Sulaiman: You people have so many celebrations in a year. So many birth and death anniversaries. Why are they so?

Ja’far: All these celebrations are held to renew our connection with our Imams (a.s.) and to keep alive their connection and to gain lessons from their life. And they are also channels of the spread of Islamic Culture and awakening. If we leave these celebrations and whatever is recited in it like poems, etc....how would the common people acquire the general knowledge about religion, sayings of Imams (a.s.) and things associated with the life of Masoomeen (a.s.).

The media, in spite of its vast spread have paid little attention towards all these. Do not think that everyone is capable of reading books or contacting the Maraja (Scholars). In the same way we also note that such celebrations and programmes are not an innovation in religion. They have become a part and parcel of Islamic worship. And they support Islamic beliefs.

For example the Hajj:

Most of the rituals of Hajj are associated with some memorable events from the Prophets’ and the saints’ life. For example:

The place of Ibrahim (Maqaame Ibrahim) which is appointed as a place of worship by the Almighty due to the fact that it was the same spot where Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) stood during the construction of Ka’ba.

The Saay (running) between Safa and Marwa hills is also in remembrance of the event when Hajra (s.a.) ran from Safa to Marwa in search of water for the baby Ismail (a.s.)

The stoning of Jumaar (Shaitan) reminds one of the stoning of Shaitan by Ibrahim (a.s.)

Similarly, the day of Arafat and the going towards Mash’ar, the blessedness of Friday, Rajab and Shaban and Ramazan and other things.

The aim of these celebrations is to remember the beloved ones of Allah, the life of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the life of Imams (a.s.) and to feed people on the auspicious occasion of the birth of Imam (a.s.) and Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and to gift the reward. We must however refrain from rituals that Sufis have initiated, like Music and Singing etc.

Source: oneummah