Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Subject: greetings

Brother Burhan;

salamalaikum, we have leanrt many things of value from your emails and thankeful to you indeed for that. May Allah bless you and your friends and members of the forum for conducting this great service, to bring back the people to original, correct and the rightful source of understanding our deen and that is the Quran as you have rightly pointed out many times. I have five questions for your today, and once again many thanks, may Allah protect you and your collegues , give you strength and courage to carry on what you are doing,inshallah.

Q.1  Regarding Tahara; where in the Quran , we are commanded to keep ourselves clean except for Qusl, I don't remember reading about other things.

Q.2  In ramadan, the correct time for break ing the fast is before praying magreb or after it ? In as much as I have researched on this subject, it is

it is the Prophet's sunnah to break the fast first and then pray the magreb prayers.

Q.3  Bohras follow the Misry calender , which is , in general practice I have seen a day before or ahead of the Islamic calender. So they celebrate

their eid a day earlier, start and finish ramadan a day earlier , even I have seen people going to spent the day in arafat a day earlier [during haj time] , ofcource it is not allowed now by saudi authorities, so they are not doing under pressure. which calender or the way  to determine the new

moon is the correct way according to the Quran and sunnah. 

Q.4  I have seen many of oour bohra friends especially gujrati speaking, never say  "salamalikum" to greet each other but say ' kaim choo ' [how are you in gujrati].  Is not saying salamalikum or greeting each other like that not an established sunnah of the prophet.  In fact I heard one time,

one bhai saheb, making a remark about another bohra brother, who use to say salamalikum, to quote,   he said  " why do you wish like the muslims

do" , may be he does not know or teaching others that we the bohras are not muslims , and I used to think what are we if not muslims, perhaps "

momins".

Q.5  The custom of hugging or embracing a person three times to offer him condolances, [when somebody dies in the family] is this an Islamic tradition, derived from the Quran or sunnah of the prophet ?

with best regards, your brother in islam nooruddin

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Bidaa’ in Bohrism

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Jazak Allah Kheir (May Allah reward you with the Best) for your kind words and encouragement.  All Praise is due to Allah who has honored us and guided us to be among the muslims.  Had He not guided us, and not had mercy upon us, we would have been ruined in this world and in the hereafter.   If the articles we have forwarded to you from the forum have been beneficial to you, and helps to bring you closer to Allah and the deen of Islam; it is nothing but the mercy and help of Allah.   We pray that Allah accept our humble and weak efforts in the propagation of the Truth, forgive us our sins and our short comings, and save us all from the torment of the Hell Fire.  Jazak Allah Kheir once again for your kind words, and may Allah always keep you and your family in His Protection and Mercy.

 

Your comment: Regarding Tahara; where in the Quran , we are commanded to keep ourselves clean.  except for Qusl, I don't remember reading about other things.

The Arabic word ‘tahara’ is from the root word ‘taher’ which means pure or purify.   The Quran talks about two kinds of purification:  one is for the purification of the soul, and the other is the purification of the body.    I assume though that you are referring to the ‘tahara’ of the body and will relate to you the aayah accordingly.

The ‘tahara’ of the soul means to clarify the soul from the diseases of ‘kufr’ (disobedience),  ‘shirk’ (associating others with Allah),  ‘nifaq’ (hypocrisy), etc. and that can only be done if one follows the teachings and guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws).

 

The ‘tahara’ of the body basically is to cleanse and purify oneself physically. The bodily ‘tahara’ is a pre-condition for performing our prayers.   Thus if one has had sexual intercourse, they need to take a ‘ghusl’ (full bath), or if a woman has finished her periods, she also needs to take a ‘ghusl’ to purify herself.  Other than that, in normal circumstances one needs to perform the ‘wudu’ (ablution) to make him/her ‘tahhir’ and available for prayer.  

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 6:O you who have believed!  When you rise to offer salaat, you must wash your faces and your hands, and your arms up to the elbows, and wipe your heads with wet hands; and wash your feet up to the ankles.  And if you have become unclean (through sexual intercourse, periods, etc.),  ‘FATT- TAHHARU’ (cleanse yourself with a full bath).  If however, you are sick or are on a journey, or if any of you have relieved yourself, or if you have ‘touched’ women, and you can find no water; then cleanse yourself with pure dust (tayammum).  Strike your palms on it and wipe your hands and faces with it.  Allah does not will to make life hard for you, but He wills to purify (TAHHIR) you, and complete His blessing upon you so that you may show gratitude.

 

Your comment: In ramadan, the correct time for breaking the fast is before praying magreb or after it ? In as much as I have researched on this subject, it is it is the Prophet's sunnah to break the fast first and then pray the magreb prayers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 187:You are permitted to eat and drink during the night until you can discern the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from the black.   Then complete your fast until nightfall.

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in an authentic narration, "The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast."

 

The Prophet (saws) said, “Religion will continue to prevail as long as people hasten to break the fast, because the Jews and the Christians delay doing so.”

 

The Prophet (saws) was on a journey, and he observed the fast till evening. The Prophet said to a man, "Get down and mix Sawiq with water for me." He replied, "Will you wait till it is evening?" The Prophet said, "Get down and mix Sawiq with water for me; when you see night falling from this side, the fasting person should break his fast."

 

All the scholars in almost all the schools of thought in Islam are unanimous in their opinion, that the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was to break the fast first,

 and then perform the Magrib prayers.   Thus whoever intends to follow the Way of the Prophet (saws), must break his fast as soon as it is time for Magrib, and then perform the prayers.  

 

Your comment: Bohras follow the Misry calender , which is , in general practice I have seen a day before or ahead of the Islamic calender. So they celebrate their eid a day earlier, start and finish ramadan a day earlier , even I have seen people going to spent the day in arafat a day earlier [during haj time] , ofcource it is not allowed now by saudi authorities, so they are not doing under pressure. which calender or the way  to determine the new moon is the correct way according to the Quran and sunnah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verse 5:It is He (Allah) Who gave the sun his brightness and the moon her light, and ordained the moon's phases precisely so that you may calculate years and dates from this.

 

In Islam, the sun is used to determine the times of the obligatory prayers, and the moon is used to determine the months and years.  

 

In an authentic narration, the Prophet (saws) mentioned Ramadan, and said, "Do not fast unless you see the crescent of Ramadan and do not give up fasting till you see the crescent of Shawwal, but if the sky is overcast, then act on estimation and count Sha'baan as 30 days.”

 

In light of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (saws), the muslims at the time of the Prophet (saws) always determined the number of days of every Islamic month, including the days of Ramadan, Hajj,  Eids, etc. through the sighting of the moon.   That Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) is still followed today by the majority of muslims who follow the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (saws), and even today the Islamic dates are determined by the sighting of the moon by the believers worldwide.

 

The Dawoodi Bohra sect of Islam claim to see the so-called “haqiqi” moon to determine the number of days according to their published calendar.   They must be able to see their ‘haqiqi’ moon months in advance, as their Islamic calendar is published at the beginning of every Islamic year! 

 

What we do know from the Prophet’s (saws) authentic traditions that he (saws) certainly determined the days of every month through the sighting of the crescent of the ‘actual’ moon.  Thus the people who follow the Prophet (saws), even today, and until the end of time, Insha Allah, will calculate the days of the months by the same method as used by the Prophet of Allah (saws).

 

The ‘haqiqi’ moon must have appeared after the Prophet’s (saws) death, because he (saws) never saw or mentioned anything regarding the ‘haqiqi’ moon!   That is because even the Bohra scholars will agree that the Prophet (saws), during his life, always started the Islamic months by sighting the actual moon.   

 

Any changes in the way or tradition of the Prophet (saws) is known as a ‘bid’a’ or innovation.

 

It has been reported by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (r.a.) that the Prophet (saws) said: If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it.   If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His angels, and by all the people.

 

It has been reported by Jabir ibn Abdullah (r.a.) in another authentic narration that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon:  “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws).   The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

 

Thus, whoever wants to follow the tradition and way of the Prophet (saws), must do as he (saws) did, and start their reckoning of the Islamic months, by sighting the moon.  Those who do not want to follow the tradition of the Prophet (saws), are the ones who determine their months through the ‘haqiqi’ moon! 

 

This leads us to another more serious and important question that should naturally arise from this:  How many other traditions and ways of the Prophet (saws) have these people changed?

 

Your comment: I have seen many of oour bohra friends especially gujrati speaking, never say  "salamalikum" to greet each other but say ' kaim choo ' [how are you in gujrati].  Is not saying salamalikum or greeting each other like that not an established sunnah of the prophet.  In fact I heard one time, one bhai saheb, making a remark about another bohra brother, who use to say salamalikum, to quote,   he said  " why do you wish like the muslims do" , may be he does not know or teaching others that we the bohras are not muslims , and I used to think what are we if not muslims, perhaps "momins".

To invoke the ‘salaams’ on a muslim brother, is to invoke a ‘dua’ or prayer for our brother in Islam.   To invoke salaams on each other, is not only the established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws), but it is also the command of Allah in the Holy Quran.   And this invocation of salaams on the believers is not only for the life on earth, but as stated in the Holy Quran,  ‘salaam’ will also be the invocations amongst the people in Paradise.  

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah Noor verse 27:O you who have believed!  Do not enter other houses other than your own until you have the approval of the residents and have wished them ‘salaams’.  That is the best way for you, and it is expected you will observe it.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah Noor verse 61 (part aayah): When you enter the houses, you should invoke ‘salaam’ amongst each other, for this prayer of greetings prescribed by Allah (salaams) is blessed and pure.  Thus does Allah make his Revelations clear to you, so that you may understand.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 86:And when anyone greets you in a respectful manner, greet him with a better salutation than his, or at least return the same.  Indeed Allah takes count of everything.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verse 10:Those who believe and do righteous deeds, Allah will guide them aright because of their Faith; and there will be canals flowing underneath them in the Gardens of Bliss.   Therein, their prayer will be, “Glory be to You, O Lord”, and their greetings will be “Salaam”, and the burden of their hymn will be, “Praise is for Allah Alone, the Lord of the Worlds.”  

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said “spread the (invocation of) salaam, whether you know the brother or not.”

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, “It is the right of a muslim brother that when he invokes the salutation of peace (salaams), you must return the salutation to him.” 

 

In light of the above aayahs of the Quran, and the Sunnah of the Messenger (saws), it is a duty unto every muslim to invoke the prayer and salutation of peace (salaams) unto his muslim brother.

 

Your Comment:  In fact I heard one time, one bhai saheb, making a remark about another bohra brother, who use to say salamalikum, to quote,   he said  " why do you wish like the muslims do" , may be he does not know or teaching others that we the bohras are not muslims.

The bhai-saheb who made such a remark must indeed be ignorant in the teachings of Allah and His Messenger (saws) in Islam.   Had he known the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, he would never have uttered such a thing!    The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in an authentic narration, “Do the opposite of the ‘mushriks’ (non-believers).”    Seems like the bhai-saheb, in his blind hatred for true muslims, preached the opposite when, he said, “why do you wish (the salaams) like the muslims do”!!!!!!

This practice of ‘doing the opposite of the believers’ is consistent with the Bohra way of life.   The believers start Ramadan on one day, the Bohras start on another!   The believers perform Hajj on one day, the Bohras perform on another!  The believers greet other believers by saying ‘salaam aleikum’, the Bohras say ‘kem cho’!   The believers pray 5 times a day, the Bohras pray 3 times a day!  The believers obey only Allah and His Messenger (saws) unconditionally, the Bohras obey and follow their clergy and holy men unconditionally!   The believers use the Glorious Quran as their constitution, the Bohras use a book by a human being called ‘Dai’im ul Islam’ as their constitution!   The believers do deeds to win the Pleasure of Allah, the Bohras do deeds to win the pleasure of their syedna!  The believers invoke and worship Allah Alone, the Bohras invoke and worship human beings and graves with Allah!   The believers bow down in sajdah to Allah Alone, the Bohras bow down in sajdah to men and graves with Allah!  The believers feel honored to be recognized as slaves of Allah (Abd-Allah), the Bohras take pride in calling themselves the slaves of humans (abde-syedna)!

From Allah we have all come, and to Allah is our ultimate return.

 

Your comment: The custom of hugging or embracing a person three times to offer him condolances, [when somebody dies in the family] is this an Islamic tradition, derived from the Quran or sunnah of the prophet ?

To meet the family of the deceased and offer them condolences for/until a period of three days is the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws).   The custom of hugging or embracing a person three specific times in a specific way is not derived from the Quran or Sunnah, therefore we should not make it an obligatory act when offering condolences to the family of the deceased.   But if one does hug or embrace someone, there is no harm.   We need to be aware, and not make it into a specific ritual in Islam that the only way to offer condolences is to hug or embrace the family of the deceased in three specific hugs.  

What is important is that we meet the family of the deceased, and offer them our condolences, and pray to Allah to have mercy on the soul of the deceased; and thus share in the grief of our brothers-in-Islam.   Depending on the custom of the land or people, we should meet them likewise.   If the custom of meeting is hugging and embracing (like the Indian sub-continent, etc.), we may hug and embrace; if the custom is shaking hands (like US, Europe, etc.) we may shake hands; if the customs is kissing on the cheek or nose (like Arabia, etc.), we may kiss on the cheek or nose; and if the custom does not have any physical contact, then one may do likewise.  There is no special Islamic ruling on how one must physically interact while giving condolences to the family of the dead. 

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan