Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

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

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Is there any rewards for Taziya?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Is there any rewards for Taziya?

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If by Taziya you mean what some communities perform during Muharram then know for sure that this is a 'bidda' and an abomination.

The ‘juloos’ or the procession called Taziya some ignorant sects take out on the streets in the month of Muharram to vent their grief, express their mourning, and to wail and beat their chests, etc. is absolutely against the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws); and one who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day must absolutely abstain from participating in such processions in the name of Islam.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in an authentic narration “He is not a believer,  who beats his face,  or tears his clothes,  or wails,  when afflicted by a misfortune.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2829        Narrated by Hadrat Ali ibn AbuTalib (r.a.)

Hadrat Ali (r.a.) heard Allah's Messenger (saws) curse those who took usury, those who paid it, those who recorded it, and those who refused to give sadaqah.   And he (saws) used to prohibit wailing.

Al-Bazzar has transmitted, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Two sounds are accursed in this world and in the hereafter:  the sound of wind instruments (to celebrate) good fortune, and of moaning aloud when afflicted with a misfortune."

In Islam we are taught that when a person sacrifices his life for the deen, we are to offer supplication to Allah swt to accept his martyrdom and elevate his rank and position in Jannah and grant us similar opportunities to receive the pleasure of our Majestic Lord.

Dear and beloved Brother in Islam, there is absolutely no evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (saws) or any of his noble companions did such things as part of our deen.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21:

There is indeed the best example for you to follow in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

We are commanded by Allah swt to follow the example of our beloved prophet saws which is the best example for any person who looks forward to please and remember Allah swt.

And when the Messenger of Allah (saws) neither performed an act nor endorsed it, then know and believe with absolute conviction that such rites and acts have absolutely nothing to do with Islam, or with guidance, or with the Sunnah. Juloos, Matam or Taziya or whatever it might be called has to be an innovation…and every single innovation in the pure and perfect deen of Islam is nothing but an absolute error and a grave sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

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 (bida), and every innovation (bida) is an error.”

In conclusion, My dear beloved brother in Islam, the taking out of Taziya and wailing and doing matam etc., are strictly forbidden. Leave alone rewards brother, if one who professes belief in Islam practices the following of taziyas etc., then he will be accountable to the Majestic Lord of the Worlds for doing bidda which is a great abomination and subjected to severe punishments (azaab) in the hereafter.

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

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (bida in religion),  he will be responsible for it.   If anyone introduces an innovation (bida) or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (bida), he is cursed by Allah,  by His Angels,  and by all the people!”

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is only ones. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Members of Islamhelpline