Organising the Fatiha of Imam Ja'far

Q. Is it permissible, according to Islamic principles, to organise the Fatiha of Imam Ja'far?

A.Imam Ja'far Saadiq (Rahimahullah) was the great-grandson of Hadhrat Imam Husain (Radiyallahu 'anhu) and the great-great-grandson of Hadhrat 'Ali (Radiyallahu 'anhu), the fourth Caliph of Islam. The father of Imam Ja'far Saadiq (Rahimahullah) was Muhammad Al-Baaqir (Rahimahullah), and his grandfather was Imam Zaynul Aabideen (Rahimahullah). Undoubtedly, they were descendants of Nabi-e-Karim (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam), who made tremendous sacrifices for the propagation of the Deen.

Thus, it is certainly a very praiseworthy and recommended practice to supplicate on their behalf to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala, to recite the Qur’an, or to engage in other forms of Ibaadah in order to send them rewards—a practice known as Isaal-e-Sawaab. According to a Hadith of Baihaqi mentioned in Mishkaat, Nabi-e-Karim (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) said:

“Certainly, Allah Ta'ala grants blessings to the inhabitants of the graves as well as the mountains by the supplications of those living on the earth. And the gift that the living can offer to the deceased is to seek forgiveness on their behalf.”

It is a unanimously accepted fact among the ‘Ulama-e-Deen that the murda (deceased) benefit from the sawaab that is sent to them by the living. However, the rewards we hope to attain from our actions are only achievable when those actions are performed in accordance with the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam). Otherwise, no reward will be granted, and the Isaal-e-Sawaab will remain incomplete and unfulfilled.

Similarly, the practice of fixing a specific day or date for the Fatiha of Imam Ja'far (Rahimahullah), and preparing seven different dishes, is not in accordance with the principles of Deen. Undoubtedly, feeding the poor is an act of Ibaadah with great sawaab, but one must also remember that there are many other valid forms of Isaal-e-Sawaab, such as Sadaqah, Khairaat, Tilaawat-ul-Qur’an, and so on. However, in accordance with the Shari'ah, such acts should not be publicised. One must be cautious of showing off and should act with sincerity. At that point, Insha Allah, Allah will bestow His blessings and immense rewards.

It is evident that the principles followed nowadays regarding Isaal-e-Sawaab—such as Urs or Fatiha—are not based on the teachings of Nabi-e-Karim (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) or the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu 'anhum). None of the Salaf-e-Saaliheen practised Isaal-e-Sawaab in this manner. If there had been anything Islamic about the current forms of Urs and Fatiha, the Sahaabah (Radiyallahu 'anhum)—who had immense love and affection for Nabi-e-Karim (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam)—would certainly have practised them. However, Islamic history clearly proves that this was not the case.

Let us ask ourselves: did Hadhrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu 'anhu) organise an Urs or Fatiha for Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu 'anhu)? Did Hadhrat 'Uthmaan (Radiyallahu 'anhu) do it for Hadhrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu 'anhu)? Did Hadhrat 'Ali (Radiyallahu 'anhu) do it for Hadhrat 'Uthmaan (Radiyallahu 'anhu)? Did Hadhrat Hasan (Radiyallahu 'anhu) or Hadhrat Husain (Radiyallahu 'anhu) perform Isaal-e-Sawaab in this way for Hadhrat 'Ali (Radiyallahu 'anhu)? Did Imam Ja'far (Rahimahullah) himself do so for his forefathers like Imam Muhammad Al-Baaqir (Rahimahullah) or Hadhrat Zaynul Aabideen (Rahimahullah)? It is certainly difficult to answer these questions in the affirmative.

Moreover, is it not truly surprising that the Fatiha or Urs of Imam Ja'far (Rahimahullah) and Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilaani (Rahimahullah) are commemorated, while the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu 'anhum) are often forgotten? The fact that one or two Awliyaa-e-Kiraam (Rahimahumullah) are especially remembered, while even the most eminent Sahaabah (Radiyallahu 'anhum) are overlooked, clearly shows that the current practices of Urs and Fatiha have no basis in Islam. Otherwise, we would certainly have remembered the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu 'anhum), whose contributions to Islam were even greater. While the efforts of the Awliyaa-e-Kiraam (Rahimahumullah) are undoubtedly significant, no true Muslim can deny that the contributions of the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu 'anhum) were far more substantial.

In short, the Fatiha and Urs as practised today are innovations (Bid’ah) which have no place in the Shari’ah brought by our beloved Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam). A Mu’min must, therefore, avoid participating in any activity that lies outside the boundaries of Islam.

As for Isaal-e-Sawaab in the form of Tilaawat-ul-Qur’an, feeding the poor, Nawaafil, Sadaqah, Khairaat, Hajj, etc., these are all permissible and even highly commendable—provided they are free from ostentation, vanity, and customs alien to Islam, in accordance with the teachings of the ‘Ulama-e-Haqq of Ahl-e-Sunnah wal Jama'ah.

May Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala protect us from the traps of Shaytaan and guide us to the Siraat-ul-Mustaqeem. Aameen!

[English version of "Organiser le Fatiha de Imam Dja'far" – Al Haadi – Vol. 2 No. 7]