The Festival “Chaharshanbeh Suri”
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
This is a festival celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday before the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, a so called ritual cleansing ceremony. So, people demand that the fire takes all away their yellowing (Yellow = Zard in Farsi), their ailments and problems, and replace them with redness, warmth and power. The festival has some connection with Zoroastrianism [Religion of The Fire Worshippers], but they held that jumping from the top of fire is not good. On this last Wednesday of the year, before sunset on Tuesday, people kindle fires outside their houses. Both adults and children jump from the top of the fire flames and say, “Zardi-e Man Az To, Sorkhi-e To Az man,” to give all of last year’s sadness and problems to fire in order to begin the new year with happiness and ease etc. You’ll also find other myths related to this celebration, but it is enough to know that it has some connection with the polytheism of the Zoroastrians (Fire worshippers)- a Jaahiliy festival (Pre-Islamic Festival). The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “The most hated people to Allaah are three: a person who deviates from right conduct [i.e. an evil doer] in the Haram [sanctuaries of Makkah and Medeenah], a person who seeks that the traditions of the Pre-lslamic Period of Ignorance should remain in Islam and a person who seeks to shed somebody’s blood without any right”. [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari 6882]
Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “These three deeds are from the major sins. The first major sin is Al-Ilhaad Fil Haram [i.e. deviating from right conduct in the sanctuaries of Makkah and Madeenah]. Ilhaad means to deviate from the truth (and enter into) falsehood, and supporting falsehood in order to obliterate the truth. Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] censured the Mulhideen Fil Haram [i.e. those who deviate from right conduction in the sanctuaries of Makkah and Madeenah], saying:
[وَمَن يُرِدۡ فِيهِ بِإِلۡحَادِۭ بِظُلۡمٍ۬ نُّذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬ – And whoever intends evil actions therein or to do wrong (i.e. practice polytheism and leave Islamic Monotheism), We shall make him taste a painful torment]. [Surah Al-Hajj. Aayah 25]
Allaah promised them (a severe punishment) due to the mere fact they intend evil actions therein [i.e. in the sanctuaries of Makkah and Madeenah], then how about perpetrating such deed! Indeed that would be a more severe sin, a more frightening state and a more severe punishment. This is a proof regarding the virtue of the sanctuaries of the Haram- that it is a sacred land chosen by Allaah and He made it a place where virtuous acts of worship are performed, (such as) the Hajj which is one of the pillars of Islaam. Allaah gave this place virtues that cannot be enumerated, such as the increased reward attached to good deeds [performed in Makkah and Madeenah] and gave this land virtue over all other lands of the earth.
The second major sin is committed by the person who wants that the pre-Islamic traditions should remain in Islaam, as if he gives precedence to the pre-Islamic traditions – the evil customs that were followed during that period and the misguided deeds- over the Islamic practices, Eemaan, Ihsaan, their virtue and virtue of the Sunnah. He is guilty of committing a major sin, and this includes giving precedence to religious innovations over (the authentic) Sunnah that guides to the straight path.
The third major sin is to seek to shed somebody’s blood without any right – meaning: seeking to shed the blood of a Muslim without right and doing so based on oppression and animosity. Shedding the blood of a Muslim is a great crime, just as the Prophet said, “The extinction of the whole world is less significant to Allaah than killing a Muslim [i.e. unlawfully]”. And he [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] stated regarding the rights of the Ka’bah, “How great you are and how great is your sanctity! But the sanctity of a believer is greater than yours in the sight of Allaah”. It is not permissible to transgress against the Muslims and the believers – males and females- in the sanctuaries of [Makkah and Madeenah] or in other places due to the great sin and punishment which results from that. [Source: At-taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah. Vol 1. Pages 429-430. Slightly paraphrased]
