No Basis for Soyem, the Fortieth-Day Memorial and the Like

Question

Did the Most Holy Prophet ﷺ, the noble Companions ﵃, Hazrat Imam Hasan and Hazrat Imam Husayn ﵄, the Tabi‘in, Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa ﵀, Hazrat Ghawth-e Pak ‘Abd al-Qadir Jilani ﵀ and Hazrat Khwaja Mu‘in al-Din Chishti ﵀ ever hold, in the manner of today, anyone’s soyem (a memorial gathering on the third day after death), tenth day, twentieth day or fortieth-day memorial? Were fortieth-day memorials held for these holy personages too?

Answer

These repugnant innovations are not established from these noble predecessors and great elders. They were followers of the Sunna in the highest degree and did not go near innovations; this is their most precious life’s capital, and it is binding upon their successors to follow them.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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