Class 8
WIDESPREAD BIDAHS RELATED TO LIFE EVENTS
Why Life Events Become the Gateway to Bid‘ah
Life events are moments of heightened emotion. Birth brings hope and fear. Marriage brings excitement and uncertainty. A new home brings dreams and anxiety. Travel brings anticipation and worry about safety. Illness, exams, and finances bring desperation. They want protection, success, barakah, and ease. And when emotions run high, people become less careful about evidence and more willing to “just do whatever helps.”
This is why life events become the most fertile ground for bid‘ah and superstition.
BID‘AHS RELATED TO BIRTH & NEWBORNS
Common Bid‘ahs at Birth
Whispering invented du‘ās
Iqāmah in the left ear
Hanging black threads, amulets, or ta‘wīz on babies (many of these can also be considered
Applying kajal believing it wards off evil eye
Writing Qur’anic verses and placing under pillow
Fixing special days for baby “blessing” rituals
Calling a pīr for protection ceremonies
Giving baby’s clothes to a specific “blessed” person
Opening a page of Quran to get a letter to name the child with.
Asking peers to give a starting letter to name the child with.
Sunnahs at Birth
Du‘ā’ for protection.
There is no action prescribed in Shari`iah for preparing to welcome a new baby a day or two before he is born, as far as we know. But one can recite general du`as, such as praying for the newborn to be safe and sound, to be guided, and so on. Allah mentioned in His Book the prayer of the righteous woman, the wife of ‘Imran, who said (interpretation of the meaning): “(Remember) when the wife of ‘Imran said: ‘O my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your place of worship), so accept this from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing.’
Then when she gave birth to her [child Maryam (Mary)], she said: ‘O my Lord! I have given birth to a female child,’ — and Allah knew better what she brought forth, — ‘And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam (Mary), and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Shaytan (Satan), the outcast.’” [Aal ‘Imran 3:35-36]
Read details about Children being amaanah https://learn-islam.org/class-1-children-an-amanah
Adhaān in right ear (No evidence of Iqaamah in the left year)
Tahneek (to chew a Date and put the paste in the child’s mouth.)
‘Aqīqah (7th day is preferred).
Two sheep should be sacrificed for a boy and one for a girl. Shaving the head and giving the weight of it in silver. The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: “Every child is in pledge for his ‘aqeeqah which should be slaughtered for him on the seventh day, his head should be shaved and he should be named.” (Abu Dawood) and He ﷺ said, “O Faatimah, shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver in charity.” (al-Tirmidhi)
Naming with good meanings
It is mustahabb to use their names, following their example and hoping to reach a higher status. The child can be named on the first day or on the 7th day ideally. The best names:
The first (best) category is the names ‘Abd-Allaah and ‘Abd al-Rahmaan. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved of names to Allaah are ‘Abd-Allaah and ‘Abd al-Rahmaan.” (Sahih Muslim).
The second category is all the names which express enslavement to and worship of Allaah, such as ‘Abd al-Azeez, ‘Abd al-Raheem, ‘Abd al-Malik, ‘Abd al-Ilaah, ‘Abd al-Salaam, etc.
The third category is the names of Prophets and Messengers – may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them.
The fourth category is the names of righteous slaves of Allaah, above all the companions of our noble Prophet ﷺ
Read details of prohibited and makrooh names : https://learn-islam.org/term2-etiquette-class3
Circumcision
Get the male child circumcised when the child is an infant. However, if for some reason the operation is put off, it is obligatory to get the circumcision performed before the male child reaches the age of seven. Circumcision is part of Islamic faiths.
BID‘AHS RELATED TO NEW HOUSE / SHIFTING
Common Bid‘ahs
Slaughtering animals with the intention of warding off evil and bringing about good.
Calling a pīr (saints) to “clean negative energy”.
Writing numbers or symbols on walls. (Can be a form of Shrik
Fixing “auspicious days” astrologically.
Pouring milk at thresholds.
Hanging lemons, chillies, black dolls (these are signs of black magic or can be a form of shirk depending on the intention).
Sunnah for a New House
Enter with Bismillah
Be grateful to Allah for the blessing
Make food and invite people to come and eat, for that is a way of showing gratitude to Allah.
Recite Baqarah (not just when you move in but regualarly). The Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not make your houses into graves, for the Shaytan flees from a house in which Surat al-Baqarah is recited.” (Sahih Muslim)
Dua mentioned in the Sunnah: Among the ways in which you may seek protection for your new house from the evil eye and destructive envy is to say: “U’idhuka bi kalimat-Allah il-tammah min kulli shaytanin wa hammah wa min kulli ‘aynin lammah (I seek refuge for you in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and poisonous reptile, and from every envious evil eye).” (Sahih Bukhari).
For more details and Duas related to moving into a new house. https://islamqa.info/en/77208/
BID‘AHS RELATED TO WEDDINGS & MARRIAGE
Common Bid‘ahs
Fixing marriage dates via astrology.
Superstitions about months (e.g. Muharram or Safar). Not marrying in Muharram or Safar. Believing it is inauspicious or unlucky.
Bride not leaving house due to “bad signs”
Rituals for nazar removal
Burning seeds, chillies, or cloth
Mixing music rituals with du‘ā’
Calling pīrs for marital “locking/unlocking”
Not marrying between the two eids (Fitr & Adha) believing it is unlucky or bad things will happen.
Having extravagant wedding feasts and not Inviting Poor
Demanding Dowry. The groom’s family demanding from the bride’s family (in Islam it’s the groom who gives Maher)
Holding the Quran on the head of the Bride. The bride's brothers or uncles hold the Quran over her head as she walks to her husband's house (the rukhsati). The intent is often symbolic, meant to seek blessings (baraka) or to protect the newlywed couple from the "evil eye" and misfortune. This has no basis in the Sunnah and is a clear Bidah.
Exchanging Wedding Ring
This is not one of the customs of the Muslims. If it is believed that it generates love between the spouses, and that taking it off and not wearing it will have an effect on the marital relationship, then this is regarded as a form of shirk and is a kind of jahili belief. Based on the above, it is not permissible to wear a wedding ring under any circumstances.
Faal From the Quraan
Instead of offering salaat al-istikhaarah, some people open the Holy Qur’an randomly, then they look for anything in the page that they have chosen of the Mushaf to give them a hint to help them make their decision. For details and refutation read : https://islamqa.info/en/145596/
Sunnah for Marriage
Istikhaarah
Dua’a for Barakaah
Affordable Mehar. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The best of Mahrs is the simplest (or most affordable).” (Al-Hakim and Al-Bayhaqi; classed as authentic by Al-Albani)
Simple. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The best marriage is the one that is most easy.“ (Abu Dawood, classed as Sahih by Abu Dawood)
Invite the poor. The Prophet ﷺ said, "The worst food is the food of the marriage banquet to which the rich are invited and from which the poor are left out" (Bukahri & Muslim)
Tawakkul.
BID‘AHS RELATED TO TRAVEL
Common Bid‘ahs
Tying black threads on wrist or cloth with money on arms (can be shirk based on intention)
Wearing rings for protection or to bring good luck
Carrying soil, salt, or lemon
Avoiding certain days like some say Tuesday.
Knocking on wood or doors (touch wood)
Looking back rituals
Consulting horoscopes
Looking for good or bad omens
Sunnah for Travel
Seeking Allah’s guidance by praying Istikharah
Seeking a companion who desires good and hates evil
Bidding farewell to your family, neighbours, friends and all your loved ones
Trying to remain in a state of purity and to pray on time
Saying the reported Du`a when leaving your house. Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah. (In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah and there is no power and no strength except with Allah).
Making Du`a most of the time when travelling, as duas of a traveller are accepted. (Tirmidhi, Ahmad & Bayhaqi; sahih by Albani)
The Sunnah when stopping in a place is to say what was narrated by Khawlah bint Hakeem (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Whoever makes a stop then says: ‘A’udhu bi kalimat Allah it-tammati min sharri ma khalaq (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of that which He has created),’ nothing will harm him until he moves on from that place.” (Narrated by Muslim)
Offer Two Rakahs when back from Journey. The Prophet ﷺ when he came back from a journey, would start by going to the mosque where he would pray two rak’ahs and then sit down. (Bukhari & Muslim)
BID‘AHS RELATED TO EXAMS, JOBS & BUSINESS.
Common Bid‘ahs
Writing verses and drinking ink water
Fixed wazīfahs with promised results
Writing numbers like 786, 313, 1,111
Carrying written verses
Hanging ALIF LAAM MEEM etc thinking it will benefit the Business.
Sunnah for increase in Rizq (Provisions)
Seeking knowledge sincerely
Hard work + Honesty + Tawakkul
Charity
Istighfaar & Repentance. Allah says, “Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance that He may grant you good enjoyment for a term appointed and bestow His abounding grace to every owner of grace. But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a great day. Surah Hūd (11:3).
Umrahs. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Follow up between (the performance) of Hajj and ʿUmrah for they remove poverty ….” (Ahmad; ṣaḥīḥ by al-Albānī).
Upholding Ties of Kinship. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever is pleased that his sustenance is enlargened and his life is extended then let him maintain the ties of kinship.” (Sahih Bukhārī).
Dua. The Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate: “I seek refuge with you from the trial of poverty” (Sahih Bukhāri). Amongst the Duas he ﷺ would recite in his daily adhkaar, “Allaahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman naafi’an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan (O Allaah, I ask you for beneficial knowledge, good (halaal) provision and accepted good deeds).” [Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah].
Read more for means of increase in Provisions as per the Sunnah : https://learn-islam.org/class-6-means-of-increase-in-provisions
BID‘AHS RELATED TO PROTECTION & SUPERSTITION
Common Bidah Practices
Nazar battu
Evil-eye dolls
Dream interpreters
Lucky or unlucky colours/numbers
Fear of shadows or omens
Black cat crossing your path
Sunnah Protection
Tawakkul. Trust in Allah
Confidence in Tawheed.
Morning & evening adhkaar
Āyat al-Kursī. The Prophet ﷺ said, “…When you go to your bed, recite Ayat Al Kursi (al-Baqarah 2:255). Then Allaah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no shaytaan (devil) will come near you until morning”. (Bukhaari & Muslim)
Last three surahs. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Qul Hoo wAllahu Ahad’ and ‘Muwaidaitain’ when you enter the evening and when you wake up in the morning three times and it will protect you from everything.(Tirmidhi & Abu Dawood)
Also Aisha narrated that whenever Allah’s Messenger went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting surah Al-Ikhlaas, surah Al-Falaq and aurah An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face, and front of his body. He used to do that three times. (Sahih Bukhari).
For details more details about protection and cure from Evil Eye as per the Sunnah. Please take our free course EVIL EYE www.learn-islam.org/evil-eye
Note these are not part of the ongoing course, it is an independent course that can be done at your own pace and at your own convenience.
TIPS OF TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
There will be no questions from the extra links provided, they are for those who want more details.
Remember the Sunnahs
Memorise the Duas.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
Implement any 3 of the sunnahs taught in the last 5 classes. 5 Marks
Talk about any 3 topics/Sunnahs/deeds and their great rewards covered in this week’s classes with atleast 3 people. 5 Marks.
Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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