‘Urs is the day of the passing away of the noble Saints and Prophets.
The word ‘Urs has been taken from the Hadith: "Sleep just like the
bride." (Mishkhat) The Angels say to the Pious in the grave, "Sleep
with restfulness and comfort just like a bride." On the day of the
passing away of a Saint or on a specific date, his admirers, disciples,
followers and relatives assemble together at the grave of the Saint to
obtain spiritual benefit and celebrate the anniversary with rejoice. It
is also very worthy to recite the Quran Shareef and pass on the Sawaab
(reward) to their soul and to recite Fateha and distribute sweetmeat
among those present. The object of
fixing the day and time of ‘Urs is that the people become aware of this
auspicious ocassion, gather together and that they should make Du’a and
obtain the full spiritual benefits. There is no harm for fixing up the
day for a permissible affair. To cite a few examples: a. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) himself has
commanded to observe fast on the Day of 'Arafat, ‘Ashura and the 15th
of Shabaan, and he has also commanded to perform the prayer of Ishraaq
(sun-rise).
b. Similarly, he has commanded to perform the child's Aqeeqah on the 7th day.
c. Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) went to Ghazwa-e-Tabook
on a Thursday and he preferred to journey on a Thursday.
d. He used to keep fast on Mondays and Thursdays.
e. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) would go every Saturday to Musjid-e-Quba. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has fixed the timings
of all these things; had it been non-permissible, he would not have
fixed the timings. After the Holy Prophet's (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) demise,
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) prepared a good deal of food on
the 12th day, and on reading Fateha, he entertained the people of
Madinah with it. He had so much of food prepared that it was enough for
the people of Madinah. People began to enquire, "What is today?" Those
who were knowing replied, "Today is the 'Urs of the Messenger of Allah,
today is the 'Urs of the Messenger of Allah." It has become evident
from this that the noble Companions celebrated the 'Urs of the Holy
Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). (Fathul Ma'ani) It has been stated in the Holy Quran that Sayyiduna 'Isa (alaihis
salaam) said: "O Allah! Our Lord, send down upon us a tray from the
Heaven so that it should be a festival for us, for the first one of us
and the last one of us ... ." This verse indicates that we should
rejoice on the day of receiving a bounty, and honouring and respecting
that it is counted among the teachings the Prophets (alaihimus salaam),
and a source of Allah's Pleasure. (Tafseer Kabeer, Tafseer Roohul Bayan) To rejoice on the day of the demise of the noble Saints and the pious
men is far much better than and meritorious because it is the day that
they get "union" with Allah Ta'ala. Sayyiduna Maulana Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlwi (alaihir rahmah)
has written that if the day of ‘Urs is meant for invocation or
reminding for the deceased one, there is no harm. That gives benefit to
the living as well as the deceased ones. (Fatawa Aziziyah) Those who object to the ‘Urs celebrations say that we are practising
Polytheism (Shirk) by worshipping a dead person, calling us "Qabar
Pujaris". We, the Ahle Sunnah Wa Jama’ah, do not ever take the person
in the grave (whether he be a Wali or a Prophet of Allah) to be the
permanent and real authority. We do not believe that the person in the
grave to be a partner of Allah Ta'ala. On the date of the ‘Urs of a
Wali or some special date set aside for it's celebration, people go to
the graves of the Friends of Allah Ta'ala to seek blessings and out of
love for them, stand before the graves of the Saints and pray to Allah
Ta'ala through the intercession of the Wali in the grave, whom they
supplicate to intercede with Allah Ta'ala on their behalf. Doing so can
never be called grave-worship or Shirk (associating partners with
Allah). PLACING OF GHILAF ON THE GRAVE Ghilaf or Chadar (cloth) is placed on the grave of a Wali or pious
Muslim for the benefit of the visitors so that they may understand and
realise the status of the deceased Muslim. It is allowed to put on a
Ghilaf on the graves of Awliya and Ulema when it is recognised that the
majority respect the person in the grave. People are also aware of the
holy person's status and gain auspiciousness from the holy person who
is resting in the grave. In the famous book, "Raddul Mukhtaar", it is
stated: "It is permissible to place a cloth on the Qabar of a Wali or
pious Muslim so that visitors be more respectful when visiting the
grave. We should also realise that the basis of action is upon the
intention". THE BURNING OF INCENSE STICKS, LOBAAN, ETC. To light incense sticks (agarbatti) and lobaan in the Mazaar of the
Awliya (or the gatherings of Khatams) and for the benefit of the
visitors is permissible. One should bear this in mind that it is done
not for the deceased but rather for the comfort of the visitors, as
they will feel better in a sweet-scented environment. The action of
doing good deeds for others is also a means of Sadaqa and the deceased
also receive the Sawaab of this Sadaqa performed by those who are
living. PLACING OF FLOWERS OF THE GRAVE The placing of flowers on the grave of an ordinary or a pious Muslim is
permissible. The flowers or plants are a creation of Allah Ta’ala and
as long as they remain fresh they continuously recite the Tasbih of
Allah Ta’ala, praising and glorifying Him. The heart of the deceased is
satisfied. Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran: "There is not a thing
but celebrates His praise". (Bani Israeel: 44)
It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari Shareef that the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) once broke a green branch in two pieces
and placed each of them on separate graves. Sayyiduna Sheikh Muhaddith
Dehlvi (alaihir rahmah)
states with regard to this: "This very Hadith has been accepted by the
Ulama as proof in placing flowers on the graves". (Ashatul Lam’aat)
Allama Tahtawi (alaihir rahmah)
states: "Some among our preceding Ulama have given a legal verdict that
the action of placing flowers or fresh branches is Sunnah and is proven
from Hadith". Wet grass should not be removed from the grave because
the wet grass prays the Tasbih of Allah Ta’ala and gives solace to the
buried. If it is removed then you have committed an unjust deed for the
deceased. KISSING OF THE GRAVE AND MAKING TAWAAF It is forbidden to kiss or perform circumbulation around the grave. (Bahar Shariat, Ash'atul Lam'aat). TIME AND DAY OF VISITING It is Sunnah to visit the graves. One should go once a week, either on
a Friday, Thursday, Saturday or Monday. The best time is on a Friday
morning. While visiting the Mazaar of a Wali, if you see something
there which is against the Shari’ah, such as facing women or hearing
music, then do no not stop going, but think of it as bad and try and
avoid it because to stop a pious act because of seeing bad things is
not correct. It is a wise thing that women should be stopped from
visiting the graves. (Radd-ul-Mohtar; Fatawa-e-Razvia)
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