Mu'meneen Brothers and Sisters,

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

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

wHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCNE OF "MEETIS SHETABI" DONE BY BOHRA FEMALES. THIS IS THE RITUAL WHERE LADIES GATHER TOGETHER AND EAT AND GIVE OUT GIFTS. GENERALLY DONE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DOING "ALI TASBEEH" MAJLIS IN RAJAB. THIS IS ALSO A LADIES FUNCTION WHERE THEY GET TOGETHER AND RECITE THE NAME OF HADRAT ALI

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Answer:

Meethi sitabi and tasbeeh in rajab

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever 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.

Q-1: wHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCNE OF "MEETIS SHETABI" DONE BY BOHRA FEMALES. THIS IS THE RITUAL WHERE LADIES GATHER TOGETHER AND EAT AND GIVE OUT GIFTS. GENERALLY DONE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.
There is absolutely no significance in the ritual of ‘meethi shetabi’ done by the Bohra females in Islam. There is absolutely no evidence that the Messenger of Allah (saws), his wives or daughters, or any of the noble companions or ‘ahle-bayt’ of the Messenger of Allah (saws) ever performed this ritual.

It seems that this Bohra ritual of ‘meethi shetabi’ of pregnant women is very similar to the ‘Baby-Shower’ ritual of the pagans; and the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day, must abstain from all rituals which are copied or imitated from the pagans or their culture.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020 Narrated by Abdullah

The Prophet (saws) said: “He who copies any people is one of them.”

Q-2: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DOING "ALI TASBEEH" MAJLIS IN RAJAB. THIS IS ALSO A LADIES FUNCTION WHERE THEY GET TOGETHER AND RECITE THE NAME OF HADRAT ALI

There is absolutely no evidence in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws), or his noble companions, or his ‘ahle-bayt’ that they ever gathered and chanted the name of anyone! If one wishes to do ‘dhikr’ or remember Allah Subhanah by reciting His Noble Names and Attributes, there is no harm.

But to make a special gathering and chant or recite the name of any human being for a ‘n’ number of times, thinking this is a good deed or a deed deserving a reward from Allah Subhanah is a self-invented ritual and an innovation, and has absolutely no basis or evidence in Islam.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (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.”

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

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.”

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 in Islam,

Burhan