We, the Memon community in Kenya, organize an annual get-together.

Answer

Several members of the Memon community at your end have written to us regarding the 'Piran-e-Peer' niyaaz feast which is annually organized by the Memon community. We had explained to them that such a feast is not permissible since it is a bid'ah (innovation) having no substantiation whatsoever in the Shariah or Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

You mention that no one considers the function to be a religious one. This fact confirms that describing it as niyaaz (offering of thawaab) for Piran-e-Peer is a deception. It is deceptive to organize a social, non-religious function with a name which conveys that it is a religious/Islamic act of ibaadat.

There are no niyaaz function/practices in Islam. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), the Sahabah and the Auliya never organized such functions.

Piran-e-Peer refers to Hadhrat Sayyid Abdul Qaadir Jilaani (rahmatullah alayh) who had appeared on the scene many centuries after the Sahaabah. It is thus clear that there is no Shar'i basis for this function even if the intention of the organizers is sincere, i.e. Isaal-e-Thawaab for Hadhrat Abdul Qaadir Jilaani (rahmatullah alayh).

While Isaal-e-Thawaab is a valid and a meritorious practice in Islam, it has to be discharged correctly. A valid Isaal-e-Thawaab act consists of doing some ibaadat and supplicating to Allah Ta'ala to transfer the thawaab thereof to the intended person/s.

Feeding wealthy and well-to-do people is not an act of Isaal-e-Thawaab. If the intention is Isaal-e-Thawaab, then Sadqah has to be given to the Fuqara and Masaakeen. Alternatively, if one wishes to do an act of Isaal-e-Thawaab by way of feasting, then it is essential to feed only the poor. It will not be permissible for a wealthy person to participate in the Sadqah meal. Furthermore, the best method is to give the money or the food to the poor. There is no need to organize a feast for even the poor. Charity should be given unostentatiously. Then the Thawaab of such Sadqah will be bestowed by Allah Ta'ala to whomever one intends to be the recipient.

The idea that Isaal-e-Thawaab has to be discharged by inviting people to a function is baseless and has no sanction in the Shariah.

If the intention of your community is merely social, then this will be permissible, but it will not be permissible to call it a Piran-e-Peer function. The notion of it being a niyaz function is a deception and not permissible. The community may assemble for their social function, but it will be haraam to invite women to the function even if separate facilities are arranged. Women are not permitted to attend even the Musjid for Salaat. The prohibition applies to a greater degree regarding functions.

Furthermore, if at a public social function of the kind the Memon community organizes, the poor are excluded, then the function – its food and people – will be deprived of blessings.

Brother, it is also imperative to understand that there is great suffering in the Ummah world-wide. Muslims in Chad are eating manure due to starvation. In many parts of the world Muslims are suffering whilst we are indulging in waste and opulence. If any one wishes to gain thawaab and the Pleasure of Allah Ta'ala, he should contribute the money for feeding the poor.

Annually your community must be spending many thousands of dollars on the huge feast which really and Islamically serves no beneficial purpose. But you can gain Allah's Pleasure by diverting the money to real and necessary Islamic Projects.