Will Qiyamah occur on 'Ashura

Translators Preface

All praise is due to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), Lord of all the worlds, the Beneficent, the Merciful. May his Peace and Blessings be upon our Noble Master Muhammad.

Below is a brief article written by my honourable Teacher and Mentor, the great Scholar of Hadith, Hazrat Moulana Fazlur Rahman ‘Azmi[1] (damat barakatuhu). In a short but decisive manner, he clarifies the misconception that the day of Qiyamah will occur on the day of 'Ashura. I have attempted to translate the original Urdu article in idiomatic fashion to suit the English reader. I pray that Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) makes it a means of guidance for one and all.

Abu Zaynab Suhail b. Ilyas

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It is famous and prevalent in many a book that Qiyamah will occur on a Friday which will occur on the day of ‘Ashura. Whilst the day is ‘known’, the year remains unknown. It is correct that Qiyamah will occur on a Friday as is proven through narrations in Sahih Muslim and other books of hadith. As for Qiyamah occurring on ‘Ashura, this is not established in any reliable narration.
Imam al-Suyuti[2] discusses a narration in his book al-La’ali al-Masnu’ah fi’l Ahadith al-Mawdu’ah in which it is mentioned that Qiyamah will occur on ‘Ashura but he writes,

‘Damage to its authenticity is caused by Habib’ which indicates that the narration is in fact a fabrication. (al-La’ali al-Masnu’ah fi’l Ahadith al-Mawdu’ah 108/2)

This very narration is mentioned in Tanbih al-Ghafilin of Abu’l Layth al-Samarqandi[3], the commentator of the book mentions that the narration is indeed a fabrication. The commentator cites the same narrator as mentioned above, Abu Muhammad Habib b. Abi Habib as being discarded. Imam Abu Dawud and Others[4] have judged him as a liar. (Tanbih al-Ghafilin, edited by al-Sayyid al-‘Arabi pg.259)

The editor of Tanzih al-Shari’ah al-Marfu’ah min al-Akhbar al-Shani’ah al-Mawdu’ah, Sheikh ‘Abd al Wahhab ‘Abd al-Latif writes, ‘The Tanbih al-Ghafilin of Abu’l Layth al-Samarqandi is from those books that contains many fabrications, it is important that the reader is wary of this.

Mufti Taqi Uthmani, in the English version of his monthly journal ‘al-Balagh’ has also considered the narration fabricated.

In order to analyse the authenticity of this issue, I once sent a query to the Faculty of Ifta’, Dar al-Ulum Deoband[5], I enquired regarding the status of the narration and whether or not it is mentioned in any book of Hadith. The Chief Mufti, Mufti Nizam al-Din[6] (May Allah have mercy on him) responded,

“This servant has been unable to locate the narration in any available Hadith book, The commentator of Mishkat and compiler of Fath al-Rahman, Hazrat Sheikh Muhaddith al-Dehlawi (May Allah have mercy on him) mentions many narrations regarding the virtues of the day of Jumu’ah and the day of ‘Ashura in his book ‘Ma Thabata bi’l Sunnah’ but has not mentioned this narration. However, Shah Rafi’ al-Din al-Dehlawi (May Allah have mercy on him) mentions the narration in his short treatise, ‘Risala Zalzalah al-Sa’ah’ pg.24. The book is in the Persian language but has also been translated into Urdu and re-named, ‘Alamat e Qiyamat’.”

And Allah knows best

The servant, Nizam al-Din
Chief Mufti, Dar al-Ulum Deoband
15/05/1412 AH

END QUOTE


Mufti Habib al-Rahman and others were also signatories of the above.

The book ‘Zalzalah al-Sa’ah’ was compiled by Shah Rafi al-Din al-Dehlawi. The compiler was once requested to explain the signs of Qiyamah. He responded by explaining them verbally and by compiling them in writing. All topics within the book were unreferenced which indicates that Shah Rafi al-Din had mentioned what he did off the top of his head.

Tanbih al-Ghafilin is a book which is prevalent amongst the Sufis[7]. It is possible that Shah Rafi al-Din mentioned the Hadith after having come across it in Tanbih al-Ghafilin but did not have the opportunity to investigate the authenticity of it.

The book ‘Zalzalah al-Sa’ah’ is prevalent amongst the Scholars of Deoband, it is likely that the narration was taken from here and added to various books in the Urdu language. Overall, the statement of Mufti Nizam al-Din is correct, “It is not found in the books of Hadith.”.

Tanzih al-Shari’ah al-Marfu’ah min al-Akhbar al-Shani’ah al-Mawdu’ah, authored by Ibn ‘Iraq al-Kattani[8] (923AH) is a good book which is written for the sole purpose of notifying the reader of fabricated narrations. Shah ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al-Dehlawi mentions that the book suffices in notifying one of such narrations. (al-‘Ujalah al-Nafi’ah pg.6)

In Tanzih al-Shari’ah, the author narrates three such narrations which show that Qiyamah will take place on the day of ‘Ashura and notifies that all three are fabrications. (see 149,150/2)

It is astonishing that it is mentioned in ‘Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri’s[9] lectures of Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, namely ‘al-‘Arf al-Shadhi’, that the day of Qiyamah will occur on ‘Ashura. However, the reliable and close student of ‘Allamah Kashmiri, Moulana Yusuf Bannori[10] mentions in his ‘Ma’arif al-Sunan’,

“I am not aware of such a narration.” (306/4)

It is known that no-one was as qualified as Moulana Bannori in extracting the references provided by Allamah Kashmiri and that his book Ma’arif al-Sunan was written for the purpose of referencing the lectures of Allamah Kashmiri, yet he insists that he was unable to locate this narration.

This is why it is correct that the narration is in reality a fabrication as mentioned by Mufti Taqi Uthmani. We are also of this opinion.

Imam al-Tirmidhi narrates in his Jami’ (pg.111) from Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu 'anhu) that on Friday, from dawn till sunrise, all living creatures besides mankind and jinnkind wait in anticipation that today may be Qiyamah. (Mishkat al-Masabih pg.120)

We can deduce from this Hadith that the creation anticipate and fear the arrival of Qiyamah every Friday. If the day of Qiyamah was to occur on the day of 'Ashura, the creation would only wait in fear on a Friday which occurs on the 10th of Muharram. The creation know that Qiyamah will occur on a Friday, as for it occurring on ‘Ashura, this is unknown.

Maybe the wisdom behind the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) reciting the chapters of ‘Alif Lam Mim Sajda’ and ‘al-Dahr’ in the Fajr prayer of Friday was to remind and prepare one for the day of Qiyamah.

And Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) knows best

(Sheikh al-Hadith Moulana) Fazlur Rahman ‘Azmi
Azaadville
28/11/1419AH
17/03/1999

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[1] For a brief biography see www.rahmaniyyah.co.za , see also; The Red Diamond of Africa, www.cordobaacademy.lefora.com/topic/19404767/Excerpts-Hadith-Students-Diary-Red-Diamond-So

[2] Jalal al-Din Abu'l Fadhl 'Abdur Rahman b. Kamal al-Din al-Suyuti al-Shafi'i, co-author of Tafsir al-Jalalayn (al-Daw' al-Lami' 4/65)

[3] Al-Imam al-Faqih al-Zahid Abu'l Layth Nasr b. Muhammed b. Ibrahim al-Samarqandi al-Hanafi (375AH) – (Siyar a'lam al-Nubala (323/17)

[4] Imam Ahmed b. Hanbal – He had a habit of lying, Abu Dawud – He was the biggest liar, Abu Hatim – His narrations are disregarded, he narrates fabrication, Imam Nasa'i – he is disregarded, al-Azdi – he is disregarded, Ibn 'Adi – all his narrations are fabricated, Abu Ahmad al-Hakim – he would make up narrations. (Tahzib al-Tahzib 249/2)

[5] “The great Madrasah of Deoband is a radiant sun that has illuminated various parts of India. It revived the Prophetic way academically, practically and in terms of suluk. It removed the darkness of bid'ah (innovation) which had amassed this land for a long time. It stripped the pools of knowledge and shar'iah from all that was alien to them in the same way that it stripped the suluk of the sufis from new customs – such as stringed instruments and their like from the gatherings of bid'ah that were prevalent in the sub-continent. It replaced these innovations and customs with clear and radiant sunnah in the form of studying, teaching, suluk and propagation. It then became a powerful, great and authentic beacon of light from which were produced droves of Allah-fearing scholars who combined the excellence of 'ilm (knowledge) and 'amal (action) whilst adhering to the sunnah and refraining from bid'ah.” - al-Imam al-Faqih al-Muhaddith, 'Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah (May Allah have mercy on him).

[6] For a brief biography, see Http://niceislamicarticles.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08lifehistory-maulana-mufti-nizamuddin.html?m=1

[7] Sufi (soo-fee) noun, plural Sufis. Tasawwuf is an important branch of Islam, which deals with the purification of internal illnesses (Pride, Jealousy, love for fame, love for wealth). It is the beautifying of one’s self with sublime character and fear for the Lord Almighty whilst gaining a connection with Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala). See friendsofdeoband.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/the-ulema-of-deoband-and-tasawwuf/

[8] This is an error from the typist in the original. The author is known as Ibn 'Iraq al-Kinani and NOT al-Kattani – Abu Zaynab

[9] Sayyid Muhammed Anwar Shah b. Mu'azzam Shah al-Kashmiri (1933), Scholar of Hadith. “The caravan of Sahabah was trekking and Anwar Shah was left behind.” - Sayyid 'Ataullah Bukhari.

[10] Sayyid Muhammed Yusuf b.Muhammed Zakariyya b. Mir b. Muzammil Shah al-Banuri al-Madani (1397AH), senior student of Allamah Kashmiri. Banur on the scale of Sabur (as mentioned by Moulana Yusuf Banuri himself) or Bannuri as explained by Shah Waliullah in Shifa al-'Alil. See; Rasa'il al Imam Muhammed Zahid al-Kawthari ila al-Imam Muhammed Yusuf Banuri pg.24.