Nazr/Niyaz for Ahl albayt: Is this teaching of Ahl Albayt?

In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful.

In this article we will be exposing before our readers the shirk many Shias as well as some ignorant Sunnis are committing under the banner of teachings of Ahl Albayt or love for Ahl Al bayt. Unfortunately this open shirk is even backed by some high ranking Shia scholars, So it’s the duty of the true followers and lovers of “complete” Ahlebayt to guide the misguided ones. This practice of polytheism was never taught or approved by Ahl Al bayt, and just as Jesus(as) is free from the polytheism of Christians who claim to be lovers and followers of Jesus(as), Similarly even the Ahle Al bayt are free from the shias who practice these customs of polytheism under the banner of teachings of Ahl Al bayt. In fact these are the teachings of Shaitan., since its mentioned in Quran that: He(Shaitan) said: “I will take an appointed portion of your slaves; Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allah.”(4:118).  So in this article we will be revealing before our readers that how Shaitan is succeeding in his goal of deviating people from the right path.

Note: The purpose of writing this article is just correction of “THOSE people” WHO ARE PRACTISING these customs of polytheism.

Important Definitions:

We would like to present before our readers some definitions regarding certain words, so that it would be easy for them to understand the matter in a more explicit manner.

1. Isaale Sawaab: It means “Conveying Rewards or doing voluntary good deeds“. To put simply, Esal e Sawab is nothing other than to ask Allah for the forgiveness of sins, and to raise the spiritual status of the person for whom its being done. Usually its done for the deceased and for them this may be done in various manner as prescribed in sunnah, such as the offering of du’as [supplications] for them , giving charity on their behalf , performing Hajj,etc., but it should be in accordance to Sunnah of Prophet(Saw) and in the way Sahaba used to do it.

2. Sadaqa: People when want their wish of either this world or hereafter to be fulfilled by Allah, they spend/donate some portion from their belongings(wealth, food, etc which was granted to them by Allah) to needy or poor people. This is called as Sadaqa/Khairaat. This is also defined as: Spending in the way of Allah, Spending for the pleasure of Allah, Spending to thank Allah, Spending in the name of Allah.

3. Nazr/Niyaz: Al-Isfahaani in his book Mufradaat Alfaaz al-Qur’aan (Vocabulary of the Qur’aan), p. 797 states: “Al-Nadhr(vow): when you oblige yourself to do something that is not obligatory because of something that you want to happen, this is called as Nadhr. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘[Maryam said:] I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficent (Allaah)…’ [Maryam 19:26].”

So Nazr(vow) is the action, on the part of a person who is adult and of sound mind (mukallaf), of obliging himself to do something that is not obligatory, whether he intends to do it straight away or makes his doing it conditional upon something else.

Thus the Sadaqa(refer definition) or Practice which was NOT made obligatory by Allah on his servants, but to consider that compulsory on oneself is called Nazr in Arabic, Niyaz in Persian and Mannat in Urdu.

If the one who vows, does that on the condition that his/her wished be fulfilled then it is called as “Nazr e Muallaq”, for example a patient promises to Allah that if he/she gets cured from a certain disease then he/she will built a Mosque in the name of Allah.

And the one who vows without any condition then it is called “Nazr e Mubram”. For example: wife of ` Imran said: “O my Lord! I have vowed to You what is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services, so accept this from me.(3:35)

Nazr with Ikhlaas (sincerity) has a potential to invoke the help, mercy, and reward of Allah. Keeping of one’s vows is an act of worship, so it could only be done in the name of Allah.

Important:  Be it Sadaqa/Khairaat or Nazr/Niyaz , the motive behind these practices is that the one  on whose name thing are being spend, He will fulfill the needs of the those who vowed(made nazr), or He will solve the problems of those people who vowed(made Nazr). And the Nazr is made with the intention that the one on whose name nazr was made will be happy with efforts of those who made Nazr for certain thing and he will solve the problems and will increase their wealth.

 

Nazr mentioned in Quran

Remember when Imran’s wife prayed to her Lord saying, “I have made a VOW to dedicate to Your service whatever is in my womb. Lord, accept it from me. You are All-hearing and All-knowing”(3:35)

So eat and drink and refresh the eye. Then if you see any mortal, say: Surely I have VOWED a fast to the Beneficent Allah, so I shall not speak to any man today.(19:26)

Let the pilgrims then neatly dress themselves, fulfill their VOWS, and walk seven times around the Kabah.(22:29)

They fulfill VOWS and fear a day the evil of which shall be spreading far and wide. And they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the orphan and the captive: We only feed you for Allah’s sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks.(76:7-9)

Comment: We find that Nazr in Quran was mentioned four times and in each verse Nazr was made to Allah. We DON’T find anywhere in Quran that Nazr(vow) was made by believers to any Prophet or  any Saint or Imam. Similar is the case when it comes to Nazr mentioned in authentic narrations(ahadees).

 

Beliefs of Polytheists in Allah and their excuse for worshipping their deities, as per Quran

Belief of polytheists in Allah:

If thou ask them(mushriks), who created them, they will certainly say, Allah(43:87)

And if you ask them(mushriks), Who created the heavens and the earth and made the sun and the moon subservient, they will certainly say, Allah.(29:61)

And if you ask them Who is it that sends down water from the clouds, then gives life to the earth with it after its death, they will certainly say, Allah.(29:63)

Say: “To whom belong the earth and all beings therein? (say) if ye know!” They will say, “To Allah!”… Say: “Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme?” They will say, “(They belong) to Allah…. Say: “Who is it in whose hands is the governance of all things,- who protects (all), but is not protected (of any)? (say) if ye know.” They will say, “(It belongs) to Allah. (23:84-89)

Say: “Who is it that sustains you (in life) from the sky and from the earth? or who is it that has power over hearing and sight? And who is it that brings out the living from the dead and the dead from the living? and who is it that rules and regulates all affairs?” They will soon say, “Allah”. (10:31)

He it is Who makes you travel by land and sea; until when you are in the ships, and they sail on with them in a pleasant breeze, and they rejoice, a violent wind overtakes them and the billows surge in on them from all sides, and they become certain that they are encompassed about, they pray to Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience: If Thou dost deliver us from this, we will most certainly be of the grateful ones.(10:22)

Excuses for worshiping false deities :

These are our intercessors with Allah. Say: Do you (presume to) inform Allah of what He knows not in the heavens and the earth? Glory be to Him, and supremely exalted is He above what they set up (with Him).(10:18)

And those who take Auliyaa (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): “We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allaah.(39:3)

The authentic ahadeeth mentions the polytheists of Arabia during the period of Hajj would say:“But one (we) associate with you, you possess mastery over him, but he does not possess mastery (over you)….” (Saheeh Muslim)

Its is necessary to let our readers know that whose idols were worshipped by some polytheists of Arabia:

Sahi bukhri 6.442: Narrated Ibn `Abbas: All the idols which were worshipped by the people of Noah were worshipped by the Arabs later on. As for the idol Wadd, it was worshipped by the tribe of Kalb at Daumat−al−Jandal; Suwa’ was the idol of (the tribe of) Murad and then by Ban, Ghutaif at Al−Jurf near Saba; Yauq was the idol of Hamdan, and Nasr was the idol of Himyr, the branch of Dhi−al−Kala.’ The names (of the idols) formerly belonged to some pious men of the people of Noah, and when they died Satan inspired their people to (prepare and place idols at the places where they used to sit, and to call those idols by their names. The people did so, but the idols were not worshipped till those people (who initiated them) had died and the origin of the idols had become obscure, whereupon people began worshipping them.

 

Practice of  Polytheists(Mushriks) in regards to Nazr and Allah’s warning to them(as per Quran)

And they set apart a portion for Allah out of what He has created of tilth and cattle, and say: This is for Allah– so they assert– and this for our associates. (6:136)

And according to their claim, they say that such and such cattle and crops are Hijr(forbidden), and none should eat of them except those whom we allow. And (they say) there are cattle forbidden to be used for burden, and cattle on which (at slaughtering) the Name of Allah is not pronounced; lying against Him (Allah). He will recompense them for what they used to fabricate.(6:138)

Allah cursed him. And he (Shaitan) said: “I will take an appointed portion of your slaves; Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allah.” And whoever takes Shaitan (Satan) as a Walee (protector or helper) instead of Allah, has surely suffered a manifest loss.(4:118-119)

And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allah. Then, when harm touches you, unto Him you cry aloud for help. Then, when He has removed the harm from you, behold! Some of you associate others in worship with their Lord (Allah).(16:53-54)

Allah has not instituted things like Baheerah (a she camel whose milk was spared for the idols and nobody was allowed to milk it) or a Saibah (a she camel let loose for free pasture for their false gods, e.g. idols, etc., and nothing was allowed to be carried on it), or a Waseelah (a shecamel set free for idols because it has given birth to a shecamel at its first delivery and then again gives birth to a shecamel at its second delivery) or a Ham (a stallion camel freed from work for their idols, after it had finished a number of copulations assigned for it, all these animals were liberated in honour of idols as practised by pagan Arabs in the preIslamic period). But those who disbelieve invent lies against Allah, and most of them have no understanding.(5:103)

And they assign a portion of that which We have provided them unto what they know not (false deities). By Allah, you shall certainly be questioned about (all) that you used to fabricate. (16:56)

Comment:  From the above verses we find that the polytheists used make Nazr to their false deities regarding various things be it cattle or crops, etc. But Allah reminds them that what they are doing is wrong, because its Allah who provided them cattle or crops, so how could they make Nazr to their false deities. Thus from the above verses we came to know that neither can anyone make Nazr to anyone besides Allah nor could eat food on which the name of anyone besides Allah has been invoked.

 

Why is Nazr to anyone other than Allah, Shirk

Be it Sadaqa/Khairaat or Nazr/Niyaz , the motive and reason behind these practices is that the one  whose Nazr is being made, He will fulfill the needs of the those who vowed(made nazr), or He will solve the problems of those people who vowed(made Nazr). Vows(nazr) are a form of worship because if made to Allah and for an act of obedience to Allah fulfilling them becomes an obligation. Therefore, vows to other than Allah – such as those committed by Shias or some other ignorant sunnis, dedicated to the “Imams or saints” in an effort to please them to get their needs met or for intercession – is SHIRK in worship without any doubt. This is because it involves glorification of the one to whom the vow is directed and because the fulfilling of vows is an act of worship it must be directed exclusively to Allah Most High. Vows to other than Allah are acts of disobedience and are null and void and there is no obligation of any kind to fulfill them.

The Prophet (saw) discouraged even the lawful types of vows because of the risk of being distracted from the omnipotence of Allah Most High. Abdallah ibn Umar narrates: “Once the Prophet (sas) began telling us not to make vows and he said: “It does not turn anything back, it only serves to extract some property from the greedy.”

When one vows to Allah Most High, one has placed his hopes in Allah alone based on the knowledge that Allah alone is the Omnipotent (Al-Qadeer) and that whatever Allah wills is and whatever Allah does not will is not. That is why fulfilling oaths to Allah is obligatory. In contrast, one who vows to other than Allah has placed his hopes in other than Allah and divided his intention between Allah and between these concocted partners. Any act of worship when redirected to other than Allah or divided between Allah and between others is SHIRK against Allah.

Vows to other than Allah are falsehood for many reasons. Among them:

• It is an act of worship and all acts of worship cannot be directed to any created being.
• Vows to other than Allah are made to dead things and dead things possess no ability or power to act.
• One who does this must believe that the dead one has some ability to act on their behalf or some actual effect in getting his needs met. If he didn’t believe this, he would never direct his vows to that one. This belief is kufr.
• He also fears the displeasure of this dead one should he fail to fulfill his vow. So he attributed to other than Allah the ability to bring benefit in the beginning and the ability to inflict harm should he fail to fulfill the oath. The shirk of this is clear.

Thus we came to know that neither can anyone make Nazr to anyone besides Allah nor could eat food on which the name of anyone besides Allah has been invoked.

Some examples from Ahadees :

1. During the time of the Holy Prophet(saw), a person made a nadhr to sacrifice a camel at Bavana. For this reason, he approached the Holy Prophet(saw) and informed him of his intentions, the Prophet(saw) asked: ‘During the era of paganism, was there any idol at that place for the people to worship?’ He replied ‘No’. The Prophet(saw) asked: ‘Was any congregation held in any of the ignorant festivals in that place?’ He replied ‘No.’ At that moment, the Prophet(saw) said: Fulfill your vow (nadhr) as nadhr is not correct in two instances: (a) In case of sins and disobedience of Allah and, (b) In things which he is not the owner.[Sunan Abi Dawud, vol. 2 page 80.]

2. A woman told the Holy Prophet(saw) as such: I have made a nadhr to slaughter an animal at one particular place. The Holy Prohpet (s) asked: “Have you made a nadhr for an idol? She replied “No”: The Holy Prophet (s) said: Fulfil your nadhr. Sunan Abi Dawud, vol. 2 page 81

3. Sahi Muslim Bk 22, Number 4877: Abu Tufail reported: We said to ‘Ali b. Abi Talib: Inform us about something which Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) told you in secret, whereupon he said: He told me nothing in secret which he bid from people, but I heard him say: Allah cursed him who sacrificed for anyone besides Allah; and cursed him who accommodated an innovator; and Allah cursed him who cursed his parents and Allah cursed him who changed the boundary lines (of the land possessed by him).

Scholarly views:

1. Shiekh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyya said: “Anyone who has a nadhr (vow) to make and sacrifice for the Holy Prophet (s), other Prophets and other awliya is similar to the polytheists who were doing vows and sacrifices for their idols. Such a person is same as the one worshipping someone other than God and he will be called an infidel (kafir).” Furqan al-Qur’an, page 132 written by al-‘Azami narrated from Ibn Taymiyya.

2. Ibn Qudama, a great scholar of fiqh, said: “It is not valid to make votive offerings of candles, oil or such things to the places in which there are graves. The Prophet (saw) has cursed those who put in such places mosques or lamps.” Al-Mughni: 2/383

3. An-Nawawi said (in his commentary on Sahih Muslim): “Sacrificing to other than Allah means to kill an animal in the name of other than Allah such as one who kills for an idol or the cross or Isa or to the Kaaba, etc. All of this is haram and the meat is not lawful regardless of whether the slaughterer is Muslim, Christian or Jewish. … If he intended, along with that, glorification of the one in whose name he killed other than Allah and worship of him/it, the issue becomes kufr. If such a one was Muslim before this act, he becomes an apostate after it.

 

Is attributing things to anyone besides Allah permissible or not?

Answer: 

Often the case with the offerings at the graves of righteous ones of the past is that the  ignorant people  go there to make these offerings when in some difficulty seeking the intermediation or intercession of the dead one for their benefit and they fear the anger of this dead one should they not fulfill their oath. This is precisely the same as the vows of the first jahiliya which were made to the idols in the Ka’aba.

But sometimes, the issue of Nazr is confused by those who say about offerings to other than Allah, that “The offering is to Allah and the reward is for the Imams.” The Shari’a has allowed for a Muslim to give a charity on behalf of another, no doubt. And surely there is a possible benefit to the deceased from such giving on his behalf by the living, AS LONG AS THIS IS A PURE ACT OF GIVING, NOT INFECTED WITH ANY FALSE BELIEFS ABOUT CAUSALITY and Allah’s omnipotence. If at all anyone intends or believes by doing such acts that they are thanking or praising or honoring or requesting  the Imams because they had a hand in the fulfillment of the wish or could help in fulfilling the wish that person had made, then it will be Haram.

But what needs to be addressed is that though some people perform the above customs claiming that the offering is for Allah but reward is for the Imams but at the same time they declare that activity as Nazr to Imam. Though in some cases attributing things to anyone besides Allah is permissible(halal) but in some other cases it is impermissible, because if something is attributed to anyone besides Allah as Nazr to them, then it will be impermissible(haraam).

Example:  “Sabeel on Nazr to Imam Hussain” , “Koondey on nazr to Imam Jafar”, etc these attributions to Imams for example Imam jafar(ra) is invalid because it will mean that koonde(pot) is Nazr of Imam jafar(ra), and the koonde(pots) were attributed to Imam Jafar(ra) as being Nazr to Imam.

If something is attributed to anyone besides Allah NOT as Nazr, but for other reasons then it will be permissible.

Example: “Our city” , this attribution is permissible because it DOESN’T mean that city is being made as Nazr to us(people), but it means that we live in that particular city.

Anyways in the matter of Nazr, the argument is not that is it permissible or impermissible to attribute anything towards anyone besides Allah, but the main argument is that; Is it permissible or impermissible to attribute a Nazr towards anyone besides Allah.

From Quran we clearly find that Nazr for anyone besides Allah is Haram and attributing something to anyone besides Allah because of it being a Nazr to them, then it is open Shirk.

IMPORTANT: Some Synonyms that are often used to Nazr/Niyaz to anyone besides Allah:

Example 1: If Someone intends that if my certain wish of mine is fulfilled then; in the name of Maryam or in honor/praise of Maryam or to thank Maryam or to seek pleasure of Maryam, I will feed poor people one sheep or I will sacrifice a sheep for Maryam or I will sacrifice a sheep on the grave of Maryam, etc . Then all these conditions are considered to be Nazr to Maryam, where a sheep was made as a Nazr to Maryam, and the sheep was attributed towards Maryam because it being as Nazr to her. In general terms it will be called as Sheep of Maryam. Similar applies to Koonde of Imam jafar, Sabeel Imam hussain, etc. All these activities are Haram.

Example 2: If Someone intends that if my certain wish of mine is fulfilled then; in the name of Maryam or in honor/praise of Maryam or to thank Maryam or to seek pleasure of Maryam, I will donate certain amount of wealth or food in poor or on the grave of Maryam, or on the place of worship of Maryam. Then in all these conditions wealth and food was made as Nazr to Maryam and in all these cases wealth and food was attributed to Maryam as being Nazr to her. So in general terms this will be called as Niyaaz of Maryam. Similar applies to Koonde of Imam jafar, Sabeel Imam hussain, etc. All these activities are Haram.

ARGUMENT:

Some people who attribute Nazr to anyone besides Allah bring forth the following Hadeeth in order to justify their practice.

Hz sa’d bin ubada(ra) said: O messenger of Allah my mother have died so which kind of Sadaqa would b better/ . Prophet(saw) said: Water. So he dug a well and said this is the well of umm saud. (Mishkat).

Some people claim that this “well” was known as “well of Saad’s mother”. So this proves that if something is attributed to anyone besides Allah then it is permissible. So saying Nazr e Imam hussain, Koonde on Nazr to Imam Jafar, etc is permissible.

Answer:

From the above hadith we get to know that because of wish of sa’d to convey the reward to his mother he dug a well and dedicated that for the welfare of Muslims . From this we find that the motive behind the act performed by Sa’d was to convey reward to his mother and it’s the duty of the children to convey reward(sawab) to their parents in the way prescribed in the sunnah.

But the argument raised by people is a shameless deception because there isn’t a dispute regarding the issue that, Is it permissible or impermissible to attribute something to anyone besides Allah. But the major disagreement is regarding the issue that is it permissible or impermissible to attribute a vow(Nazr) to anyone besides Allah. And we have already shown that if one makes a vow regarding something to other than Allah then its Haram or if something is attributed to anyone besides Allah in the manner of a Vow(nazr) then its haram. That is why saying Sabeel nazar e Imam hussain, Koonde on nazrr of Imam Jafar, etc is haram, because it will mean that the sabeel or koonde is on the nazr to Imam hussain or Imam Jafar. And because of vow(nazr) the sabeel or koonde were attributed to the Imams.

We want to clear before our readers that each and every thing that is attributed to anyone besides Allah is NOT haram, but the attribution of Nazr to anyone besides Allah is haram.  Its mentioned in Quran “amwalukum(your wealth)”  here wealth was attributed to the people. But this doesn’t mean that wealth was on Nazr to the people.

Thus in the hadeeth cited,it is stated,  “well of umm sa’d” so this doesn’t mean that hz sa’d attributed that well on vow to his mother, rather it means that the well was dedicated for mother of sa’d inorder to convey reward to her. (This answer was taken from th book, Islamic concept of Nazr O Niyaz, by Fazlur rahman kaleem kashmiri , page 105, 107)

 

Refuting the argument of Nazr Shara’i and Nazr Lughwi

People who eat food based on polytheistic Nazr, inorder to legalize the consumption of that food  deceive people by sayings that the Nazr to Imams is not Nazr e shara’i(religious nazr) but its Nazr e Lughwi(linguistic Nazr) which means “nazrana(gift)”, like one says to his teacher this gift is your Nazr.

Answer:

Inorder to legalize Nazr for anyone besides Allah, even these excuses will not work because the categorization of the word Nazr itself is invalid, since the question of categorization of a word in accordance to shara’i or lughwi sense can only be raised when the meaning of a word in shara’i sense is different and in lughwi sense is different. Like in the case of the words “sawm and salaat” their linguistic meanings are different and shara’i meanings are different. But the meaning of the word Nazr in linguistic(lughwi) sense is “vow” and in religious(shara’i) sense is also “vow”. That is why the categorization of this word is wrong.

This word appeared in Quran in 4 places[surah baqarah(verse 270) , surah hajj(verse 19), surah Aale Imran(verse 35), Surah dahr(verse 7)]in all these verses it was meant as “vow”.

(Nazrana(gift) – Nazr)

Nazr is an Arabic word and Nazrana is a Persian word. In Persian language Nazrana means a gift, etc and obviously it can only be given to people who are alive. When we give money, food or cloths to someone in their service as nazrana(gift), then that person receives those with his own hands, and uses it according to his own desire, spends that according to his own wish, because when something is gifted to people then they become its owner and without their permission others can’t use it or spend it. But the things which are dedicated to Imams in their service under the title of Nazr, Nazrana etc those things are neither received by the Imams with their hands nor are those things used with the permission of Imams. When using something or eating something which belongs to ordinary people is impermissible then how could using things which belongs to Imams or eating food which belongs to Imams be permissible? Rather this is a worst example of illegal grabbing of the belongings of Imams.

Conclusion : We wanted to prove before our readers from this analysis that terming the Nazr to Imams who are not alive as Nazrana(gift) is completely wrong because neither could those things be received by Imams nor could they be the owners of those things, and even those things are not used by people with the permission of Imams. Infact such terminology is often used to deceive innocent people. Because when people start realizing that Nazr for anyone beside Allah is haram, they start questioning about it, So  some deceivers who are advocates of these polytheistic customs use such terminology inorder to stop the truth seekers from reaching the straight path.

 

Practices of Shias in regards to the issue of Nazr

Now let us produce before you some examples  regarding the beliefs of Shias regarding Nazr, because they allow making Nazr to Ahl Al bayt.

Note:  Again we would like to repeat that the purpose of writing this article is just correction of only “THOSE shias” who are practicing these things.

Example 1:

The best explanation of nazr according to Shias or explanation of their beliefs in regards to nazr was given by highly esteemed shia scholar, Ayatullah Shiraz, He states:

Nazr – or Nathr as it is pronounce in Arabic – means vow. In Nazr, one makes a pledge or a promise to Allah, or an Imam or a Ma’soom, or even someone who is not one of the fourteen Ma’soom, but very pious man or woman such as Hazrat-e Zaynab, Hazrat-e Abbas, Hazrat-e Um-ul-Baneen (the mother Hazrat-e Abbas) etc. that one would do certain thing if their problem or difficulty or illness one has is solved. In general if the conditions or criteria of the vow one makes are not haraam, then the vow is halaal. So if someone makes a vow that if s/he get his wish concerning certain things, then they would give food to the poor, or say x-number of salawaat as a gift for certain Ma’soom – saint – or imam, or perform certain number of prayers, or do certain Zeyarat (like Zeyarat-e Ashura), etc. then this kind of vow is halaal. [Screen shot 1] [Screen shot 2]  {Source}.

Alternate : web.archive.org/web/20130526041947/http://imamshirazi.com/nazr-help.html

Comment : This is open Shirk and this esteemed shia ayatollah openly gives a green signal to Shias to commit Shirk.

Example 2:

Here is the official site of the deputy(wakeel) of Esteemed Shia Ayatullah Sistani, Hujjat-ul-Islam Agha Sheikh Ali Nasir Mehdavi.

In the following link, we find that Shia Hujjat ul Ilslam Ali Nasir Mehdavi, answers various questions related to Nazr of Imams, and he approves the practice of Nazr for Imams.

Source: http://www.madinatulilmacademy.com/qna/question-categories/nazar-o-niyaz

Example 3:

Tabarruk of the Majlis of Imam Husayn (a.s.):

Sheikh Abdul Majid Al Muzaffer relates having heard Sheikh Muhammad Hassan Al Muzaffer, one of the leading scholars of Najaf, that one of the residents of the city of Najaf used to hold special Majaalis for Imam Husayn (a.s.) on every Thursday night and used to serve to the congregation high quality rice and curry on which he used to incur a lot of expense. Once when this man decided to travel, he instructed his family to rise up to the occasion and hold the majalis in their own method and style. It so happened that the man, while still on the journey happened to see in his dream, the personality of Imam Husayn (a.s.) and Hazrath Abbas (a.s.). Imam Husayn (a.s.) was dictating to his brother Abbas (a.s.) to write down the quantities of various material goods which the followers had sacrificed in his way in order to commemorate his martyrdom and, one of the things which he happened to mention was the name of that man and the amount of rice and curry which was donated. It so happened that the quality of the materials donated were mentioned too. The man was surprised and said that didn’t remember having contributed rice and curry of this quality as he was travelling and that he always donated what was the best. The Imam (a.s.) replied that they only wrote down what was donated in their name.When the man returned from his journey he found out that his family had indeed commemorated the Majlis and served the particular type of rice and curry mentioned in his dream during his absence. (Najafiat 111-112) . [Source: The Beauty of Charity, by Ahmed Ali al-Kuwaity, page 30] {Screen Shot}

Comment:That type of food is Haram to eat since that food comes under the category of Ghairallah(food invoked on the name of anyone besides Allah), because Allah said in Quran:[He has only forbidden you what dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that over which any other (name) than (that of) Allah has been invoked. (2:173)] This practice which is done by shias is not different from the practice of polytheist of makkah who donated food in the name of their false deities, and eating such food or donating food in that cause is haram because its Allah who provides food.

Example 4:

Renowned shia news website states about the practice of shias:

Sofreh (Daster-Khwan) Nazar to Imam Hassan (A) served: Those who make a wish to Hazrat Imam Hasan (AS) are granted their wishes quickly. A women will make a nazar (mannat/ vow) when she has an important wish or request to be fulfilled and then she makes a vow with God that if her wish comes true (hajatt is granted) she will hold a sofreh ceremony in the name of the imam.  It is then that women are invited to the sofreh. By tradition friends, family and neighbors are invited to share this event. It is strongly believed that the food, fruits, nuts at a sofreh-nazar are blessed, and many while eating it will make a nazar (wish) themselves so the tradition continues. Also if you help during such a ceremony it is believed that your own wishes may come true sooner and better.  [Source] [Screen shot 1] [Screen shot 2]

Comment: This is an explicit example of Shirk committed by Shias because Nazr can only be made to Allah, but we find that shias make Nazr to Imam hasan(ra) considering that their wishes will be granted quickly.

Koondey of Imam Jafar(ra)

There is a renowned custom that is widely practiced by Shias and also by some ignorant Sunnis in the month of Rajab which is called as Koondey of Imam Jafar(ra), There are different stories related to its origin but all of those are fabrications attributed to Imam Jafar Sadiq(ra) and Indeed Imam Jafar(ra) is free from these pre-islamic, polytheistic practices.

Shias used lie about Ja’far Al-Sadiq the rest of the Ahl Al-Bayt:

روى (الكشي) في كتابه (الرجال) عن ابن سنان، قال: قال أبو عبد الله -عليه السلام- : إنا أهل البيت صادقون لا نخلو من كذاب يكذب علينا، فيسقط صدقنا بكذبه عند الناس – ثم عد واحداً بعد واحد من الكذابين – كان رسول الله أصدق البرية لهجة، وكان مسيلمة يكذب عليه، وكان أمير المؤمنين -عليه السلام- أصدق من برأ الله من بعد رسول الله وكان الذي يكذب عليه من الكذب عبد الله بن سبأ لعنه الله، وكان أبو عبد الله الحسين بن علي -عليه السلام- قد ابتلي بالمختار، ثم ذكر أبو عبد الله الحارث الشامي والبنان فقال : كانا يكذبان على علي بن الحسين -عليه السلام- ثم ذكر المغيرة بن سعيد وبزيعا والسري وأبا الخطاب ومعمراً وبشار الأشعري وحمزة اليزيدي وصائب النهدي – أي أصحابه – فقال: لعنهم الله، إنا لا نخلو من كذاب يكذب علينا – كفانا الله مؤنة كل كذاب وأذاقهم الله حر الحديد” (رجال الكشي ص257، 258 تحت ترجمة أبي الخطاب).

Al-Kashi narrated in his book Al-Rijal on the authority of Ibn Sinan who said:”Abu Abdullah [Jafar Al-Sadiq] said:”Verily we the Ahl Al-Bayt are truthful (Sadiqoon),yet we are not left without the liars who lie about us, thus our truthfulness being ruined in front of the people. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was the most truthful of the creation yet Musaylamah [false Prophet] used to lie about him. The commander of the Faithful (عليه السلام) was the most truthful after the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), yet the people used to lie about him and tried to ruin his truthfulness by their slander like the lies of Abdullah Ibn Saba (Allah’s curse be upon him). Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein Ibn Ali (عليه السلام) was afflicted with Al-Mukhtar. Abu Abdullah [Al-Sadiq] then mentioned Abu Abdullah Al-Harith Al-Shami and Al-Banan and said:”They used to lie about Ali Ibn Al-Hussein [Al-Sajjad] عليه السلام , then he mentioned Al-Mughayrah Ibn Saeed and Abu Al-Khattab and Muhammar and Bashaar Al-Ash’ari and Hamzah Al-Yazidi and Sa’ib Al-Hindi – i.e. his companions – and said:“Allah’s curse be upon them! We are not left without the liars who lie about us – Allah is sufficient for us and he will let every liar taste the heat of the iron [hellfire]“.[Rijal Al-Kishi, page 257, 258]

The Hadith master Ibn Shahin al-Hanbali (d. 385) said: “Two righteous men have been afflicted because of evil people: Ja’far ibn Muhammad and Ahmad ibn Hanbal.”

Similarly Ibn al-Salah (d. 643) said: “Two Imams have been afflicted because of their followers although they are innocent of them: Ahmad ibn Hanbal was tried with the anthropomorphists (al-mujassima), and Ja’far al-Sadiq with the (Shi’a) Rejectionists (al-Rafida).” [Ibn al-Subki’s  Qa`ida (p. 43), also found in his Tabaqat al-Shafi`iyya al-Kubra (2:17)]

Here is one of the stories that was attributed to Imam Jafar(ra) by Shias inorder to legalize Nazr of koonde to Imam Jafar.

“Once the Imam J’afar as-Sadiq (may our salams and Allah’ peace be unto them all) was walking in the streets of Madinah with some of his companions. He suddenly stopped and looked to his companions and inquired about the date. They all said that that was the 22nd day of Rajab. the Imam then said: “If anyone of you are facing a difficulty of any kind in this world, you should prepare some sweets and set them up in a clay pot (koonday in Urdu) and dedicate that in a NAZR to my person. You should then pray to your Lord using my waseela. Allah will, if He wills, remove your difficulty. However, if your problem is not resolved then you would come to me on the Day of Judgement and complain to me.”.[Source]; [Screen Shot]  

Comment: Nazr is an act of worship how could it be made to an Imam. And doesn’t this practice and its excuse seems similar to what is mentioned in this verse of Quran: And they serve beside Allah what can neither harm them nor profit them, and they say: [These are our intercessors with Allah. Say: Do you (presume to) inform Allah of what He knows not in the heavens and the earth? Glory be to Him, and supremely exalted is He above what they set up (with Him).(10:18)] In another place:..[ And those who take Auliyaa (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): “We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allaah.(39:3)]

Renowned shia news website states about the practice of shias: Momineen and followers of Ahlul Bayt (AS) throughout world arrange Niyaz in Hazrat Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq (A.S.)’s name on 22nd day of Rajab Al-Murajjab. [Source] [Screen shot]

 

Reality of Koondey of Imam Jafar(ra)

Not only the Custom of koondey of Imam Jafar(ra) is Shirk, because nazr of anyone besides Allah is Shirk,  but the other problem with this custom is that its an innovation(bidah). How could the pious members of Ahl Albayt teach these unislamic pagan customs to muslims? In no way could Ahlebayt teach people these customs nor could they ever grant permission to do so. It’s one of the innovation from many such innovations by Shias who attributed those to members of Ahl Al bayt. And those shias who were blindfolded by the so called love for Ahl Albayt accepted those innovations whole heartedly and started practicing them.

So let us expose the reality of this innovation from the sayings of shia scholars themselves:

1. Ayatullah Muhammad Hussain Najafi in his book Islah ur-Rusoom wrote about Koondey of Imam Jafar Sadiq that: It’s bidah. This cultural thing originated from Lucknow, India and has no significance in Islam.

2. A Question about the Koonday Niyaaz was posed to SHIA scholar Dr. Liyakat Takim (“aalim network) scholar on a shia website that answers the questions of Shias.

Question: Could you please get Dr. Takim to explain the significance of Sufro, and the importance of the ‘rice pudding and patty’ served during this occasion and the gold and silver rings that people dive for.  The story of the woodcutter I am told is not authentic and even if it is, I still do not see a miracle big enough to constitute a repetition of the tradition year after year.  Why do people who do nazar of Imam Jaffer Sadiq for sufro swear by it?

ANSWER: The tradition of Sufro is more cultural than religious. Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi in the Mafatih al-Jinnan lists all the important daily ‘amals in the month of Rajab. However, he does not mention anything about 22nd of Rajab or any special event to be held around that day in regard to sufro. It is said that Mu’awiya died on that day, and as people could not celebrate his death, instead they made a majlis in the name of Imam al-Sadiq. However, Ya’qubi, one of the earliest historians, states that Mu’awiya died either in early or middle of Rajab of 60 A.H.(not on 22nd).

Interestingly, even the World Federation calendar does not list any special religious event on the 22nd of Rajab so it appears to be of cultural rather than religious significance. However, there is no harm of holding a majlis in the name of our Imams to recount their deeds and what is expected out of us as their followers. As for the sweet dishes prepared for the day, once again our Imams never had these types of Indian delicacies, these are our own ways of marking the day. Please do not put gold or silver rings in the food, someone could choke and you could end up in the court. There is no religious basis for such acts. A study of the life of Imam al-Sadiq in the books of al-Mufid (K.al-Irshad), the Ta’rikh of al-Ya’qubi or Muruj al-Dhahab of al-Mas’udi shows there is no basis for the story of the woodcutter either. The story appears to be more of a popular practise rather than having any religious or historical background. [Source] [Screen shot]

3. A Question was posed to another SHIA scholar Mulla Bashir Raheem (“aalim network) scholar about the Koonday Niyaaz.

QUESTION: In the name of Allah  Dear Brothers As Salaam o alaikum, My question is regarding the (Quandon ki Niyaz) a urdu word. When I was in India, I used to attend this celebration at many places on 22nd Rajjab. What I understand the story behind that Fateha, is the day Mavia died. People celebrated by sharing sweets during the period of Imam Jafer Sadiq(AS). They did this in secret & hence disposed all the things into the ground. Please tell me whether this concept of fateha is true or not. I was thinking this celebration is universal in the Shia world, but for my surprise my Shia friend from Lebanon said he never heard such thing in his life.

ANSWER:  There is no historic or theological basis for “Qundo ka Nyaz” or “sufro” as it is known amongst the Gujerati and Cutchie Shiahs. It is true that Muawiyah died round about the 22nd of Rajab but it is improper to suggest that it is an auspicious occasion for ‘nadhr-e-Sadiq (a.s.)’ .However whenever the mu’mineen gather to reflect upon the mu’tabar ahadeeth of the aimmah (a.s.) and to share the tabarrukaat is always an auspicious occasion. The superstitious rituals surrounding the occasion are un-Islamic and must be got rid of.

This is an innovation:

Thus it must be clear before our readers from the proofs we provided that its an innovation in religion and EVERY innovation in religion leads to hell fire according to narrations present in Sunni books as well as books of Shias.

Here is Shia hadeth :
عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن علي بن الحكم، عن عمر بن أبان الكلبي، عن عبدالرحيم القصير عن أبي عبدالله (عليه السلام) قال: قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): كل بدعة ضلالة، وكل ضلالة في النار

A group among our companions, from Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Isa, from Ali b. al Hakam, from Umar b. Aban al Kalbi, from Abul Raheem al Qaseer from abi Abdullah (as) who said: Said Rasool Allah (pbuh): “EVERY bid’ah(innovation) is misguidance/deviance, and every misguidance/deviance is in the fire.“[Al kafi, Grading Bahboodi: صحيح Sahih (correct/authentic)].

Here is Sunni Hadeeth:

Sahih Muslim Bk 7 no: 3163 Ali(ra) narrated that Muahammad(Saw) said: If anyone makes an innovation or accommodates an innovator, the curse of Allah, the angels, and all persons will fall upon him, and Allah will not accept any obligatory or supererogatory act as recompense from them.

The Messenger of Allaah(saw) used to say in the Firday sermon: Indeed the best of speech is the Speech of Allaah, and the best of guidance is the Guidance of Muhammad(saw), and the most evil of affairs are the newly invented ones, and every innovation is misguidance, [Saheeh Muslim 867].  An-Nasaa.ee added, with a good chain: ((…and every misguidance leads to the (Hell-) Fire)), [an-Nasaa.ee, Volume 3, Page 188; Saheeh Sunan an-Nasaa.ee 1487].

So we request those Shias who blindly practice this innovation in the name of love for Ahl Al bayt to open their eyes before its too late.

 

Conclusion 

We request the unbiased people who practice these customs to ponder over reality and not to turn away from reality, and please do not take this article as a criticism on you because, the intention we had in writing this article was to save innocent people from hell-fire. May Allah make the ignorant people who are committing this shirk, realize that what they are doing is a major sin which will never be forgiven by Allah. Because Allah said in quran, [verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship),but He forgives except that(anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin (4:48)] And we pray to Allah to save Muslims from Shirk.

 

Allah(swt) states in Quran:

Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Book and (of) a Quran that makes (things) clear. The disbelievers may well come to wish they had submitted to God, Leave them that they may eat and enjoy themselves and (that) hope may beguile them, for they will soon know.(Quran 15:1-3).

(In spite of the clear signs of the Oneness of Allah), there are people who set up equals and rivals with Allah and adore them with the adoration due to Allah, whereas the Believers adore Allah most ardently. Would that these transgressors could realize now what they will realize, when they will see the chastisement before them that power and authority wholly belong to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment! When He will inflict punishment, those very leaders and guides whom they followed in the world will disown them. But punishment they shall get and all their bonds shall be cut off. Then those who followed them will say, “Would that we were given another chance to return to the world: then we will disown them just as they have disowned us today.” Thus will Allah bring before them the deeds they did in the world in such a manner as to make them wring their hands in regret but they shall be unable to come out of the Fire.(Quran 2: 165-167)