The Superstitions and Customs of the Month of Rajab :.
In the month of Rajab, halwa in the name of Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him) is distributed. This has taken the form of a self-invented act of worship in the shape of Rajab’s cones. Similarly, in the same month, a gathering is held on the night of the birth of Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah have mercy on him), and animals are slaughtered in the name of Sheikh Jilani (may Allah have mercy on him).
Likewise, animals are slaughtered in the names of elders such as Khawaja Gharib Nawaz, Khawaja Banda Nawaz, and Miran Data, etc., and in those gatherings, men and women mix, drums are played, flags are raised, and many other evils are committed, which not only have no connection with the religion of Islam but no sane person can tolerate these acts. These gatherings held in the name of Islam have no relation whatsoever with the teachings of the religion.
In our regions of Pakistan and India, such fairs and gatherings continue throughout the year, while in Egypt, among superstitious people, innovations are adopted in the names of Badawi, Rifai, and Dasuqi; in the city of Aden in the name of Adsi; and in the country of Yemen in the name of Zil’i. All scholars of Islam and people of insight unanimously agree that all these acts are innovations and misguidance. Those who insist on the permissibility of these acts perhaps have no fault, because halwa has cast such veils over their intellect and understanding that they see nothing beyond it.
Bibi’s Sahnak and Rajabi, etc.:
Some people prepare a sahnak named after Hazrat Bibi Fatimah al-Zahra (may Allah be pleased with her) in the month of Rajab, and it is considered necessary for the women participating in eating it to meet certain conditions. For example, that men should not eat Hazrat Bibi’s sahnak, no servant girl should eat it, a woman who has another husband should not eat it, neither should someone from a low caste or immoral person eat it, certain vegetables must be included in this offering, and henna must also be present.
And some people celebrate Rajabi in the same month; there is no evidence for these practices in Islamic Shariah, rather they are self-invented and non-Allah offerings, and these are only prepared in the Indian subcontinent.
Rajab’s Konday and a Tale:
The same is the case with the “Kondas” of Hazrat Amir Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Jafar Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him), whose guests or, in other words, “Konda eaters” were previously instructed that these are cooked and prepared inside, and should be eaten inside only. This specific halwa is prepared under the roof and eaten under the roof; it cannot be taken outside. Their statement is somewhat reasonable to the extent that they rightly say such things should not be taken outside the roof and eaten; rather, it is an indoor matter and should remain inside. Only those things which are religiously, morally, naturally, and socially permissible and unobjectionable can be brought outside. However, here, at least from a religious and Islamic perspective, the matter is quite the opposite because the origin of Kondas is not based on any Shariah evidence but merely appears in a tale or fiction. This practice is not established in the Quran, Sunnah, or the early generations of the Ummah.
So, let us first summarize the “strange story” that justifies these Kondas. The story of the woodcutter goes like this:
A woodcutter was living a life of poverty in Madinah Munawwarah. In search of livelihood, he left Madinah, and for twelve years, he saw no sign of prosperity anywhere. Meanwhile, his wife took a job at the minister’s house. One day, while she was sweeping, Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him) passed by. He asked his companions: What is today’s date? Someone replied: Today is the 22nd of Rajab. He said: If someone is in difficulty, they should bring new Kondas, fill them with puris, recite Fatiha for me, and then pray through my intercession. If their need is not fulfilled and their difficulty not relieved, then on the Day of Judgment, they should hold onto my cloak. Hearing this, the woodcutter’s wife acted upon it and prayed for her husband’s safe return with wealth. The Kondas showed their effect; the woodcutter, who had been wandering for twelve years, found a buried treasure and returned to build a magnificent house in front of the minister’s palace.
By chance, one day, the minister’s wife noticed the splendid house built in front of their palace and found out it belonged to the maid who used to sweep there. When summoned and asked about the secret, she revealed that all this was due to the Kondas. The minister’s wife did not believe in the magic of the Kondas and said: Your husband must have acquired this wealth through theft or robbery.
As soon as she denied the words and miracles of Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him), her husband lost his ministerial position. A jealous, spiteful, and deceitful minister took over and proved her husband a traitor. The king dismissed this minister, confiscated all his property, and ordered him to leave the country. The couple was leaving the city with only two dirhams; they bought a melon with one dirham and wrapped it in a handkerchief to use when hungry.
Coincidentally, on the same day, the king’s son went hunting and was delayed in returning. The new minister suspected that the dismissed minister might have had him killed. By the king’s order, officials went and brought the couple to the court. When the handkerchief in the dismissed minister’s wife’s hand was opened, instead of the melon, the prince’s head was found wrapped inside. The king ordered both to be hanged and imprisoned.
The minister and his wife, imprisoned awaiting the death penalty for not believing in the miracles of the Kondas, the minister said to his wife: I do not remember ever oppressing anyone in my life; I wonder what sin we have committed to deserve this humiliation and disgrace? The minister’s wife said: You are innocent; I am guilty for denying the Kondas of Hazrat Jafar Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him).
Thus, she repented all night, resolved to fill Kondas if freed. Meanwhile, they admitted the greatness of the Kondas, and the prince returned safely from hunting. The king was very surprised to see his son safe and released the minister from prison. Upon learning the story with respect and humility, the minister explained how he had denied the Kondas and repented in prison, vowing to fill Kondas. The king reinstated the minister and even honored him with a robe of honor. Then, not only the king and minister but also the subjects began to arrange for filling Kondas.
This strange story is the argument of those who fill Kondas, which neither descended from the heavens nor was uttered by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), nor attributed to the Rightly Guided Caliphs or any of the Companions. Rather, it is a completely fabricated tale, not mentioned in the Quran, Hadith, or any authentic book, nor does it have any chain of narration. Instead, it appears beautifully in a poetic work by Munshi Jamil Ahmad, whose summary we have mentioned. It can be called a literary masterpiece like Alf Layla wa Layla and other thousand tales, but how can any sane and knowledgeable Muslim accept it as Shariah? Such great foolishness is unimaginable.
Some arguments that this story is fabricated:
Firstly:
It is absolutely beyond reason that such arrogant words would be uttered by the personality to whom this story is attributed, namely Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him).
Secondly:
The biggest proof that this story is false is that there has never been a king or a minister in Madinah Tayyibah, especially considering that according to one narration, Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him) was born on 8 Ramadan 80 AH and according to another on 17 Rabi’ al-Awwal 83 AH, and it is agreed that he died on 15 Shawwal 148 AH. Now, looking at Islamic history, it becomes clear that approximately 52 years of his precious life were spent during the era of the Umayyad Caliphs, whose capital was Damascus, and the remaining years were spent during the Abbasid Caliphate, who made Baghdad their capital.
From these historical facts, it is clear that there was never a king in Madinah, nor a palace, nor a minister, nor a minister’s palace. However, the writer and poet who created the king, minister, and their palaces also carved out the character of the woodcutter and wrote a literary masterpiece which we have made into Shariah.
Thirdly:
According to both previous historical traditions, the birth date of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq, may Allah have mercy on him, is 8 Ramadan or 17 Rabi’ al-Awwal, it is not 22 Rajab, nor is that his date of death, which is unanimously 15 Shawwal. Now tell me, what joy are these fools celebrating?
The Real Truth:.
In fact, according to some people, on that day, the death of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) scribe of revelation and his relative brother, the brother of the Mother of the Believers, Hazrat Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her), Hazrat Amir Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), occurred. Therefore, some deliberately and knowingly celebrate and distribute large portions of halwa puri to express joy for Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), while a large number of other people unknowingly join in their happiness without thinking. Initially, this internal resentment was simmering inside and was kept within, but when a crowd of others also joined them, it was given a new form through the aforementioned strange story.
This story also involves neglect of the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, acts of vows to other than Allah, and disrespect and insult to the status of Hazrat Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him). Instead of going into details, for now, to those who base their actions on such fabricated tales and stories, we will only say this much:
If we had received the Wahhabi school,
All the children would be servants.
Lights of Quran and Hadith :.
Come! For the renewal of faith and belief, let us also study some of Allah Almighty’s instructions from the Holy Quran and a few sayings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from the noble Hadiths, so that it becomes clear whom the needy should call upon when trapped in difficulties at home? And from whom should they seek relief from hardships? And who is the entity that listens and responds to such times to fulfill needs and remove difficulties? Thus, in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 186, Allah Almighty addresses His Prophet ﷺ and says:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
When My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am near. I respond to the call of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, that they may be guided.
And in Surah Ghafir, verse 60, it is stated:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.”
And in Surah At-Taghabun, verse 13, it is said:
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
There is no deity except Allah, so let the believers put their trust in Allah alone.
From these verses, it becomes clear that Allah Almighty is very near. Whenever the caller calls Him, He not only hears their call but also grants what they ask for. There must be someone who asks. And also, since everything belongs to Allah alone, the faithful Muslims should rely and trust only in Him and not wander from door to door.
If ever, as a test, Allah Almighty sends someone any hardship, then no one except Him can remove it. Nor does anyone else have the power to do so. As stated in Surah An-Naml, verse 62:
أَمَّنْ يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ
Who listens to the distressed and the caller when he calls upon Him, and who relieves the distress?
In Surah Al-An’am, verse 17, and Surah Yunus, verse 107, it is explicitly stated:
وَإِنْ يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ
If Allah should touch you with harm, there is no remover of it except Him.
Here it is clear that fulfilling needs and removing difficulties is exclusively Allah’s prerogative, in which no prophet or saint shares. Therefore, charity and alms should be given only in Allah’s name. This is the means of reward and salvation and a cause for warding off calamities. And offerings and vows made in the name of anyone other than Allah are not only unacceptable to Allah but are explicit shirk (polytheism) and a major sin.
The “Konde” (special offerings) of the month of Rajab also fall under this category. Fabricators and ignorant gluttons have popularized them. And some knowledgeable people have seen their own benefit in allowing people to continue on this path so that one of the means of livelihood remains active. In fact, simple people were further strengthened by telling them about these self-made virtues, and those who filled the Konde were given glad tidings of salvation from sins and paradise, and this act was presented as a means of fulfilling desires in this world. The belief of those who fill the Konde, attributed to Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him), is exactly like the Christian belief that Jesus Christ نعوذ بالله took away the sins of people by being crucified. Or Christians go to the sinful church and confess their sins before their priest, who then grants them forgiveness. Now you tell me, what difference is there between these two beliefs?
The reality is that the grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and the son of Hazrat Baqir (may Allah have mercy on him), Hazrat Ja’far al-Sadiq (may Allah have mercy on him), belonged to such a noble family in which the lamp of faith was always lit. Their home was not illuminated by the shine of gold or silver. Rather, despite being afflicted with poverty and destitution, their family never let the light of faith extinguish.
In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, the statement of Umm al-Mu’minin Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) is recorded:
ما شبع آل محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم من خبز الشعير يومين متتابعين حتى قبض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
The Prophet ﷺ never ate barley bread two days in a row to fill his stomach until the soul was taken from him. In Sahih Bukhari, the statement of Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) is:
خرج النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم من الدنيا ولم يشبع من خبز الشعير
The Prophet ﷺ passed away in such a state that he had never eaten barley bread to fill his stomach.
In Sahih Bukhari, it is also narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
أنه مشى إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بخبز شعير وإهالة سنخة ولقد رهن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم درعا له بالمدينة عند يهودي
I brought barley bread and oil made from rancid fat to the Prophet ﷺ while he had pawned a piece of land in Medina to a Jew.
And remember that he had taken the land as collateral in exchange for the barley he brought for his household, and it is well known in the books of Hadith and Seerah that when he passed away, the land was still pawned with a Jew. Further in the same narration, Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet ﷺ had nine pure wives (may Allah be pleased with them). Despite all this, I heard the Prophet ﷺ say:
ما أمسى عند آل محمد صاع من بر ولا صاع حب
The family of Muhammad ﷺ never had even one Sa’ (a measure) of wheat or grain stored on any night.
Now tell me, how could such a sacred personality, whose family and household were so poor and destitute that they never ate to full stomach, and who was raised with such pure family training and excellent tradition, have any concern for these Konde practices and sweet dishes? And then, when none of the Tabi‘in, Tabi‘ al-Tabi‘in, Muhaddithin, Mujtahids, and Imams and Fuqaha (may Allah have mercy on them) ever performed these acts, where did these Konde eaters get the proof of its permissibility today?
First:.
From the perspectives of narration and understanding, as well as transmission and reason, this act is self-invented and un-Islamic.
Second:.
If these people have adopted intercession as an easy way to seek forgiveness and want to attain Paradise through it, then be certain that this is a matter of living in Paradise. Because until there are righteous deeds and Allah’s mercy, there will be no forgiveness. Mere claims of closeness to a saint will not be of any benefit.
Read Surah Hud, verses 45 and 46, and see how harshly, even scoldingly, Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) was addressed regarding his son Canaan. In Surah At-Tawbah, verse 113, our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was also forbidden from praying for forgiveness and intercession for the polytheists.
And in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 255, that is Ayat al-Kursi, it is clearly stated:
مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ
In the Divine Court, no one can intercede for anyone without His permission.
When the matter is so strict, then how can there be intercession for one who disobeys Allah and the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم day and night and follows his own fabricated deeds? And how can the intercession of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq, may Allah have mercy on him, be accepted for every sinner?
O servants of Allah! Instead of becoming heirs of Paradise by merely wishing and relying on hopes, come to the world of prescribed deeds. And keep in mind the prophetic saying mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, in which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم addressed his beloved daughter Fatimah az-Zahra, his paternal aunt Safiyyah, his uncle Abbas, and the entire family and tribe separately, saying: Protect yourselves from the Fire, for I will not be able to help you before the command of Allah. And he said to Fatimah az-Zahra:
يا فاطمة بنت محمد سليني ما شئت من مالي لا أغني عنك من الله شيئا
O Fatimah bint Muhammad! Ask me for whatever you want from my wealth, but before the command of Allah, I will not be able to help you.
If salvation and forgiveness were possible merely by hope and intercession without deeds, then it would belong to those Sayyids, but the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has made the reality clear, so what is the status of people like us in comparison?
The Scars of 22nd Rajab and the Fatwa of Fazil Barelvi Ahmad Raza Khan :.
The practice of making effigies is not only prevalent among Shias but also among Sunnis and generally among Barelvis, while their founder, Fazil Barelvi Ahmad Raza Khan, has issued a fatwa against it in his famous book Ahkam-e-Shariat. On page 55 of its first part, he writes:
Allama Shahabuddin Khafaji says in “Naseem al-Riyadh Sharh Qazi Iyaz”:
ومن يكون يطعن فى معاوية فذلك كلب من كلاب الهاوية
Whoever insults Hazrat Muawiya (may Allah be pleased with him) is one of the dogs of Hell.
So how can one make effigies on his death anniversary (22nd Rajab) to celebrate his death?
After embracing Islam, Hazrat Muawiya (may Allah be pleased with him) never left the service of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He remained close at all times and wrote down the Divine Revelation. The respect he had for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) continued even after the Prophet’s passing.
In “Malfoozat Aala Hazrat,” Volume 3, page 42, Fazil Barelvi states that a companion, Abis bin Rabiah (may Allah be pleased with him), somewhat resembled the Prophet. When he came to Damascus, Hazrat Muawiya (may Allah be pleased with him) would stand from his throne because he resembled the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
