Shar‘i Ruling on Preparing Sweets on the Last Wednesday of Ṣafar
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 156
Some people prepare sweet dishes on the last Wednesday of the month of Ṣafar, saying that the Prophet ﷺ recovered from illness on this day, and that the Mothers of the Believers (رضي الله عنهن) prepared sweets in celebration.
They claim, “We do this to express happiness at the recovery of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Is this practice permissible in Islamic law?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
✔ This practice is a bid‘ah (innovation) and has no basis in the Sharī‘ah.
Wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh
While expressing joy over the Prophet ﷺ recovering from illness is undoubtedly a noble act of devotion and a source of great blessing, such a celebration must not be based on falsehood and innovations.
Mawlānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī (رحمه الله) stated:
“There is no truth to this belief; it is nothing more than a fabrication of the ignorant.”
(Fatāwā Rashīdiyyah, p. 163)
He further said:
“It is a false and baseless belief. Engaging in this practice is not only impermissible—it is invalid.”
Mawlānā Muḥammad Ṭāhir Panjpīrī (رحمه الله) wrote in his book Ḍiyā’ al-Nūr (pp. 214–215):
“Specifying the last Wednesday of the month of Ṣafar for certain foods is an innovation.
There is no authentic source or evidence for it—it is purely a manmade custom.”
✔ All scholars of truth have declared this practice a bid‘ah.
Authentic narrations confirm that during those days, the illness of the Prophet ﷺ had intensified, not that he had recovered.
However, innovators ignore these authentic narrations and fabricate new rituals based on their desires.
They propagate baseless beliefs and unauthenticated reports, which have no relation to actual events.
✔ Preparing sweet dishes on the last Wednesday of Ṣafar, and associating this with the recovery of the Prophet ﷺ, is Shar‘ī-wise unfounded and a clear innovation.
✔ Such a practice is impermissible and erroneous, as it lacks any Shar‘ī evidence.
✔ One must avoid such ritualistic customs and instead adhere to authentic Sunnah.
Wa-Allāhu A‘lam bi-ṣ-Ṣawāb.
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 156
❖ Question:
Some people prepare sweet dishes on the last Wednesday of the month of Ṣafar, saying that the Prophet ﷺ recovered from illness on this day, and that the Mothers of the Believers (رضي الله عنهن) prepared sweets in celebration.
They claim, “We do this to express happiness at the recovery of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Is this practice permissible in Islamic law?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
✔ This practice is a bid‘ah (innovation) and has no basis in the Sharī‘ah.
Wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh
While expressing joy over the Prophet ﷺ recovering from illness is undoubtedly a noble act of devotion and a source of great blessing, such a celebration must not be based on falsehood and innovations.
❖ This practice qualifies as a bid‘ah for two key reasons:
① Reason One: Rejection by the Scholars
Mawlānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī (رحمه الله) stated:
“There is no truth to this belief; it is nothing more than a fabrication of the ignorant.”
(Fatāwā Rashīdiyyah, p. 163)He further said:
“It is a false and baseless belief. Engaging in this practice is not only impermissible—it is invalid.”
Mawlānā Muḥammad Ṭāhir Panjpīrī (رحمه الله) wrote in his book Ḍiyā’ al-Nūr (pp. 214–215):
“Specifying the last Wednesday of the month of Ṣafar for certain foods is an innovation.
There is no authentic source or evidence for it—it is purely a manmade custom.”
✔ All scholars of truth have declared this practice a bid‘ah.
② Reason Two: Authentic Aḥādīth Regarding the Prophet’s Final Illness
Authentic narrations confirm that during those days, the illness of the Prophet ﷺ had intensified, not that he had recovered.
However, innovators ignore these authentic narrations and fabricate new rituals based on their desires.
They propagate baseless beliefs and unauthenticated reports, which have no relation to actual events.
❖ Conclusion:
✔ Preparing sweet dishes on the last Wednesday of Ṣafar, and associating this with the recovery of the Prophet ﷺ, is Shar‘ī-wise unfounded and a clear innovation.
✔ Such a practice is impermissible and erroneous, as it lacks any Shar‘ī evidence.
✔ One must avoid such ritualistic customs and instead adhere to authentic Sunnah.
Wa-Allāhu A‘lam bi-ṣ-Ṣawāb.
