Joy and Grief over Birth and Death, ‘Urs, Qawwali, etc.

Question

If, having fixed the twelfth of Rabi‘ al-Awwal or some other day of the year, an ‘urs (an annual festival at a saint’s tomb on his death anniversary) is held on the occasion of the birth or death of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or of some spiritual guide, or on the occasion of some other important event; or if on that particular day joy or grief is expressed individually; and if the expenses of the ‘urs are met by collecting donations from Muslims, feasts are given for people, and gifts are presented to reciters of…

Answer

[ar]قُلْتُ: وَعَلَى هَذَا فَيَجِبُ أَنْ يُحْذَرَ مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ عَلَى رَأْسِ السَّنَةِ عَنْ 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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