‘Urs (Death Anniversary of a Saint)

Question

What is the status, according to the Sacred Law, of the ‘urs (death anniversary of a saint) of the elders as it is held nowadays?

Answer

It is a bid‘a (innovation in religion) and prohibited: [ar]فَيَجِبُ أَنْ يُحْذَرَ عَلَى رَأْسِ السَّنَةِ مِنْ مَوْتِهِ، وَيُسَمُّونَهُ حَوْلًا، فَيَدْعُونَ الْأَكَابِرَ وَالْأَصَاغِرَ وَيَعُدُّونَ ذَلِكَ قُرْبَةً، وَهِيَ بِدْعَةٌ ضَلَالَةٌ؛ لِأَنَّ التَّصَدُّقَ لَمْ يَخْتَصَّ بِيَوْمٍ دُونَ يَوْمٍ، وَلَا تَصِحُّ إِلَّا عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمُحْتَاجِينَ.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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