SPENDING ON FAMILY ON THE DAY OF ASHOORA
Question:
As Salaamu Alaikum,
The Messenger of Allah (upon him blessings and peace) is reported to have said: “Whoever expands his expenditure on his family on the day of Ashura, Allah will expand his sustenance for the rest of that year.” I have read that Imam Ahmad, ibn rajab, ibn jawzi and ibn taymiyyah considered this hadith to be fabricated is this true and would the one that is acting upon that hadith in this case be committing a bidah?
Answer:
Bismillahi Wa Billahi at Tawfeeq
Walaikumus salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said: Whoever provides generously for his family on the day of Ashoora, Allah will provide generously to him for the whole year”
This hadith has been narrated from five companions, Abdullah bin Masood (R.A), Abu Saeed Al Khudri (R.A), Jabir (R.A), Abdullah Ibn Umar (R.A.) and Abu Hurairah (R.A.)
[al-Yawaqit al-Galiyah (1/326)]
It should be noted that the scholars have differed regarding the status of this hadith.
Hence, while it is true that some scholars have considered this hadith to be fabricated, it should be noted, that this is just one opinion, there are other great scholars and experts that have differed with that opinion.
Experts, such as Imam al-Bayhaqi, Hafidh al-Iraqi, Ibn Hibban, Mulla Ali Qari, Allama Haskafi, Allama Tahtawi and Allama Shami (May Allah Have mercy upon them) have accepted these traditions to be reliable.
[Jamul Wasaail 2/106] [Hashiya Tahtawi pg 681] [Durre Mukhtar 1/152] [Rad Al Muhtar 3/399]
Other experts have also declared these traditions to be weak, such as Muhaddith Al Asr, Hazrat Maulana Yunus Jaunpuri Sahib ( May Allah have mercy upon him).
[al-Yawaqit al-Galiyah (1/333)]
Even if we were to consider this narration to be weak, it should be noted, that based on the principles of Hadith, it is permissible to use weak traditions for fadhaail (virtuous actions).
Allamah Ibn Rajab Al Hanbali, in his Lataif Al Maarif, on page 113 quotes the great Scholar, Sufyaan Ibn Uyayna , as saying: “I have practised this (spending on one’s family), for fifty or sixty years, and I haven’t seen anything but good in it.”
So in conclusion, it would be virtuous and rewarding to spend more on one’s family, on the day of Ashura, and such an act would not be considered a bidah.
Care must be taken however, to not consider the practice to be firmly established, and as such, one should not attach extra significance to it.
And Allah knows best
Mufti Waheeb Saiyed
21/09/2021