(Part No. 26; Page No. 339)

  164- Discussion on the Hadithabout a cry that takes place in Ramadan

In the name of Allah, and mercy and blessings be upon the Prophet and upon his family and those who followed his guidance. [2] I was informed that some ignorant people distribute a flier containing a fabricated Hadith falsely attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Hadith is reported by Ibn Mas`ud that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "If a cry occurs in Ramadan; a tumult will take place in Shawwal, people will be distinguished in Dhul-Qa`dah and killing will spread in Dhul-Hajjah and Al-Muharram. How about Al-Muharram?" He said the last phrase three times, and then said, "Away, away! People are killed in it in great commotion." We said, "What is the cry, O Messenger of Allah? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "It occurs in the half of Ramadan in the night of Friday (i.e. Thursday night, as in the Hijri calendar the night precedes the day). When it takes place, it awakens from sleep, causes the one standing to sit down and brings out ladies from their bedrooms. It occurs in the night of Friday in a year of many earthquakes and intense cold. If half of Ramadan corresponds to a night of Friday in a year, then after you offer Fajr (Dawn) Prayer enter your houses, close your doors,

(Part No. 26; Page No. 340)

 shut every aperture in your homes, cover yourselves and close your ears. Then, when you notice the cry, fall down in prostration to Allah, and say: "Subhan Al-Quddus, Subhan Al-Quddus, Rabbuna Al-Quddus (i.e. Glorified be the Holy [Allah], Glorified be the Holy, our Lord is the Holy). He who does so, will be in safe and whoever does not will be destroyed.This Hadith is groundless. It is false and void. There passed many years in which the night of Friday coincided with the night of the half of Ramadan and nothing of this false cry occurred. It is clear that it is not permissible to circulate this false Hadith and it is necessary to destroy the pamphlets that contain it and inform people of its falsity. It is known that every Muslim should fear Allah (Exalted be He) at all times and keep away from what Allah forbade till death. Allah (Glorified be He) said to His Prophet (peace be upon him): And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death). [3] And He (Exalted be He) said, O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islâm [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh)]. [4] The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Mu`adh (may Allah be pleased with him): Fear Allah wherever you are and follow a bad deed with a good one

(Part No. 26; Page No. 341)

 and it will wipe it out, and behave well towards people." [1] Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) and Hadiths on the necessity of adherence to piety and right and bewaring of anything that Allah (Exalted be He) forbade at all times are many and known. May Allah guide Muslims to what pleases Him and grant them understanding of religion! We implore to Him to protect us and them from the misleading and the evil of callers to falsehood, for He is the Most Generous. May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon His Family and companions! Grand Mufty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

and chairman of Council of Senior Scholars and Departments of scholarly research and Ifta'