Common customs: what is proven
Common customs: what is proven
Some widely done practices are not proven from the Quran and Sunnah. Here they are, gently and with respect — with what is proven instead.
The principle: worship only as taught
- Allah completed the religion (Al-Ma’idah 5:3), and the Messenger ﷺ is our best example (Al-Ahzab 33:21).
- Whoever adds to our religion something that is not from it, it is rejected (Sahih al-Bukhari 2697). The best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad ﷺ (Sahih Muslim 867a).
- A good intention is rewarded, but it does not turn a new practice into worship. We list below some common practices that are not proven, gently and with respect — and what is proven instead.
Evidence
حُرِّمَتۡ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡمَيۡتَةُ وَٱلدَّمُ وَلَحۡمُ ٱلۡخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيۡرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ وَٱلۡمُنۡخَنِقَةُ وَٱلۡمَوۡقُوذَةُ وَٱلۡمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَٱلنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَآ أَكَلَ ٱلسَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيۡتُمۡ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى ٱلنُّصُبِ وَأَن تَسۡتَقۡسِمُواْ بِٱلۡأَزۡلَٰمِۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ فِسۡقٌۗ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ يَئِسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن دِينِكُمۡ فَلَا تَخۡشَوۡهُمۡ وَٱخۡشَوۡنِۚ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمَ دِينٗاۚ فَمَنِ ٱضۡطُرَّ فِي مَخۡمَصَةٍ غَيۡرَ مُتَجَانِفٖ لِّإِثۡمٖ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ
Prohibited to you are dead animals,[241] blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allāh, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars,[242] and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islām as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Translator’s notes
[241] See footnote to 2:173. [242] In the name of anything other than Allāh.
لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرٗا
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allāh an excellent pattern[1192] for anyone whose hope is in Allāh and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allāh often.
Translator’s notes
[1192] An example to be followed.
مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ
Narrated Aisha:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected."
بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةَ كَهَاتَيْنِ " . وَيَقْرُنُ بَيْنَ إِصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى وَيَقُولُ " أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ وَخَيْرُ الْهُدَى هُدَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَشَرُّ الأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلاَلَةٌ " . ثُمَّ يَقُولُ " أَنَا أَوْلَى بِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ مَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلأَهْلِهِ وَمَنْ تَرَكَ دَيْنًا أَوْ ضَيَاعًا فَإِلَىَّ وَعَلَىَّ " .
Jabir b. Abdullah said:When Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) delivered the sermon, his eyes became red, his voice rose, and his anger increased so that he was like one giving a warning against the enemy and saying: "The enemy has made a morning attack on you and in the evening too." He would also say: "The Last Hour and I have been sent like these two." And he would join his forefinger and middle finger; and would further say: "The best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error." He would further say:, I am more dear to a Muslim even than his self; and he who left behind property that is for his family; and he who dies under debt or leaves children (in helplessness), the responsibility (of paying his debt and bringing up his children) lies on me."
Fixed wazaif with promised results
- Not proven: invented formulas with a fixed count and a guaranteed worldly result (“read this 1,100 times and your wish will come true”).
- Proven: dua is worship, and you may ask Allah for anything, in any language, at any time. Counts and rewards are only those the Prophet ﷺ stated — see the virtues of dhikr above and our Duas page.
Evidence
مَنْ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ. فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ حُطَّتْ خَطَايَاهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever says, 'Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi,' one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.
مَنْ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهْوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ. فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ، كَانَتْ لَهُ عَدْلَ عَشْرِ رِقَابٍ، وَكُتِبَ لَهُ مِائَةُ حَسَنَةٍ، وَمُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ مِائَةُ سَيِّئَةٍ، وَكَانَتْ لَهُ حِرْزًا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ، حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ، وَلَمْ يَأْتِ أَحَدٌ بِأَفْضَلَ مِمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ عَمِلَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُ
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said," Whoever says: "La ilaha illal-lah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu-l-mulk wa lahul- hamd wa huwa 'ala kulli shai'in qadir," one hundred times will get the same reward as given for manumitting ten slaves; and one hundred good deeds will be written in his accounts, and one hundred sins will be deducted from his accounts, and it (his saying) will be a shield for him from Satan on that day till night, and nobody will be able to do a better deed except the one who does more than he."
The 15th night of Sha‘ban
- Proven: the Prophet ﷺ fasted more in Sha‘ban than in any month other than Ramadan (Sahih al-Bukhari 1969).
- Scholars differ about reports on the special virtue of the 15th night: some accepted some of them, others graded them weak (the well-known report in Sunan Ibn Majah is graded da‘if on sunnah.com). Night prayer and dua as on any other night are good.
- Not proven: a special prayer of a fixed number of rak‘ahs for this night, lighting fireworks, or preparing special sweets as an act of worship.
Evidence
يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يُفْطِرُ، وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يَصُومُ. فَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَكْمَلَ صِيَامَ شَهْرٍ إِلاَّ رَمَضَانَ، وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ.
Narrated `Aisha:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to fast till one would say that he would never stop fasting, and he would abandon fasting till one would say that he would never fast. I never saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban.
After a death: what is proven
- Not proven as worship: fixed gatherings on the 3rd, 10th or 40th day.
- Proven: mourning for a relative is up to three days (a widow’s waiting period is longer) (Sahih al-Bukhari 1280). Neighbours and relatives should cook for the bereaved family (Sunan Abi Dawud 3132, hasan) — not the family for guests.
- What benefits the deceased: charity on their behalf (Sahih al-Bukhari 2760), dua for them, and the three things that continue — ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for them (Sahih Muslim 1631). Gifting the reward of Quran recitation is a point where scholars differ.
Evidence
ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَٰبَتۡهُم مُّصِيبَةٞ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return."
لاَ يَحِلُّ لاِمْرَأَةٍ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ أَنْ تُحِدَّ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ، إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجٍ، فَإِنَّهَا تُحِدُّ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا
Narrated Zainab bint Abi Salama:When the news of the death of Abu Sufyan reached from Sham, Um Habiba on the third day, asked for a yellow perfume and scented her cheeks and forearms and said, "No doubt, I would not have been in need of this, had I not heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying: "It is not legal for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for more than three days for any dead person except her husband, for whom she should mourn for four months and ten days."
اصْنَعُوا لآلِ جَعْفَرٍ طَعَامًا فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ أَتَاهُمْ أَمْرٌ شَغَلَهُمْ
Narrated Abdullah ibn Ja'far: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Prepare food for the family of Ja'far for there came upon them an incident which has engaged them.
أُمِّي افْتُلِتَتْ نَفْسَهَا، وَأُرَاهَا لَوْ تَكَلَّمَتْ تَصَدَّقَتْ، أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ عَنْهَا قَالَ " نَعَمْ، تَصَدَّقْ عَنْهَا
Narrated `Aisha:A man said to the Prophet, "My mother died suddenly, and I think that if she could speak, she would have given in charity. May I give in charity on her behalf?" He said, "Yes! Give in charity on her behalf."
إِذَا مَاتَ الإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ إِلاَّ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious child, who prays for him (for the deceased).
Graves and asking for help
- Proven: visit graves — they remind you of the Hereafter (Sahih Muslim 977).
- Not allowed: plastering graves, building over them or sitting on them (Sahih Muslim 970a).
- Dua is only to Allah: “You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help” (Al-Fatihah 1:5); “do not call upon anyone along with Allah” (Al-Jinn 72:18).
Evidence
إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
وَأَنَّ ٱلۡمَسَٰجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدۡعُواْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدٗا
And [He revealed] that the masjids[1772] are for Allāh, so do not invoke[1773] with Allāh anyone.
Translator’s notes
[1772] The term "masjid" here includes every place of worship or the earth in general. [1773] Or "worship."
عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ فَزُورُوهَا وَنَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ لُحُومِ الأَضَاحِيِّ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ فَأَمْسِكُوا مَا بَدَا لَكُمْ وَنَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنِ النَّبِيذِ إِلاَّ فِي سِقَاءٍ فَاشْرَبُوا فِي الأَسْقِيَةِ كُلِّهَا وَلاَ تَشْرَبُوا مُسْكِرًا
Ibn Buraida reported on the authority of his father that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:I forbade you to visit graves, but you may now visit them; I forbade you to eat the flesh of sacrificial animals after three days, but you way now keep it as along as you feel inclined; and I forbade you nabidh except in a water-skin, you may drink it from all kinds of water-skins, but you must not drink anything intoxicating.
أَنْ يُجَصَّصَ الْقَبْرُ وَأَنْ يُقْعَدَ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْ يُبْنَى عَلَيْهِ .
Jabir said:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade that the graves should be plastered or they be used as sitting places (for the people), or a building should be built over them.
Ruqyah, amulets and ta‘weez
- Proven: ruqyah with the Quran and permitted words — “there is no harm in ruqyah as long as it contains no shirk” (Sahih Muslim 2200).
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “Spells, charms (tama’im) and love-potions are shirk” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3883, sahih). Scholars agree that amulets with unknown words, numbers or names besides Allah are forbidden.
- Amulets containing only Quran: some early scholars allowed them; many others forbade them because of the general wording of the hadith and to close the door to misuse. The way all agree on: recite the Quran and the duas yourself.
Evidence
اعْرِضُوا عَلَىَّ رُقَاكُمْ لاَ بَأْسَ بِالرُّقَى مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ شِرْكٌ
'Auf b. Malik Ashja'i reported We practised incantation in the pre-Islamic days and we said:Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion about it? He said: Let me know your invocation and said: There is no harm in the invocation as long as there is no polytheism in it.
إِنَّ الرُّقَى وَالتَّمَائِمَ وَالتِّوَلَةَ شِرْكٌ " . قَالَتْ قُلْتُ لِمَ تَقُولُ هَذَا وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ كَانَتْ عَيْنِي تَقْذِفُ وَكُنْتُ أَخْتَلِفُ إِلَى فُلاَنٍ الْيَهُودِيِّ يَرْقِينِي فَإِذَا رَقَانِي سَكَنَتْ . فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا ذَاكِ عَمَلُ الشَّيْطَانِ كَانَ يَنْخَسُهَا بِيَدِهِ فَإِذَا رَقَاهَا كَفَّ عَنْهَا إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكِ أَنْ تَقُولِي كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " أَذْهِبِ الْبَاسَ رَبَّ النَّاسِ اشْفِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي لاَ شِفَاءَ إِلاَّ شِفَاؤُكَ شِفَاءً لاَ يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا
Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud: Zaynab, the wife of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, told that Abdullah said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: spells, charms and love-potions are polytheism. I asked: Why do you say this? I swear by Allah, when my eye was discharging I used to go to so-and-so, the Jew, who applied a spell to me. When he applied the spell to me, it calmed down. Abdullah said: That was just the work of the Devil who was picking it with his hand, and when he uttered the spell on it, he desisted. All you need to do is to say as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say: Remove the harm, O Lord of men, and heal. Thou art the Healer. There is no remedy but Thine which leaves no disease behind.
Bad luck and superstition
- There is no bad omen in birds, and no bad luck in the month of Safar (Sahih al-Bukhari 5757). Days, months, numbers and colours do not bring misfortune — all is by Allah’s decree.
Evidence
لاَ عَدْوَى، وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ، وَلاَ هَامَةَ، وَلاَ صَفَرَ
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "There is no 'Adwa, nor Tiyara, nor Hama, nor Safar."
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