I am a member of the Nasserpuria Jamat, Mombasa, Kenya.

Answer

Hadhrat Sayyid Abdul Qaadir Jilaani (rahmatullah alayh) occupies a special place in the hearts of all Muslims who know him. However, it is wrong, un-Islamic and sinful to innovate customs for displaying reverence and affection for a Wali. The manner in which your community organizes esaal-e-thawaab is baseless. It has no origin and no licence in the Sunnah. Getting together, eating and making merry is not the way for despatching thawaab to the deceased. There is no thawaab for the deceased in feeding the rich who have three sumptuous meals daily whilst there are millions of Muslims living in squalor and grinding poverty. There are millions of children whose stomachs are empty and whose bodies are exposed to severe whether conditions without suitable garments to shield them. There are millions of Muslim children all over the world who are deprived of the very basic Deeni education to safeguard their Imaan. With what heart and Imaan can an entire Muslim community congregate, enjoy in a feast, laugh and make merry, then believe that their devouring of the food constitutes thawaab for Hadhrat Shaikh Abdul Qaadir Jilaani (rahmatullah alayh)?

The annual event is a huge waste of money, time and mis-directed spirit. If the community has true love for Hadhrat Abdul Qaadir Jilaani (rahmatullah alayh), they should contribute the money which they squander on the meal, to the poor and destitute. When the Fuqara and Masaakeen consume the food, it will be accepted by Allah Ta'ala and the thawaab will be bestowed to the intended deceased.

The aggravating factor of this wasteful function is the Deeni hue with which it is portrayed. The annual event organized in the name of Hadhrat Abdul Qaadir Jilaani (rahmatullah alayh) is bid'ah, and not permissible. It is not permissible to organize any kind of annual celebration for any Wali or Nabi. There are no such practices in Islam. There is neither origin nor sanction for this practice in the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

The intelligent ones in your community should strive for the termination of this bid'ah, and to contribute the money to valid Islamic charity.