Salafi Research Institute SRI
Translated, Compiled & Annotated
Abu Khuzaimah Ansari
Question
Is it permissible to venerate the dead on the 3rd, 4th and 40th day after the demise of the deceased and what is the ruling on the food that which is prepared for such occasions? [Trans note: known as Khatams]
Answer
Venerating the dead by preparing food and transferring the reward to the deceased on the 3rd, 4th and 40th day is an innovation. There is no evidence or even trace of this in the first 3 generations, hence this is an innovation and the Muslims should warn against this. Allah said:
وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٲنِۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ
But help ye one another unto righteousness and pious duty. Help not one another unto sin and transgression, but keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is severe in punishment. [al-Maidah:2]
The food should not be consumed as this is also a type of veneration although the food is in and of itself not haram. An evidence which alludes to venerating the deceased and preparing for them on the 3rd, 4th and 40th and other days are innovations and impermissible in the Shari’ah are the following statement of the Prophet ﷺ which are clear evidences that veneration on set days are innovations: “Whoever does an action which we have not sanctioned will be rejected (Mardud)” [Trans Note: Bukhārī [no.2697], Muslim [no.1718], Musnad Aḥmad [6:146].
Thus based on this hadeeth all of the aforementioned actions are innovations and heresies. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said “The worst of the affairs are the innovations and heresies” [Trans Note: Muslim [no.867], Musnad Aḥmad [14:126], Abū Dawūd [no.4608], Tirmidhī [no.2676] and Mishkāt [no.16] and Bukhari 7277] with slight differences in the wording.]
We pray that Allah saves our Muslim brothers and sisters from innovations. Upon us is to convey and Allah knows best.
Source: Fatawa Naziriyyah [1:277 – 278] of al-Muhadith Shaikh Sayyid Muhammad Nazir Hussain Dehlawi
Agreed upon by the [following Shuyukh]:
Sayyid Muhammad Abdus Salam
Muhammad Ibrahim
Abul Barakat Hafiz Muhammad
Muhammad Yusuf
Muhammad Abdul Ghafar
Muhammad Abdul Hamid
Muhammad Abdul Aziz
Jazakallahu Khair to Abu Hashim for his assistance
