Extracted from: Fatāwā Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mubārakpūrī, Vol. 1, p. 28
Ruling on Attending Rituals such as Fātiḥah, Sowem, Daham, Chehlum, etc.
❖ Question:
Zayd, a Muslim with correct beliefs, sometimes participates in commonly practiced rituals such as Fātiḥah, Sowem (3rd-day), Daham (10th-day), Chehlum (40th-day), etc., under the impression that:
- His message will gain more attention,
- His presence will soften hearts,
- People might abandon shirk-based practices through his influence.
He even says: “If there’s any sin, I will bear it myself.”
Is such participation permissible in Sharī‘ah?
❖ Ruling on These Rituals:
◈ Rituals such as Fātiḥah, Sowem, Daham, Bistam, Chehlum, and Bārwīn of Bāṛe Pīr, etc. —
❖ According to authoritative Ḥanafī sources, these are classified as Bid‘ah (innovations).
✅ Participation in such rituals is impermissible in Sharī‘ah, even with a good intention.
❖ Shar‘ī Evaluation of Zayd’s Conduct:
- Zayd’s participation, even for Da‘wah purposes or to gain trust,
- And his claim that “the sin will be on me” —
This is against Shar‘ī principles.
❌ Committing a sinful act — even with the intention of goodness — remains impermissible.
🚫 This approach resembles Mudhāhanah fid-Dīn: compromising the religion in the name of diplomacy.
⚠️ It also hints at seeking worldly approval at the cost of religious clarity.
❖ What Should Zayd Do Instead?
Zayd should:
✔ Stay clearly separate from Bid‘ah and Munkar (evil practices).
✔ Use wisdom and sound knowledge to deliver his Da‘wah (preaching).
✔ Emphasize Tawḥīd and rejection of innovations in his message.
✔ Ensure his approach is impactful yet principled.
❖ Exception with Strict Conditions:
An exceptional scenario may be considered if:
① There is a strong and dominant probability that the attendees will renounce their deviant beliefs,
② They will genuinely repent from acts of shirk or Bid‘ah through Zayd’s influence,
— Then:
✦ Zayd may participate reluctantly in non-shirk-based rituals,
✦ But only under these conditions:
✔ He clearly communicates, at appropriate times, that these rituals are innovative and objectionable,
✔ He remains dissociated from the rituals in principle,
✔ His message leads the people to eventually abandon the practices.
Source: Muḥaddith Dehlvī
✅ Conclusion:
Zayd must:
❌ Avoid participating in rituals based on Bid‘ah,
✅ Use effective, knowledge-based Da‘wah,
⚠️ If participation is ever deemed permissible, it must be:
— Strictly conditional,
— Temporary,
— Cautious, and
— Aimed solely at reforming deviant beliefs with clear denunciation of such rituals.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
