Muharram: Misconceptions, baseless traditions to avoid

As we are all aware, we are into one of the sanctified months in the Islamic calendar. Ignorant people hold lots of misconceptions and baseless traditions during this month. We will have a look at them so that as responsible Muslims we would steer clear of them and also advice others to remove such superstitions and beliefs from their lives.

Some Misconceptions Baseless Traditions :

There are many wrong traditions associated with the Day of Aashooraa and Muharram, which have nothing to do with the Shariah. We have to guard ourselves from falling into these wrong traditions and bid’ah because this is also sin.

1) Some people attribute the sanctity of Aashooraa to the martyrdom of Husain, RA. No doubt, the story of Husain, RA is one of the most tragic episodes of our history. Yet, the sanctity of Ashura cannot be ascribed to this event for the simple reason that the sanctity of Ashura was established during the days of the Prophet (pbuh) , much earlier than the birth of his grandson Husain.

2) There are also those who consider Muharram an evil or unlucky month, for Husain, RA was killed in it. So they don’t hold

and weddings, and other celebrations during this month. This is again a baseless concept, which is contrary to the teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

Having superstitions, such as this, is committing a kind of shirk since one associates a particular event or person with having power to harm or do good and only Allah is the One Who has power over all things.

3) Some people think it is Sunnah to prepare a particular type of meal on the 10th, and they hold big gatherings for this purpose. This, again has no basis in the Shareeah.

4) Some people mourn and lament over the death of Hussain (RA) and hold special ceremonies for this very purpose.

However, the Prophet (pbuh) has forbidden us from holding mourning ceremonies on the death of any person, which was the practice of the people of jahiliyyah (ignorance).

“He is not from our group who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah.” (Bukhaari)

And if you really think about it, it is the greatest merit and reward that Hussain RA received, when he attained martyrdom for the sake of Allaah.

5) Some people go to the other extreme, they dress up and cook special dishes, etc. as a kind of celebration for this Day and that is ALSO against the Qur’an and Sunnah.

6) Others hold special prayers or offer sacrifice or visit graves, specifically on the 10th of Muharram, thinking that there is special reward or meaning for doing so in the Shareeah and this is also a kind of bid’ah that one should stay away from.

Our behavior during this month should be like the behavior of the Sahabah, not one of mourning, neither one of celebration.

Rather, we should value Muharram as one of Allaah’s sacred months in which we should strive to do good deeds and be extra careful of sinning.

We should try and fast as much as we can in this month, especially the 9th and 10th. We should not be superstitious about it (or for anything else, for that matter) and if someone wants to get married during it, they may.

We should not cook special meals on the 10th and if someone invites us for such a meal, we should decline. We All LOVE Islam But We Create Our Own Rules On How To Follow Islam.

Do We Really LIVE Islam???