The month of Muharram holds immense importance in Islam. The reason for the importance of this month is that it is the day on which Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, fought for the truth and became immortal. This day has been considered important since the beginning. When Prophet Muhammad ﷺreached Madinah from Makkah, he found the Jews there observing fasting from the 10th day of the month of Muharram and tried to find out the reason.
We all need to pay attention to the answer given by the Jewish nation. They said – This day is very important for us, on this day Allah saved Moses from Pharaoh and the Jews of that time, and drowned Pharaoh in the Nile River of Egypt, and gave victory to Prophet Moses. Remembering this one favour, Prophet Moses or Musa used to fast on that day for the sake of Allah. He said that for this reason, they, his followers, observe the fast every year. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that we also observe the fast because Musa was very close to us, and he gave his followers the option of fasting on the 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th days every year.
Today, it is seen that some of our Muslim brothers and sisters are following wrong traditions and performing wrong rituals in this month. When we question our Muslim brothers and sisters who are doing such wrong rituals, they say, our ancestors (fathers and grandfathers) have been doing this, we will also do it. What is wrong in this? Your ancestors have made mistakes and are being punished. When we ask them, will you also make mistakes, their stubbornness is seen.
The Holy Quran (Al-Baqarah 2:170-171) says: “And when they are told: “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say: “No, we shall follow what we found our forefathers adhering to.” What! Even if their forefathers were devoid of understanding and right guidance?Those who have refused to follow the Way of Allah resemble cattle; when the shepherd calls them, they hear nothing except shouting and crying; they are deaf, dumb and blind, and so they understand nothing.”
In support of the wrong customs practised today, they make paws, tie paws to sticks, dress them with clothes, put flowers on them, walk barefoot in the streets and in a fire pit, and instil faith and confidence in people that God has gathered in the person holding the paw. They bless the person holding the paw with children. Make him free from disease, and put many other demands before him. Playing with a swing, beating his chest, becoming a tiger, a bear, a horse, etc., by doing all these, they are practising shirk(polytheism) and bid’ah (innovation).
Spending lavishly, decorating the places where the paws are held with electric lights, etc. The polytheists used to make idols and prostrate themselves before them and put forward their demands. Today, it is as if they have followed them with folded hands. It is said in the Holy Quran (4:48). Allah does not forgive such people that they associate others with Allah. The wrong customs committed in the month of Muharram amount to Shirk. Such people will be severely punished and the Almighty will forbid them Paradise and their abode will be Hell. Therefore, it is the duty of every true believer to make Muslims aware of the wrong customs committed in this month of Muharram.
[The writer is Lecturer Secab, Vijaypur, Karnataka]