Letters to the Editor

Q: Two main points from the YMD letters are here. First, about touching the feet (irrespective of kiss or touch, you are bowing to do so, right): It is narrated by Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (p.144) that Sayyidina ‘Ali, radi Allahu `anh, used to kiss the hands and feet of Sayyidina al-Abbas, radi Allahu `anh. You had read about this authentic/ verified Muslim practice. But in the current YMD letters-to-the-editor, you forgot this citation (told the poor ignorant guys: touching feet is ONLY HINDU-INDIA…add your own fatwa: Muslims as who practice it closer to Shirk). Allah alone knows why that happens to you — your short-term memory is like a computer’s RAM (Random-Access-Memory), Wallahu Alam.

Dr. MT, Canada

 

YMD

The report as in Adab al-Mufrad has been declared weak, apart from the fact that a junior kissing hands and feet of the relative elders is permissible, although not as a practice.

Therefore, one cannot use the report to justify the practice (though low in occurrence), in the sub-continent, encouraged by the pseudo Peers and pseudo Sufis, who do not prevent their mureeds from kissing their hands and feet; or for that matter, another practice (more common) of the mureeds of bowing down and butting their heads against the stomach of the Peers.

These are signs of foreign influence on the Muslims which take them nearer to pagandom, or, at least, blurt the outstanding differences between Islam and pagandom.

The justification offered is that these are merely manners meant to show respect to the peer or sheikh. But this is a flimsy argument. In actual fact, these practices are designed to make the people humble before the Shuyukh, while expression of humbleness is reserved for Allah alone. In our times, the Peers, Shuyukh and other professionals of this class, attempt to take their followers closer to themselves instead of closer to Allah.

Further, to understand the report of Adab al-Mufrad better, it might be remembered that `Abbas was Ali’s uncle. Even today, if someone kisses the hands and feet of his father, mother, uncle, or other close relatives, as spontaneous expression of love, it is allowable. But if it is adopted as a practice for so-called Peers, Sufis, Sheikhs, Awliya’, or others of this class, and done in public, then the act is strongly reprehensible. The Peers, Sufis, Sheikhs, Awliya’ and others should themselves – in the love of Allah – strictly prohibit it.

When Sa`id ibn Jubayr – a long-time student of Ibn `Abbas – requested his master and mentor Ibn `Abbas permission to kiss his forehead, he refused.

Whenever somebody requested Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi, the last great Sufi of India, for prayers, he would say, “You too pray for me.” Do the Sufis, Shuyukh, Peers of today respond to their mureeds in this manner?

He of the Sufis, Shuyukh, or Peers whose first concern – before he will teach the Shari`ah or the Tariqah – is not spread of uncompromising Tawhid, is trying to be a little deity himself.

(We shall be dealing with the second part of your letter before next Ramadan, Allah willing).

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