.a.) and his family in Kerbala is indeed a tragedy and one of the darkest pages in the recorded history of Islam. Whoever was responsible for the atrocities will be paid in full by Allah on the Day of Judgment, and they will get exactly what they deserve in the Ultimate Court of Justice of our Just Lord.
The system of justice of Allah works like this as related in the Holy Quran:
Allah
says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134: They were a people
who passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you
shall have the reward of what you will earn. And you will not be questioned as
to what they did.
Thus, He has not made us judges to reward or curse people involved in the incidents hundreds of years ago in Islam. That is not the duty of true believers. Our duty is obey Allah and His Messenger (saws), and live our lives according to the Glorious Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (saws).
Yes, Islam teaches us to forgive our fellow human beings … but we can only forgive those who live and deal with us. He has not given us the power to forgive people who did atrocities to others years ago, neither has He given us the authority to reward anybody for their deeds. This is the Power of Allah Alone! He will reward and punish each according to his deeds, and no one will be wronged in the least in that Court of Ultimate Justice; the Judge of which will be none other than the Lord of the Worlds!
Your Comment: I donot know much about islam as is the case with most of our d bohras, but this point makes me raise a doubt.
My beloved brother, you have been very honest and straight-forward in your statement; and that is one of the signs of a good believer. If you indeed do not know much about Islam, it is your duty, and the duty of every muslim to acquire knowledge about this beautiful deen. Allah Himself has revealed the source of all knowledge pertaining to Islam: The Glorious Quran. All you have to do is read and understand these 600 odd pages, and no one will ever be able to mis-guide you in Islam! It is your duty to your Creator, that at least once in your lifetime you read and understand the Message that He Himself has revealed for your guidance.
Contrary to what some unscrupulous leaders say about the complication and complexity of the Quran, this Book is extremely easy to understand. It is a Book that was revealed for the guidance of all mankind and Allah Himself states many times in the Holy Quran that this Book is a perfect guidance, and made easy and plain for those who believe.
Allah
says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185: "Ramadan is the month in which
the Quran was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and
consists of CLEAR teachings which show the right way and are a Criterion of the
Truth and falsehood."
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 44 Surah Dukhan verse 58: We have made this Book easy in your own tongue so that they may ponder and take good counsel.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verses 1-3: Haa Meem. By this lucid (clear or open) Book. We have made it an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand it.
Allah
says in the Holy Quran Chapter 12 Surah Yusuf verse 1-2: These are the verses
of the Book that makes its object perfectly clear. We have sent it down as a Quran in Arabic, so that you may
understand it well.
Allah
says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 89: We have sent down to you
this Book, which makes everything plain, and is a guidance, blessing and good
news to those who have surrendered themselves entirely.
Those who advocate that this Book is complicated and full of complexities, and exhort people to never try to understand the Quran, but rather follow them blindly if they indeed want to be muslims, are in fact concealing the guidance that Allah Himself has revealed.
Allah
says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Al-Baqarah verse 174: Indeed those, who
conceal the commands that Allah has sent down in His Book and barter them away
for paltry worldly gains, fill their bellies with fire. Allah will not speak to them on the Day of
Resurrection, nor will He regard them as pure and there is a painful torment
for them!
Allah
says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 159: Those who conceal the
clear (Revelations) and Guidance We have sent down, after We have made it clear
for the people in the Book, on them shall be Allah’s ‘laanah’ and the ‘laanah’
of those who are entitled to curse!
And Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
May Allah guide you and us to read and understand the simple and plain words of the Glorious Quran. May Allah increase our knowledge from the Holy Quran. May Allah guide us to the Siraat al Mustaqeem.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam,
