How should we observe the day of 21^st February (Ekushey February)?

By Javed Ahmad

Observance of 21^st February on the occasion of Ekushey February is nothing new in Bangladesh. Though I personally never took part in any of its activities but I knew what value it carries as a part of Bengali language history. Our school and college authorities never bothered to engage the students to "observe" this day with any significance other than just telling us what this was all about. How come we are observing the day at schools today?

The whole concept of showing respect to the dead by placing flowers on or in front of a man made structure is absurd and wrong! This is a pagan idea, and contrary to Islamic teachings.

In Islam, the dead souls are said to be living in a place called Barzakh, which is somewhere in between the Earth and the Heavens.

"So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected. (Al-Mumenoon, Chapter #23, Verse #100)

Often, when they are remembered the souls come to their graves. All their activities have ended with their death. Now they are totally helpless and longs for the supplications (duas) we send them from time to time in the hope that Allah would forgive them by accepting our pleas for the mercy of their souls. They are no longer in power or capacity to help neither us nor them.

He is the Irresistible, (Supreme) over His slaves, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one's good and bad deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty. (Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #61)

Therefore, laying flowers in their remembrance does not help them in any way. Nor it helps them when we stand up for a minute silence in their remembrance. These are all nonsensical ideas and concepts we have adopted from the disbelieving cultures we so enthusiastically admire to such an extent that we have totally surrendered our independent thoughts and conscience; and by doing so, we are simply acting like fools -

Narrated Abu Said (as): The Prophet (s) said, "You will follow the wrong ways, of your predecessors so completely and literally that if they should go into the hole of a mastigure, you too will go there." We said, "O Allah's Apostle! Do you mean the Jews and the Christians?" He replied, "Whom else?" (Meaning, of course, the Jews and the Christians.)  (Bukhari, Book #56, Hadith #662)

If we claim to be Muslims then we must stay away from all these nonsense concepts that lead to blasphemy (shirk) which is an unforgivable sin.

Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin. (An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #48)

We do associate our whims and desires (i.e., impluses) as partners with Allah by ignoring His commands.

Seest thou such a one as taketh for his god his own passion (or impulse)? Couldst thou be a disposer of affairs for him? (Al-Furqan, Chapter #25, Verse #43)

Following ways of a non-Islamic culture would make us one of them -

O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya' (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Auliya' of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Auliya'), then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers and unjust). (Al-Maeda, Chapter #5, Verse #51)

The correct way to show respect or pray for the dead would be to send them duas as demonstrated by our Prophet (s) -

…I narrated to him what had happened to us and narrated to him about Abu Amir and said to him that he had made a request to the effect that forgiveness should be sought for him (from Allah). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (s) called for water and performed ablution with it. He then lifted his hands and said. O Allah, grant pardon to Thy servant Abu Amir. (The Holy Prophet had raised his hands so high for supplication) that I saw the whiteness of his armpits. He again said: O Allah, grant him distinction amongst the majority of Thine created beings or from amongst the people. I said: Allah's Messenger, ask forgiveness for me too. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Allah, forgive the sins of Abdullah b. Qais (Abu Musa Ash'ari) and admit him to an elevated place on the Day of Resurrection. Abu Burda said: One prayer is for abu 'Amir and the other is tor Abu Musa.  (Muslim, Book #031, Hadith #6092)

A "Shahid" is a martyr. And a martyr in Islam is the one who died for the pleasure of Allah or His cause. But the folks whose souls are celebrated on this day are the ones who have died for the cause of Bangla language, and not for the sake of Allah. No matter how important and great their cause of death maybe, Islamically, they are not "Shahids."  -

Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah [i.e. they have gone out for Jihad (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers]; of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred); and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allah] in the least. (Al-Ahzab, Chapter #33, Verse #23)

It is the custom of the disbelievers to raise and erect "Minars" or statues or pillars symbolizing to honor the dead who died for worldly or political causes, an idea which is prohibited in Islam. Many of the companions (Sahabas) of the Prophet (s) died for the cause of Islam and have been martyred, yet not a single minar was created in their honor.

We need to understand clearly that not only the disbelievers will repeatedly burn in hell as its fuel, the minars that are built by stones and bricks too would burn in hell as its fuel -

O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded. (At-Tahrim, Chapter #66, Verse #6)

So, please save yourself and our children from becoming the fuel of hell by learning / teaching the correct Islam and by abstaining from following the cultures and practices of the disbelievers blindly.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s) struggled all his life to save us from hell fire we too should strive hard to save ourselves from the fire that is awaiting us -

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "My example and the example of the people is that of a man who made a fire, and when it lighted what was around it, Moths and other insects started falling into the fire. The man tried (his best) to prevent them, (from falling in the fire) but they overpowered him and rushed into the fire. The Prophet added: Now, similarly, I take hold of the knots at your waist (belts) to prevent you from falling into the Fire, but you insist on falling into it."  (Bukhari, Book #76, Hadith #490)

May Allah help us and guide us all, ameen.