Acts to be Avoided in Muharram
Where there are many desirable practices in the masses regarding Muharram and Aashura, there are some acts
which are disliked and have no basis in Islam. It is a duty of every Muslim to know these acts and stay away from them. ‘Taziyadari’ is one such practice which was widely practiced in the Indian subcontinent which had evolved from the Shias. In this a replica of the mausoleum of Imam Hussain RadiyAllahu Anhu is erected and people surround it as a mark of respect and pray. All sorts of offerings are made atthe site, like flowers, money, food, etc.Another such ritual initiated by the Shias is the extensive mourning, which is prohibited in Islam in the first place. Men, women and children gather to mourn the deaths of Imam Hussain RadiyAllahu Anhu and the Ahle Bait. They hit their chests, pull their hairs and cry collectively. Some even go to the extent of hitting themselves with chains and swords which often results in injuries and bleeding. Islam strictly prohibits all these acts. If mourning was allowed then the death of RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam would be more worthy of it.
Aa’la Hazrat states, ’Taziya is prohibited; it has no root in Islam. And whatever happens around it is also unlawful. The food presented there, though it does not become Haram, eating it would support the custom and hence should be avoided. Music and dance is Haram.’ [Fatawa Razvia]
