Question:
One of my friend says that Wazeefa is not a correct thing to do. He says that if you read wazeefa without counting that it is ok, but it you count numbers and count day than it is not correct. He says it is Bid’ah. What is Islamic point of view?
Answer:
The Qur’an and Ahadeeth have prescribed certain days or times for the discharging of some Ibaadaat, e.g. the prescribed times of Salaah during the day and night and the fixed amount of Rak’aats. From the time of Subhus Saadiq until sunrise there are only 4 Rak’aats to be performed (2 Fardh and 2 Sunnah) as an Ibaadah. I t is not permissible to increase the amount of Rak’aats. In a similar manner, it is incumbent to fast during the month of Ramadan. It is not permissible to prescribe another month for fulfilling the ordained fast. If Ramadan is 29 days, then one is not allowed to fast for 30 days.
On the 9th of Thul Hijjah, it is incumbent upon the Haaji to proceed to a certain place (Arafat) at a prescribed time. If a person, after visiting Arafat leaves before Zawaal then his Hajj will be invalid.
The pelting of the Jimaar should be carried out at a certain time, using 7 pebbles for each. It is not permissible to make an increase or decrease in this amount.
The atonement of breaching a promise has been stipulated by the Qur’an as three days of fasting or the feeding of ten needy people.
Allah Ta’ala instructed Hazrat Moosa (A.S.) to spend 40 days in worship on mount Toor after which he was endowed with the Taurah.
The Hadith teaches us that, whosoever recites Surah Ikhlaas 10 times, a palace shall be built for him in Jannah. If anyone recites it 20 times then 2 palaces shall be built for him and if he does so 30 times he will be rewarded with 3 palaces. (Mishkaat, 195)
It is proven from Ahadeeth that some A’maal are such that, if discharged in a certain amount then the reward differs, e.g. the recitation of Surah Ikhlaas once makes Jannah Waajib upon the reciter. Another narration states that by reciting it 10 times one will be rewarded a palace in Jannah. In a different narration it is mentioned that by reciting Surah Ikhlaas 50 times all ones sins will be wiped out. Another narration mentions, that whosoever recites Surah Ikhlaas 100 times before sleeping he will be granted admission into Jannah. It has also been reported, that the one who recites Surah Ikhlaas 200 times during the day, then fifty years of sin will be wiped out.
In one narration it is mentioned that whosoever recites the first 3 Aayaat of Surah Kahaf he will be kept safe from the Fitnah of Dajjal, while a different narration states that by memorizing the first ten Aayaat one will be saved from Dajjal.
From the aforementioned narrations it is quite evidently proven that to read some Wazifahs in a stipulated amount is not Bid’ah, in fact it is proven from Sunnah, and one may increase and decrease in the amount considering the condition and individual. There is a different effect when recited in different amounts.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
17 May 2005
08 Rabee’uth Thaani 1426