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:

Assalaamu alaikum wa rehmathullahi barakathahu

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Will it be considered a sin or Bidah if we remember the death day of our beloved who have passed away and do some charity on that eve personally according to lunar calendar dates,Not making know anybody of our intention openly other than ALLAH only. And solely intending that ALLAH save the soul of the dead from punishment of grave and the hereafter.Particularly to our parents and the people who helped us of the good Allah had bestowed on them.

Jazakkallah Khair

(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:

Anniversary bida commemorate dead day

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.

The birth-day or death-day of any individual has absolutely no significance in the deen of Islam, and never ever did the Messenger of Allah (saws) celebrate his own birthday, nor did he (saws) ever celebrate the birth or death anniversaries of his loved ones, nor did even his noble companions, who loved the Prophet (saws) more than anyone else, ever celebrate the birthday of their Noble Leader and Prophet (saws) during his (saws) life-time, or his death anniversary after his (saws) death!

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.

For an act, or deed, or rite or ritual of worship, celebration or commemoration of a day or night, etc. to be considered a part of worship in Islam, or for it to be considered acceptable and pleasing to the Lord Creator, it is absolutely imperative that this act, or deed, or rite or ritual of worship, or the celebration or commemoration be endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws). It that act or deed or celebration in Islam is not endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws), then it would not constitute an acceptable or meritorious deed in the Sight of the Lord.

Therefore if someone starts the ritual of celebrating or commemorating the Prophet’s (saws) or any others birth or death days, thinking of it as a rite which will bring about the Pleasure or Good Will of Allah Subhanah, he will be inventing a thing in the deen of Islam which is not from the deen! And that is exactly what the Messenger of Allah (saws) termed as ‘bidah’ or innovation; and every single innovation in the pure and perfect deen of Islam is an error, a sin, and absolutely detestable to the Lord Most Majestic.

Aisha narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘If somebody innovates something which is not present in our religion, then that thing will be rejected.’

Related by Bukhari.

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.”

Your Question: Will it be considered a sin or Bidah if we remember the death day of our beloved who have passed away and do some charity on that eve personally according to lunar calendar dates,Not making know anybody of our intention openly other than ALLAH only. And solely intending that ALLAH save the soul of the dead from punishment of grave and the hereafter.Particularly to our parents and the people who helped us of the good Allah had bestowed on them.

Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'When a person dies all his good deeds cease except for three:

1. a continuous act of charity (which the deceased did in his lifetime),
2. beneficial knowledge (which the deceased left behind),
3. and a righteous son (children) who prays for him'.''

Related by Muslim and Abu Dawood.

It is not only permissible but encouraged in Islam that one make supplications for their deceased loved ones, especially their parents….for such supplications indeed benefit the deceased.

But the question arises why should one only supplicate or give ‘sadaqah’ in the name of their deceased loved ones only on the ‘eve’ of their death anniversary???.....What is possibly stopping the surviving loved ones from making supplications and spending in ‘sadaqa’ for their deceased loved ones every day of the week, or whenever they remember them????

Beloved brother, one may and should supplicate for their deceased loved ones whenever they make supplications for themselves, rather than invent a ritual whereby the deceased are remembered and commemorated only once in a year!

But if one believes or assumes that the commemoration of the deceased done on the ‘eve’ or ‘day’ of their death anniversary is any more beneficial or more meritorious or more acceptable than if done on any other day….then indeed such a belief and assumption would constitute a manifestation of ‘bida’ or innovation in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan