['Aalim Network QR] Sufro

[Mustafa Rawji <mrawji@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salaamun Alaykum,
The following is a reply to a question about Sufro.  The answer was kindly
provided by Dr. Takim. 

Wasalaam,

Mustafa Rawji
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QUESTION:

Subject: The significance of Sufro

Salaam Alaikum!

Q1: Could you please get Dr. Takim to explain the significance of Sufro,
and the importance of the 'rice pudding and patty' served during this
occasion and the gold and silver rings that people dive for.  The story of
the woodcutter I am told is not authentic and even if it is, I still do
not see a miracle big enough to constitute a repetition of the tradition
year after year.  Why do people who do nazar of Imam Jaffer Sadiq for
sufro swear by it? 

ANSWER:

The tradition of Sufro is more cultural than religious. Shaykh 'Abbas
al-Qummi in the Mafatih al-Jinnan lists all the important daily 'amals in
the month of Rajab. However, he does not mention anything about 22nd of
Rajab or any special event to be held around that day in regard to sufro. It
is said that Mu'awiya died on that day, and as people could not celebrate
his death, instead they made a majlis in the name of Imam al-Sadiq. However,
Ya'qubi, one of the earliest historians, states that Mu'awiya died either in
early or middle of Rajab of 60 A.H.(not on 22nd).

Interestingly, even the World Federation calendar does not list any special
religious event on the 22nd of Rajab so it appears to be of cultural rather
than religious significance. However, there is no harm of holding a majlis
in the name of our Imams to recount their deeds and what is expected out of
us as their followers.

As for the sweet dishes prepared for the day, once again our Imams never
had these types of Indian delicacies, these are our own ways of marking the
day. Please do not put gold or silver rings in the food, someone could choke
and you could end up in the court. There is no religious basis for such acts.

A study of the life of Imam al-Sadiq in the books of al-Mufid (K.
al-Irshad), the Ta'rikh of al-Ya'qubi or Muruj al-Dhahab of al-Mas'udi shows
there is no basis for the story of the woodcutter either. The story appears
to be more of a popular practise rather than having any religious or
historical background.

Q2:What happened on the 22nd Rajab?

     This has been answered in the previous question.

With Salaams and du'as

Liyakatali