The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 619
618 Ā'ĪNA-E-KAMĀLĀT-E-ISLĀM―DĀFI‘UL-WASĀWIS If someone troubled by the misconception as to why a specific date has been fixed for this religious Jalsa and how is such a practice proven from the actions of the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, or the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, the answer is: Open Bukhārī and Muslim and see that the Bedouins used to visit the Holy Prophet, may peace and bless- ings of Allah be upon him, to enquire about [religious] issues during the times when they were free. And some would present themselves in groups before the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, during very specific months when they would have the time. Sahih al-Bukhārī has recorded a hadith from Abi Jamrah that: jú إِنَّ وَفْدَ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ أَتَوْا النَّبِيَّ صَلَى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَمَ ، قَالُوا : إِنَّا نَأْتِيكَ مِنْ شَقَةٍ بَعِيدَةٍ وَلَا نَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ نَأْتِيَكَ Meaning that some representatives of the tribe Abdul. إِلَّا فِي شَهْرٍ حَرَامِ. Qais presented themselves to the Holy Prophet, may peace and bless- ings of Allah be upon him, and said: ‘We travel a long distance to come here, and we cannot come except during the sacred months. ' The Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not dis- approve of their statement. It can be inferred from this hadith that the people who want to meet their spiritual leader to seek knowledge or serve a religious need can fix a date that suits them in terms of freedom from their activities when they can come without any inconvenience and harm. That, indeed, is the case for setting 27 December as the date because the employed people can conveniently come on those days due to the holidays. God Almighty says in the Holy Quran that nothing inconvenient has been placed in this religion. This indicates that there is no harm in adopting the easier course in something that is legitimate and can be carried out with some convenience. To label such activities as innova- tions is the work of the blind who are deprived of the knowledge of both religion and world. Imām Bukhārī has devoted a special chapter 1. Şahih al-Bukhārī, Kitābul-'Ilm, Bāb Taḥrīḍun-Nabī sas Wafd ‘Abdul-Qais. . . , Hadith 87 [Publisher]