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A SUNNI PERSPECTIVE
M A T A M
The Ayatollahs Recommend Self-Flagellation
The Shia will oftentimes use Taqiyyah (lying to save one’s religion) when asked about Matam. We often hear Shia, particularly in the West, saying that beating oneself during Matam is actually forbidden in the Shia religion, and that it is only ignorant and “extremist” Shia who do that. This is a bold-faced lie, and we shall prove it here. In fact, the opposite is true: any Shia who claims that self-flagellation is not Mustahabb (highly recommended) is either lying or ignorant of his religion. All of the Shia Maraje’ (high scholars) are agreed that beating oneself is not only allowed in Shi’ism, but rather it is encouraged.
Let us refer the reader to Ayatollah Shirazi’s official website. Again, this is his own website, where he cites his as well as the opinion of other Shia Maraje’ (high scholars), including Ayatollah Sistani, Ayatollah al-Kho’i, and many other leading Shia figures. Ayatollah Shirazi is one of the most revered scholars of the Shia, and nobody could question his credentials. His official website can be viewed at www.shirazi.org.uk . In particular, we would like to draw the reader’s attention to his fatwa in regards to Matam, which can be found here: http://www.shirazi.org.uk/tatbir%20fatawa.htm We strongly urge the reader to visit the Ayatollah’s website, so that he can see it for himself. We simply copied and pasted it all below.
Al-Imam al-Sheikh Abdul Kareem al-Ha’ery, the Founder of the current Hawzah in the holy city of Qum, said:
“The hitting of swords on the heads causing bleeding is allowed provided there is no harm to the person doing this. Furthermore no one has the right to prohibit this (hitting the head with sword). In fact all kinds of TA’ZIAH – mourning – for SEYYED AL-SHUHADA’ – Imam Hussain – may our souls be sacrificed for him, are MUSTAHAB (highly recommended)– desirable deeds.”
The above Fatwa was endorsed and signed by the following eminent Maraje’:
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Sheikh Muhammad al-Araki
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Muhammad Ridha al-Gulpaygani
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Shahab-el-Deen al-Mar’ashi al-Najafi
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Hassan al-Tabataba’e al-Qummi
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Muhammad al-Waheedi
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Mirza Jawaad al-Tabrizi
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Muhammad Saadiq al-Rouhani
- Ayatollah al-Udhma Muhammad Mahdi al-Lankaroudi
And many other Maraje’ and eminent scholars…
Al-Imam al-Sheikh Muhammad Hussain al-Naa’ini, the teacher of the Maraje’ of the holy city of Najaf, said:
“There is no doubt as to the permissibility of the beating of the chest and the face with the hands to the point of redness or blackness (of the chest or the face). This is also extended to the lashing of the shoulders and the back with chains to the extent mentioned (above), and even if this led to bleeding. As for causing the bleeding of the head by sword beating, this is also allowed provided it does not lead to endangering harm, such as unstoppable bleeding or harm to the scull, etc. as it is known amongst the experts in doing this (hitting on the head).”
The above Fatwa was endorsed and signed by the following eminent Maraje’:
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Mohsen al-Hakim
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Muhammad Kaadhem al-Shari’atMadari
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Abd-el-A’la al-Sabzewary
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Abul-Qassim al-Kho’i
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Muhammad Ridha al-Gulpaygani
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Ali al-Hussaini al-Seestani
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Seyyid Muhammad Saadiq al-Rouhani
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Mirza Jawaad al-Tabrizi
- Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Sheikh Hussain al-Waheed al-Khurasani
And many other Maraje’ and eminent scholars…
Ayatollah al-Kho’i, the former leader of the Hawzah of the holy city of Najaf, was asked the following question.
Question:
Is there any problem with causing the bleeding of the head – TATBIR – as it is practiced, to express one’s grief about the martyrdom of our Imam Hussain peace be upon him, assuming there is going to be no permanent harm?
Answer by Ayatollah al-Kho’i:
“There is no problem with that, given the assumption made in the question, and Allah knows best.”
Question:
You stated that there is no problem in causing the bleeding of the head – known as TATBIR – if it does not lead to harm. It is said that it is not more than a permissible act, then can TATBIR be MUSTAHAB (highly recommended) – desirable – if the intention was the upholding and honouring the Sha’a’er – signs of Allah – and sympathy with the Ahl-ul-Bayt, peace be upon them?
Answer by Ayatollah al-Kho’i:
“Most probably Allah Almighty would give thawab – reward (the individual) – for sympathising with the Ahl-ul-Bayt if the intention is sincere.”
Ayatollah al-Sistani, the current leader of the Hawzah of the holy city of Najaf, was asked the following question.
Question:
What is the ruling regarding the lashing with chains, chest beating, and walking on fire on the occasion of mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussain peace be upon him?
Answer by Ayatollah al-Sistani:
“If (these are) not associated with extreme harm or loss of limb, there is no objection.”
Question:
What is the ruling regarding wearing black, and chest beating when commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain peace be upon him, as well as other infallible Imams peace be upon them?
Answer by Ayatollah al-Sistani:
“This is permissible, and in fact this is regarded as one of the best means of seeking nearness to Allah, since it is upholding and honouring the Sha’a’er of Allah Almighty.” [This is a reference to the Qur’anic Ayah 22:32. – translator.]
Ayatollah al-Shirazi was asked the following question.
Question:
Some individuals say that I do not see shedding my tears as enough to express my grief for Imam Hussain (AS), his household and his followers on the day of Ashura. So is hitting myself with sword and injuring myself is allowed?
Answer by Ayatollah al-Shirazi:
“The Hussaini Sha’a’er, including TATBIR, are some of the RAAJIH issues. TATBIR is a MUSTAHAB (highly recommended) deed, unless it leads to death, loss of limb, or loss of faculties.” (RAAJIH means MUSTAHAB that could become WAJIB depending on the circumstances - translator)
Question:
What is your opinion regarding hitting the head with sword – TATBIR – on the day of Ashura whether or not it harms the individual?
Answer by Ayatollah al-Shirazi:
“The most common and widely known opinion of the Fuqaha (scholars) is that the desirability (of TATBIR) is in it not being extremely harmful.”
Question:
If one engages in the program of TA’ZIAH for Imam Hussain (AS), and goes on to serve the program of TA’ZIAH but does not do TATBIR (shedding of blood), is he regarded as a sinner, who deserves to be humiliated?
Answer by Ayatollah al-Shirazi:
“TATBIR is a desirable act, and a MUKALLAF – i.e. one who has reached the adolescence age and is duty bound – may forsake a desirable act. It is not allowed to humiliate a Mu’min, and also one who does not do TATBIR may not humiliate or insult others, or accuse them (of false things).”
Question:
What is your opinion regarding the reports that Lady Zaynab (AS), when she saw the head of her brother Imam Hussain peace be upon him, being paraded in public hit her forehead on the bar of the carriage she was travelling in, causing bleeding to flow from beneath her veil, which was visible to onlookers who witnessed the event?
Answer by Ayatollah al-Shirazi:
“Yes that is proven.”
(Source: Ayatollah Shirazi’s official website, http://www.shirazi.org.uk/tatbir%)
Ayatollah Shirazi further said:
“Tatbir (shedding blood using swords) has always been recommended as Mustahab (highly recommended) by the overwhelming consensus of the ‘ULAMA and there has rarely been any, if at all, high-ranking ‘Aalim ever to have declared otherwise.”
(Source: Ayatollah Shirazi’s official website,
http://www.shirazi.org.uk/ashura.htm#ashuramisuse)
He also said:
“The shedding of blood during Muharram for Imam Hussain, peace be upon him, is not only Halal, but it is also very Mustahab indeed, and all PROMINENT scholars and religious authorities - Maraje’ - always encouraged it throughout the history of Islam. This included the Tatbir or Qamah-Zani - which is the hitting of the head with swords. The Maraje’ have even decreed that it is acceptable and permissible if one is harmed in this process, provided of course the injuries sustained do not constitute permanent injuries or endanger the life of the individual.”
(Source: Ayatollah Shirazi’s official website,
http://www.shirazi.org.uk/ashura.htm#ashuramisuse)
On Ayatollah Sistani’s official website, www.sistani.org, we find:
Question:
What is the ruling on beating our backs with chains only during Muharram rituals?
Answer:
“It is permissible.”
(Source: Ayatollah Sistani’s official website,
http://www.sistani.org/html/eng/menu/4/?lang=eng&view=d&code=77&page=1)
We find the following responses by Ayatollah Lankarani on his official website:
Q2: It so happens that people beat their chests and their backs with chains and their bodies turn red and even start bleeding. Is it permissible?
A2: It is permissible and even preferable provided that it does not cause significant harm to the body.
(Source: Ayatollah Lankarani’s official website,
http://www.lankarani.org/eng/adv/06.html)
Thus, there can be no question about the practise of self-flagellation in the Shia faith: it is Mustahabb (highly recommended), and this is the opinion of all of the ranking Shia Maraje’.
It is only a modern trend amongst the Shia youth living in the West to deny the acts of Matam, and this is usually done out of ignorance of the faith. We found one Shia youth who asked the following question to Ayatollah Shirazi:
I had a fellow brother at the Mosque mention one of the teachings of Imam Shirazi. The teaching in question deals with Ashura and the beating of swords and chains. This brother mentioned that Imam Shirazi says that it is allowed to use swords and chains and the drawing of blood, while someone else has said it is not allowed. Please enlighten me on Imam Shirazi’s teachings regarding this. I personally do not agree with violence in Ashura. I dare to say that I could not imagine Imam Hussain (AS) would even want us to hurt ourselves. In fact I would think he died to keep real Islam alive and keep us from going the deviant path of innovators.
In response to this question, Ayatollah Shirazi said:
“As with the issue of hitting the head with swords (Tatbir in Arabic or Qamah-Zani in Farsi) Imam Shirazi is not exceptional in any way to permit, and encourage, this action in Ashura. In fact ALL high-ranking ‘ULAMA and AYATOLLAHS not only have allowed this, and continue to do so, but for the entire history of the Shi’a over the past fourteen centuries, they have always encouraged this, declaring Tatbir or Qamah-Zani as very Mustahab indeed.”
“…Tatbir has always been recommended as Mustahab by the overwhelming consensus of the ‘ULAMA and there has rarely been any, if at all, high-ranking ‘Aalim ever to have declared otherwise.”
“As for Iran, significant number of devotees, just as in many other countries, have always performed Tatbir for many years (or rather centuries), and in recent years despite its prohibition being enforced by the authorities, people continued to perform this duty. In the last couple of years even the authorities there have started to turn a blind eye to such programs given the insistence and eagerness of the people to perform Qamah-Zani.”
(Source: Ayatollah Shirazi’s official website, http://www.shirazi.org.uk/ashura.htm)
As Ayatollah Shirazi mentioned, Iran’s official government policy is that such public displays of Matam are forbidden but only because they give a bad image to the Shia faith, not because these acts are forbidden in Shi’ism. As such, the prohibition of public displays of Matam is Taqiyyah. It is a policy which is not enforced, and in fact, the authorties “turn a blind eye to such programs.”
Ayatollah Shirazi was asked the following question.
Question:
Is shedding of blood on Ashura allowed? What is your position of Zanjeer and the use of knives, blades, and hooked chains to shed your own blood during Muharram … Is this sort of act Haram, Halal or Makruh? Is this the Sunnah of the Ahl-ul-Bayt at all?
Answer:
“The shedding of blood during Muharram for Imam Hussain, peace be upon him, is not only Halal, but it is also very Mustahab [highly recommended] indeed, and all PROMINENT scholars and religious authorities - Maraje’ - always encouraged it throughout the history of Islam. This included the Tatbir or Qamah-Zani - which is the hitting of the head with swords. The Maraje’ have even decreed that it is acceptable and permissible if one is harmed in this process, provided of course the injuries sustained do not constitute permanent injuries or endanger the life of the individual”
(Source: Ayatollah Shirazi’s official website, http://www.shirazi.org.uk/ashura.htm)
Ayatollah Shirazi then answered the following question.
Question:
Is Tatbir allowed? Is the practice of TATBIR, hitting one’s head by sword to cause bleeding, allowed in Islam?
Are there any other Marje’, alongside Grand Ayatollah Imam Muhammad Shirazi, who considers TATBIR as Halal in Islam or even MUSTAHAB?
There are people who do TATBIR on Ashura in Bahrain, is it practiced anywhere else in the Muslim world?
Answer:
“Practicing TATBIR is highly encouraged by Islam, as can be seen from the decrees of the most prominent MARAJE’ of Islam. Ayatollah al-Udhma Imam Muhammad Shirazi is not the only one who has allowed the Sha’a'er al-Hussaini, but in fact all of the most prominent MARAJE’ have also allowed these.”
“…It should be interesting for you to know that TATBIR is not only practiced in Bahrain, but it is also practiced in many countries around the world such as Saudi Arabia - al-Ihsaa’, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Pakistan, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Scandinavian countries, United States of America and Canada.”
(Source: Ayatollah Shirazi’s official website, http://www.shirazi.org.uk/ashura.htm)
There can thus be no more Taqiyyah or ignorance on the issue of self-flagellation in the Shia faith. We have provided the proof from the official websites of all of the top Shia scholars.
www.ahlelbayt.com
Matam: Self-Flagellation
MORE PICTURES OF MATAM
Because the faith of Islam is perfect, it does not allow for any innovations to the religion. However, the Shia have added many innovations to the faith, and this is why they are called Ahlel Bidah (the People of Bidah). One such Bidah (innovation) is the practise of Matam, in which the Shia beat themselves in Muharram on the day of Ashura. The Shia will slap their chests, beat their backs, and involve themselves in other practises in order to “commemorate” the dead.
As for the Ahlus Sunnah, they are saddened by the wrongful death of Hussain (رضّى الله عنه). He is one of the many great heroes of Islam that died in the Name of Allah. However, the Ahlus Sunnah does not engage in self-flagellation or self-mutilation, which are both considered strictly Haram (forbidden). The Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) forbade barbaric practises like such, and he said: “No harm may be inflicted on oneself.”
Do the Shia really think that Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) would appreciate people engaging in self-flagellation and self-mutilation? If Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) were alive today, he would think that these people have lost their minds. We ask the reader if he would want his family to commemorate his own death in such a manner? No sane person would want his death commemorated in such a manner, no matter how unfair or how violent his own death was. So why do the Shia assume that Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) would want his death to be remembered in such a barbaric way?
To bring up a more relevant example, let us assume for the moment that a boy likes a certain girl. In order to impress her, he decides to beat himself up for her to show his undying love for her. Do we think that she would actually be impressed with a boy who beats himself up? Surely not! Rather, the girl would be frightened out of her wits and she would likely call the police to control this boy. Indeed, only mentally insane people beat themselves up. It is a recognized psychological disorder, and there is much medical literature on this topic.
We can find no sane person on this earth who would want people to beat themselves up. It is completely abnormal and barbaric to beat oneself up even if to mourn the loss of a close one. This was a practise of the Jahiliyyah Arabs and the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) forbade it, as well as the Quran. Allah Almighty condemns the pagans for the barbaric way in which they would worship:
“Their [pagan] prayer at the House (of Allah) was nothing but whistling and clapping of hands; therefore taste the punishment because you used to disbelieve!” (Quran, 8:35)
The Quran looks down on these barbaric and native ways of prayer which make the Muslim look like a wild tribesman and nothing more. In any case, there are better avenues of channeling grief, including reading Quran and being a good Muslim. What better way to commemorate the loss of Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) than by trying to rid the world of evil and barbarity? A person could donate money to the poor, create a trust fund in the name of the deceased, etc etc….the options for channeling grief are almost infinite, so why beat oneself up? What does it accomplish? We can only wonder why the Shia follow a faith that advocates such barbarity.
Article Written By: Ibn al-Hashimi, www.ahlelbayt.com
Black Clothes
Traditionally, the Shia wear black clothes in the month of Muharram. In fact, during this month, it is considered Mustahabb (highly recommended) to do so. We find most Shia do wear black in certain parts of the year, including the Shia Ulema (scholarship) and Maraje’ (high scholars). In fact, the Shia Ayatollahs tend to wear black year-round, and very rarely do we see them not wearing black cloaks.
Herein we find a contradiction in the Shia faith. According to the authentic Shia Hadith, wearing black clothes is actually Haram (forbidden)! We see the following Hadith referenced on the reliable Shia website, Al-Shia.com:
Amir-ul-mu’minin said:
وقال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام فيما علم أصحابه: ” لا تلبسوا السواد فإنه لباس فرعون “.
“Do not wear black clothes, that is the dress of Pharaoh”
(Source: Al-Shia.com, http://www.al-shia.com/html/ara/books/faqih/faqih-1/a41.html)
Imam As Sadiq was asked about pray in the black clothes, he said:
وسئل الصادق عليه السلام ” عن الصلاة في القلنسوة السوداء؟ فقال: لا تصل فيها فإنها لباس أهل النار
“Don’t pray in it, that is dress of people of fire”
(Source: Al-Shia.com,
http://www.al-shia.com/html/ara/books/faqih/faqih-1/a41.html)
There is obviously nothing wrong with wearing black clothes, and the Ahlus Sunnah has nothing in their books which forbids it. However, the Shia Hadith declare that Amir Al-Mumineen Ali (رضّى الله عنه) and Imam As-Sadiq (رضّى الله عنه) declared it Haram. And yet, we find the Shia scholars wearing black, as well as the Shia masses who do so out of a sense of religious obligation.
In fact, the Shia Maraje’ have declared that wearing black is Mustahabb. On his official website, Grand Ayatollah Lankarani was asked if wearing black was Mustahabb, to which he replied: “Since it [wearing black] is considered respecting the signs (of Allah), it has legal preference. Moreover, prominent scholars such as late Ayatollah al-Uzma Broujardi used to wear black…”
(Source: Ayatollah Lankarani’s official website, http://www.lankarani.org/eng/adv/06.html)
This is truly an inconsistency in religion. The Faith of Allah should not have inconsistencies in it, and yet we find that Shi’ism is full of such discrepencies. Hence, we can only conclude that Shi’ism is not true Islam.
Article Written By: Ibn al-Hashimi, www.ahlelbayt.com
Why Sunnis Do Not Comemmorate Ashura
Shia says
“Why do the Sunnis not comemmorate the death of Hussain (رضّى الله عنه), the Prophet’s grandson?”
Answer by the Ahlel Bayt Admin:
There is no doubt in the minds of the rightly guided Ahlus Sunnah in regards to the great qualities of Hussain (رضّى الله عنه). We ask Allah Almighty to accept him into the Highest Ranks of Paradise with the Prophets and Messengers of Allah. Anyone who denies the greatness of Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) is deviant, and has gone away from the accepted creed of the Ahlus Sunnah. There is not a single reputable scholar of the Ahlus Sunnah that has ever said otherwise.
Having said this, true Muslims must not take part in the Shia rituals on the day of Ashura. Although we recognize that the death of Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) was a tragic event, it is a Bidah (evil innovation to Islam) to commemorate his death because the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) did not do so. How could the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) comemmorate his death when the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) himself died many years before the death of Hussain (رضّى الله عنه)?
Additionally–and this point cannot be stressed enough–there were many Sahabah who were killed in the Path of Allah, but the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) never mourned their deaths in the manner in which the Shia mourn Hussain (رضّى الله عنه). The Prophet lost his own dear uncle, his own wife, and many of his dearest companions, but do we see that the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) ever resorted to self-flagellation or excessive mourning? The Shia can never provide such an example from the life of the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم), probably not even from Shia sources. Therefore, we find that it is not part of the Sunnah to mourn in such an uncivilized manner and we shall never take part in it because of this.
Islam-qa.com says
“Neither the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) nor his rightly-guided successors (the khulafa’ al-raashidoon) did any of these things on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, they neither made it a day of mourning nor a day of celebration.
All of this is reprehensible bid’ah and is wrong. None of it has anything to do with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the way of the Khulafa’ al-Raashidoon. It was not approved of by any of the imaams of the Muslims, not Maalik, not al-Thawri, not al-Layth ibn Sa’d, not Abu Haneefah, not al-Oozaa’i, not al-Shaafa’i, not Ahmad ibn Hanbal, not Ishaaq ibn Raahwayh, not any of the imaams and scholars of the Muslims.
The religion of Islam is based on two principles: that we should worship nothing besides Allaah Alone, and that we should worship Him in the manner that He has prescribed, not by means of bid’ah or reprehensible innovations.
source: http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=4033&ln=eng&txt=ashoora ”
There have been many other great heroes of Islam who have been killed in the Path of Allah, and we do not find the Ahlus Sunnah comemmorating any of these days. The Ahlus Sunnah does not comemmorate the martyrdom of Umar (رضّى الله عنه), Uthman (رضّى الله عنه), or Ali (رضّى الله عنه). The reason is that we find all this to be Bidah, and forms of exaggeration like the Christians who comemmorate the death of Isa (عليه السلام).
We find it interesting that the Shia do not celebrate the death of Ali (رضّى الله عنه) or any of their other heroes. Ali (رضّى الله عنه) was stabbed to death, and he suffered a horrendous death. So what is the reason that the Shia make such a big deal about the death of Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) but not of Ali (رضّى الله عنه)? Ali (رضّى الله عنه) is in fact considered superior to Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) by the Shia. So why the death of Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) and not of Ali (رضّى الله عنه)? The reason is obvious: the Shia celebrate Ashura to spite the Sunni Muslims.
The Shia attest that it was Yezid who killed Hussain (رضّى الله عنه), and they say that Yezid was a Sunni. This is the reason that they mourn Hussain (رضّى الله عنه), because they blame the Ahlus Sunnah for this tragic event. The Shia mourning on Ashura is therefore a spiteful fist in the air against the Sunni majority. The Shia leave no stone unturned in their defamation of the Ahlus Sunnah, and thus they want everyone to remember that it was “Yezid the big bad Sunni” who was responsible.
As can be seen, the Shia mourning on Ashura has little do with their love for Hussain (رضّى الله عنه), but rather has more to do with their hatred of the Sunnis. Why else do they not comemmorate the martyrdoms of their other heroes, such as Ali (رضّى الله عنه) or Hamza (رضّى الله عنه)? The truth is that Ali (رضّى الله عنه) was killed by the Khawarij, a group of the Shia! This is why the Shia today do not make a big fuss about the death of Ali (رضّى الله عنه) since it was a man from their own party who killed him. It is much better instead to make great fan-fare about Hussain’s death (رضّى الله عنه), since the Shia blame the Sunnis for this death.
Sometimes the Shia of today will encourage the Sunnis to comemmorate Ashura, using and exploiting the fact that the Ahlus Sunnah also loves Hussain (رضّى الله عنه). We strongly urge our Muslim brothers not to fall into this trap of the Shia! They want us to take part in rituals that were designed to defame the Ahlus Sunnah, and nothing more. We cannot accept the Shia way of life.
Additionally, comemmorating Ashura with any special ritual would be adding to the faith of Islam, and this is Bidah. Bidah is considered part of Hell-Fire, and whoever invents a Bidah is promised Hell-Fire as well.
SunniPath.com says
“[It is a] delusion that such innovation [commemorating Ashura] is a pious deed…Nor has such commemoration been Sunni practice at all - even for the death of the Holy Prophet, whose passing from this world is a much greater loss - whether on Ashura or any other time of the year…
As for love of Ahl al-Bayt it is an integral of Sunni belief but in a Sunni way, not a sectarian way chock-full with ill feelings fanned by fabrications. Ibn Kathir said in al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya (8:201-202):
Al-Tabarani mentioned in this chapter very strange reports indeed and the Shi`a went overboard concerning the day of Ashura, forging many hadiths that are gross lies such as the sun being eclipsed on that day until the stars appeared, no stone was lifted except blood was seen under it, the celestial region became red, the sun and its rays seemed like blood, the sky seemed like a blood clot, the stars were hurling against one another, the sky rained red blood, there was never redness in the sky before that day, and the like… among other lies and forgeries of which not one report is sound.”
Success is from Allah, may He keep us on the path of His Prophet and his Companions, away from sectarianism and bad adab posing as love of Ahl al-Bayt.
Hajj Gibril
source: http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=4949&CATE=1”
From a logical standpoint too, we wonder if the Shia expect us to comemmorate the death of all the great heroes in Islam? If this were the case, then there would not be a single day left in the year in which the Muslims could be happy! Surely, in the great long history of Islam, there has been a martyrdom on every day of the year.
And even if we began the practise of comemmorating the deaths of martyrs, then there would be a long list of people whose death we would begin to comemmorate. On this list, Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) would not be the first, and there would be many before him. For example, we would comemmorate the wrongful deaths of Umar (رضّى الله عنه), Uthman (رضّى الله عنه), and Ali (رضّى الله عنه). Let us also not forget to give precedence to the deaths of past Prophets and Mesengers. So the Shia cannot accuse us of not loving the Prophet’s grandson; this is a childish accusation, and we refute it by asking the Shia why they do not mourn the other 364 days of the year in which other great heroes died.
And what about Prophet Isa (عليه السلام)? Should we also celebrate Christmas and Easter like the Christians do to celebrate the birth and death of Isa (عليه السلام)? Would it not be a great Bidah to take part in these Christian comemmorations? Can the Shia provide even one difference between these Christian holidays and the Shia holidays? Why do the Shia find it permissible to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) and comemmorate Hussain’s death (رضّى الله عنه), but then they would look down on a Shia who took part in Christmas and Easter? If the Shia say that the Sunnis do not love the Prophet’s grandson because they do not comemmorate Ashura, based on this logic can’t we also infer that the Shia do not love Prophet Isa (عليه السلام) since they fail to comemmorate his birth and death? Surely this is faulty logic.
In regards to the actual rituals of the Shia, these are barbaric practises of self-flagellation, violence, and paganism. How can the Shia actually ask us to partake in such displays? We shall do no such thing and rather we shall distance ourselves from them. Instead, we shall continue to call our Shia brothers to the path of true Islam of the Ahlus Sunnah, as followed by Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) himself. We will not exploit the death of the Prophet’s grandson for sectarian agenda, as the Shia have done. And the truth of the matter, as we shall see in future articles, is that the death of Hussain (رضّى الله عنه) was the fault of the Shia of Kufa. If the Shia want us to remember tales of Yezid’s debauchery, then let us also remind them of the Shia of Kufa whose cowardice, back-stabbing, and deciet led to the demise of the Prophet’s grandson.
–Ibn al-Hashimi, www.ahlelbayt.com
More Pictures of Matam
MATAM is reprehensible [bid’ah] innovation and is wrong. None of it has anything to do with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the way of the Khulafa’ al-Raashidoon or the mainstream muslims the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah. It was not approved of by any of the imaams of the Muslims, not Maalik, not al-Thawri, not al-Layth ibn Sa’d, not Abu Haneefah, not al-Oozaa’i, not al-Shaafa’i, not Ahmad ibn Hanbal, not Ishaaq ibn Raahwayh, not any of the imaams and scholars of the Muslims.
