THE DEBATE
THE VENUE: LAKEHOUSE (Publication – Letters to the Editor)
THE TEAMS: Ayesha Yusuf of the Sunnath Jama’ath - vs
M.Sadique & .M. Haniffa –On Behalf of Tomb worshippers
THE JUDGE: Abdul Aziz al Shoumar (Saudi)
SUBJECT: Islamic View on
NARRATOR: A.R.Abdeen,
Opening Speech:- (Islamic view on
Madam Ayesha Yusuf: Grave worship was among the last things that the Prophet (Sal) warned against before he left the world thus indicating that this practice would be a test for the Ummat (followers). God says :
47:33 “ O ye who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and make not vain your deeds!
59:7 - So take what the Messenger assigns to you and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you”
Abu –Saeed al Khudri reported – all the earth is a Masjid, except graveyards and toilets.
(Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah.)
Ibn Umar reported – Pray in your houses, do not make them graveyards. (Bukhari, Muslim).
Prophet (Sal) prohibited praying in the direction of graves, because it may be understood by the ignorant as praying to the dead themselves. Do not pray towards graves nor sit on them. (Muslim, Ibn Maajah)
In Islam funeral service is not held in the graveyard, but in an area set aside for prayers or in a mosque. The bier is placed in front of the congregation, does not include Ruku or Sajada so as not to give the impression that we pray to the dead.
The recitation of the Quran in graveyards is not allowed, but only salams and a supplication but did not say recite Fathiha or any other chapter from the Quran.
Abu Huraira-reported that the Prophet (sal) said - do not make your houses graveyards
Quran should be read in houses and not in graveyards. Satan will flee in houses Surah Baqarah is read.
35:22 - Nor are alike those that are living and those that are dead. Allah can make any that He wills to hear; but thou canst not make those to hear who are (buried) in graves. 3905
27:80 - Truly thou canst not cause the Dead to listen nor canst thou cause the Deaf to hear the call (especially) when they turn back in retreat. 3311
The Prophet (Sal) forbade the erecting of structures over graves, inscriptions on them or raising them above ground level He ordered them to be demolished and made level with the ground. (Abu Dawood, Muslim ,Tirmidhi.) Such Hadeeth have been forgotten by Muslims even in Islamic countries.
Prophet (Sal) said “Do not make my grave an Eid (place of celebration), nor make your houses graveyards and seek Allah’s blessings for me.
If gatherings around the Prophet (sal) grave are forbidden, then celebrations held on various occasions at the shrines built over the graves of saints, is totally forbidden and unislamic. Not only should these shrines be demolished and the so-called rituals too should be stopped. Journeys to pay homage to such shrines was also forbidden. Allah’s Messenger said: Do not travel except to three Masjids – Masjid Haram, :Prophet’s mosque in
and masjid Al Aqsah. He has said that the most evil of mankind are those who make graves as places of worship.
What exactly is meant by making graves places of worship. Possible meaning are:
1. Praying towards a grave in Sajda
2. Building a Masjid over a grave, or a grave in a Masjid,
3. Praying in a Masjid containing a grave.
The presence of the :Prophet’s(sal) grave in his Masjid in Madinah, can never justify the placing of graves in Masjids, nor the building of Masjids over graves. The Prophet (sal) did not order that he be buried in his Masjid, nor did his companions do so. The companions of the Prophet (sal) wisely avoided burying the Prophet (sal) in the local graveyard, fearing that later generations would become overly attached to it. When Aisha’s (ral) house was included inside the Masjid, a high wall was built around it, that it would not be visible from inside the Masjid, and to prevent anyone from directly facing the grave.
Even in the Bible, Jesus addressing the Rabbis said: ”Woe to you. You build tombs for the Prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. (Mathew Ch.23)
Janab SADIQUE: (in reply to Islamic view on
Ayesha – why is this sudden provocation in expressing your views on graves?
This reminds me of an old adage (often quoted by our grandmas) STEP NOT INTO AREAS WHERE LUNACY REIGN SUPREME.
Ayesha – fanned by the hot blowing of the land of the Saudis….quotes at random most unwarrantedly to charge the Muslim community as a community of GRAVE WORSHIPPERS. While delving deep into her well of wisdom she has lost sight of the meaning and difference between Sajda (prostration) and supplication. She takes pride to quote the Bible Is she aware that almost the entirety of the Christian world are idolators? Perhaps it would have been appropriate had she mentioned, plucking from her wisdom, who are grave worshippers.
Hundreds of Muslims visit the graves of their parents, kith and kin, friends and moomins at cemeteries to supplicate for the inhabitants of the graves, and to seek mercy and forgiveness of Allah for them.
Aisha (ral) reported : every time it was my turn to be with the Prophet (sal) towards the end of the night, he would go out to the cemetery of al-Baqi (and pray for those in the graves). Were the Holy :Prophet (sal) and his wife, Aisha (ral) grave worshippers?
Ayesha – remember that no one in the Muslim world worships graves or tombs. When they do visit these places it is merely to pay respects to such places – the resting abodes of the sacred servants of Allah. No Muslim would sajda before a grave or sit on a grave. How foolish! In the wildest dream will not a Muslim worship towards graves or sit on graves.
Thousands visit the shrine of the Holy Prophet (sal) daily. Can she say that they all go there to worship his grave? Does Ayesha understand ‘do not make your houses graveyards’ – *where did the Holy Prophet (sal) say that and when?
*Ayesha says recitation of the Quran at graveyards is prohibited. Read a little more to understand this.
reference. What did the Prophet (sal) do when he visited al-Baqi?
Imam Shafie, and Muhammed bin Al-Hassen and Maliki school consider it desirable, because by it, the deceased might be blessed. Imam Malik and Imam Abu Haniffa view this as not desirable.
So Ayesha – take a little more time to make a good study without giving expression to the enthusiastic bubles of your wisdom.
Can the dead person hear in the grave. Ahmed and Abu Hatim (RA) reported that the Prophet (sal) said” When a deceased person is laid in the grave, he hears the sounds of the steps of people as they go away”
She must remember that a large number of mosques are built on sites where there are shrines of awliyas. Of course worshippers, after or before prayers, recited Fathiha and paid their respects to the moomins enshrined in the already existing dhargas. Can you call them grave worshippers? Even the Prophet (sal) and the Shahabas visited the graves of their compatriots at cemetery and offered prayers for them.(M. Sadique)
NEXT SPEAKER: Janab HANIFFA – ( Tomb worship & Muslims)
Ayesha – time and again accusation is being levelled against Muslims of Sri Lanka that they are worshipping the tombs of Saints and Martyrs. This allegation against innocent and pious Muslims might, according to Holy Prophet (sal), will boomerang on the accusers themselves. If two Muslims accuse each other of “Kufr”, one of them will certainly stand expelled from Islam automatically. No one has said that the Saints and Martyrs who have passed away are in any way equal to the Omnipotent Lord Almighty Allah nor do they ever worship any tomb.
3:169 - Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay they live finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord. 477
A true Muslim believes that Martyrs who are undoubtedly Saints are alive and are finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord.
Also rejoice in the Bounty provided by Allah. If this is the case with Martyrs who have sacrificed their lives wielding their weapons in the war, then what is the case of Saints who have undergone much penance, sacrificed their whole lives in the fight against the evil and gave up their passion, health, wealth, comfort and everything else for the sake of the welfare of the humanity? Are they not to be considered very much alive more than the Martyrs?
5:35- O ye who believe! do your duty to Allah seek the means of approach unto Him and strive with might and main in His cause: that ye may prosper. 740 741
Moomins are asked to be pious and seek the means of approach unto him and strive with might and main in his cause so that they may be successful in their affairs.
Prophet (sal) has also asked us to seek Allah’s Blessings placing before him our good deeds and beg of him for the sake of those good deeds like “Salat”, charity, repentance etc to be merciful.
The prayers of the Prophet (sal) for Fathima (RA) getting down into her grave and making Allah to be merciful on her for his sake and for the sake of the other Prophets, is found in the books of traditions.
Based on these instructions, that pious Muslims go to the Saints. These Saints are entreated to beseech Allah on behalf of others on the grounds of their (Saints) sacrifice and service to humanity.The practice of visiting Shrines and reciting Fathiha is very much in vogue in all the countries of the world especially in the Holy cities of Makkah and
It is highly ridiculous to say that neither the Prophet (sal) nor his companions did order that the Prophet (sal) should be buried in his mosque and if so who on earth attended to the Janaza arrangements?
Ayesha arrogates to herself to be in possession of some mysterious information against all the authentic versions ( as if she was present at the janaza) she herself must provide the answer to her unexplained statement.
Praying Salat near the Shrine of the Prophet (sal), Abu Bakr (RA), Umar (RA) and Medina and near the Shrine of Ibnu Abbas (RA) Taif is considered to be a meritorious act, not to speak of the garden adjacent to the Shrine of the Prophet (sal) which is incomparably superior to any piece of land on the face of the earth. MAA BAYNA QABREE –MIMBAREE RAWDATUM MIN RIYAADIL JANNAH. (Miskat)
Finally, let us ask our brothers who have been misled by false notions not expel the members of our commulnity from Islam, lest they may face a calamitous situation at the time of their “Sakarat”.(M.B.M. Haniffa)
THE JUDGE - A Visitor’s Observations: (From -
I was very astonished to see some of the practices of Muslims in Sub continent., and may I say they border the very state of jahiliya which Islam eradicated.
I found that the Muslims
The very foundation of Islam is that Allah is the only One worthy of worship.
108:2 - Therefore to thy Lord turn in Prayer and Sacrifice. 6287
6287 He who grants these blessings is Allah, and to Allah alone must we turn in adoration and thanksgiving
Next, all our needs are to be addressed to Allah alone, and no one else. Why? Because He says in the Quran:
40:60 - And your Lord says: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): But those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell in humiliation!" 4434
Is this different from what was preached by Prophet Jesus (PBUH)?
I was told that Muslims do not worship the graves, but address those in the graves as intermediaries to seek Allah’s Help. The people of Makkah in the pre-islamic period used the word Allah , and they knew what it denotes. They knew fully well that it is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth. Yet they said that they do not worship the idols of ancestors, but use them as intermediaries to plead with Allah on their behalf.”Those who take Auliyia besides Allah say we worship them only that they bring us near to Allah”:
39:3 - Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say): "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful. 4243 4244 4245
THE WORDS AND THE ARGUMENT HAVE NOT CHANGED WITH TIME.THEY ARE THE SAME EVEN AFTER 14 CENTURIES. WHY DO WE NEED INTERMEDIARIES, WHEN ALLAH NEVER CONSULTED THESE DEAD MEN TO CREATE US IN THE FIRST PLACE.? Are we so inferior that we cannot address our needs to the CREATOR DIRECT? IS THE CREATOR FAR AWAY FROM HIS CREATION? Are we not aware that Allah says ”WHEN MY SLAVES ASK YOU O MUHAMMAD (Pbuh) CONCERNING ME, THEN I (ALLAH) AM INDEED NEAR. I RESPOND TO THE INVOCATIONS OF THE SUPPLICANT WHEN HE CALLS ON ME?”W here is the need for an intermediary?
2:186 - When my servants ask thee concerning Me I am indeed close (to them); I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me; let them also with a will listen to My call and believe in Me; that they may walk in the right way. 194
I found one common aspect in all these places of grave worship. That is, they had a till for the collection of money and the ignorant Muslims piously drop money in these tills. The sad story is- they assume that they are doing a good deed in Islam. What can a dead person do with this money?
All worldly things of a person are left behind at his death except his good deeds and evil deeds which will accompany him. Of the good deeds - Three things will continue to be beneficial to him even after his death. They are:
1. A continuous act of charity that benefits the society – such as digging a public well or building common amenities for the welfare of the society.
2. A contribution to Knowledge – such as writing a book or doing a research for the benefit of mankind.
3. A righteous son who prays to Allah seeking the forgiveness for his dead parents.
THESE ARE THE DEEDS THAT BENEFIT THE DEAD PERSON THROUGH THE LIVING ONES – BECAUSE THE LIVING GET BENEFITS FROM THE PAST ACTS OF THE DEAD PERSON. THE DEAD PERSON FROM HIS GRAVE CANNOT GRANT ANY OTHER BENEFIT OR RELIEF TO THE LIVING, HOWEVER MUCH THEY MAY INVOKE HIM.
Comments by the Narrator:
There is no need for any comments as the above statement by brother Abdul Aziz Shoumar is self explanatory. A fitting reply to brothers Sadique and Haniffa. However, I shall endeavour to strengthen this with more authentic Hadhis etc. for the benefit of our Muslims.
The Dictionary meaning of Worship is – submissive respect, to pay divine honours to or to adore.
In Islam - any Righteous Act - amounts to Worship. (Not necessarily bending in Ruku or Sujud)
INTENTION is fixing of the mind on any object / the object aimed at.
In visiting the grave of a Saint – what is the basic intention of the visitor ? To adore him, recite a fathiha for him to get him more blessings of Allah - in other words to save him from the Fire etc.? But what is his lurking feeling which he is trying to hide, is the fact that he would receive in return some sort of blessing from that saint! Otherwise why is he so concerned about that Saint? That man has already made him a saint and he knows that his place is assured in paradise. So why pump him with more merits? Surely, an evil person buried deserves such visits for his salvation, but who dares to visit him in such graves?
3:169 - Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay they live finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord. 477
477 A beautiful passage about the Martyrs in the cause of Truth. They are not dead: they live,-and in a far higher and deeper sense than in the life they have left.. In their case, through the gateway of death, they enter, the true real Life, as opposed to its shadow here. (3.169)
(This is one of the reason adduced by brother Haniffa to visit such graves) See: ( “Abodes of the souls
in BARZAKH”)
These Martyrs achieved this position by actually fighting in the cause of Allah and not by chance merely by visiting the graves of their ancestors or the so-called holy men by making Duwa and reciting a Fathiha etc. The question is: ARE WE DOING THE SAME KIND OF FIGHTING TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER POSITION LIKE THIS or taking a shortcut to achieve this by a Duwa , Fathiha etc., thus making him an intermediary.
Then again he quotes 5:35:-
5:35 - O ye who believe! do your duty to Allah seek the means of approach unto Him and strive with might and main in His cause: that ye may prosper. 740 741
740 - Taqwa here too might be translated "fear of Allah", but the very next clause shows that "fear of Allah" does not mean "fear" in the ordinary sense, which would make you avoid the object of fear. On the contrary the "fear of Allah" is the intense desire to avoid everything that is against His Will and Law. It is in fact duty to Allah, for we are told to seek ardently the means by which we may approach Him, and that can only be done by striving with might and main for His cause. (5.35)
Is brother Haniffa trying to take shelter under this? Does he mean that the means by which we may approach Allah is through the Martyrs and Saints? This is Shirk and Allah will not pardon this sin. Please see Hadhis in the following pages:
As regards Mr. Sadique’s comments on Ayesha Yusuf’s speech – his remarks about the hot blowing of the land of the Saudis – is uncalled for and unpardonable and this tends to bring our debate to a very low standard and may Allah guide brother Sadique on the straightpath. May I say this: If not for the Saudis, Islam would have been only in the books and the Muslims would have been in the graves. Just look at the tremendous amount of work the Saudis had done and are doing to maintain Islam in its present degree of of excellence.!
Then about brother Sadique’s question “Were the Holy Prophet (sal) and his wife, Aisha (RA) grave worshippers as they had gone out to the cemetery of al-Baqi toward the end of the night and prayed for those in the graves and therefore the Muslims in
This is a misconception dear brother, as a Prophet he did this , but no where has he asked us to do this and thereafter his Companions too had not done this. Please read on Sharia below:-
About your statement: “when a deceased person is laid in his grave, he hears the sounds of the steps of people as they go away” –( yes they hear only at this stage as the people go away.) Please read on further.
THE MUSLIMS: (TODAY)
59:14 – Their enmity among themselves is very great. You would think they were united, but their hearts are divided, that’s because they are a people who understand not.
5;41 - O Apostle! let not those grieve thee who race each other into unbelief: (whether it be) among those who say: "We believe" with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; …They change the words from their (right) times and places;….. For them there is disgrace in this world and in the Hereafter a heavy punishment.
744 Two classes of men are meant, viz., the Hypocrites and the Jews. For both of them Al-Mustafa laboured earnestly and assiduously, and it must have been a cause of great grief and disappointment to him that some among them showed so much insincerity, cunning, and hardness of heart. These are types not yet extinct. (5.41)
SHARI’A
The Shari’a is the total sum of injunctions, that address those who qualify for being obligated to regard the religious duties. It details the way of life that the Creator intends for the created, who believe in him, to abide by and to follow.
The number one source of the Sharia of course is the Quran, the very words of Allah.
The Prophet, Peace and Blessings be upon him, draws our attention that whatever he says as a Prophet, becomes a part of the Sharia and a part of our religion.
This is in distinction to what he said or did as a mere ordinary human being. Whatever he told us that this is part of our religion, we have to take.
“Whoever obeys the Prophet, has obeyed Allah”
“Do whatever the Prophet commands you to do, and abstain from that which he forbade us.”
The Hadith of the Prophet, Peace and Blessing be upon him, was narrated and collected after his death.
There are things which the Quran did not detail. The Quran ordered us to observe our prayers, but it was the Prophet, Peace and Blessing be upon him, who taught us how to pray, how many ‘rakas’ in each prayer, what to do and how to perform the prayer. This is the Sunna which compliments the Quran. These are the two basic sources of the Shariah;.
In order to get to know what the Prophet said and taught, one of the most exact sciences, and one of the most precise branches of the science of History, was created. That is the ‘Science of the Hadith’, to determine what Hadith are authentic, what are less than that, what Hadith are possible and what are to be rejected. The Science of the Hadith is practically one of the most exact branches of the science of History that humanity has ever known.
The Quran and the Hadith are the constants of the Sharia, they are the unchangeable part of the Sharia. Provided there is the good, intelligent, knowledgeable deep understanding.
Other sources of the Sharia are about things not specifically mentioned in the Quran or the Hadith of the Prophet, Peace and Blessing be upon him. Because the Sharia is progressive and is suitable for all times and places. So the third source of the Sharia is the ‘Ijtihad’, the reasonable deduction, within the limits of the Quran and the Sunna of the Prophet, Peace and Blessing be upon him.
For example, alcohol was specifically forbidden to drink in the Quran. But the Quran and the Prophet never mentioned anything about Cocaine, or Heroin. But then Ijtihad tells us that since the reason for forbidding alcohol is its’ effect on the human mind, and since cocaine has the same effect on the human mind, then according to the Sharia, it also becomes Haram, forbidden, although it was never mentioned specifically by name in the Quran or the Hadith.
No comments:
Post a Comment