NewStats: 3,259,454 , 8,170,166 topics. Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 05:38 AM 2e411q

In many parts of Yoruba land, it is common to organize congregational prayers (Fidau) on specific days after someone’s death—3 days, 8 days, 40 days, or even anniversaries, depending on the age of the deceased.

However, as widespread as this practice is, it is nothing but bid’ah (an innovation), and Islam does not permit it.

Allah has perfected this religion, and there is no room for adding or modifying acts of worship. If a practice was good, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his companions would have done it. But there is no evidence that they ever gathered for special prayers on specific days after a person’s death.

When a matter is unclear, we should follow the guidance of scholars who rely on the Qur'an and Sunnah, not blindly follow cultural traditions.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) strongly warned against innovations in Islam:

"Whoever introduces into this matter of ours (Islam) something that is not part of it, it will be rejected." (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim)

If Fidau was part of Islam, the Prophet and his companions would have done it. But instead, they taught us what actually benefits the dead.

What Truly Benefits the Deceased?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: continuous charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him." *
(Sahih Muslim)

Nowhere in this hadith is there mention of gathering people for a Fidau prayer. Instead, the best thing we can do for our deceased loved ones is:
1. Give Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity) on their behalf.
2. Spread beneficial knowledge in their name.
3. Make sincere dua for them as their children or loved ones.

Let’s be honest—many so-called Alfas exploit families through these gatherings. They turn Fidau into a money-making event, and perhaps that’s why a popular musician used the word "Ganu si". Families spend money on food, drinks, and unnecessary expenses, believing they are honoring the deceased, when in reality, they are following a practice with no basis in Islam.

Instead of organizing Fidau gatherings, let us:
- Pray privately and sincerely for the deceased.
- Encourage their family to engage in Sadaqah Jariyah.
- Avoid falling into the trap of cultural practices that contradict Islam.

May Allah guide us all to follow His true teachings and protect us from innovations in religion. Ameen.


Abu Afs Lukgaf

Fidau prayer is never a bidia and doesn't stopped in Yoruba land alone. Make your findings very well and stop saying what Allah S.W.T didn't say in the holy Quran.

madridguy:
Fidau prayer is never a bidia and doesn't stopped in Yoruba land alone. Make your findings very well and stop saying what Allah S.W.T didn't say in the holy Quran.

You should show us where the Prophet you follow performed fidau on his kids that died or others from his wives or companions that died!

You are the one required to bring the evidence that Fidau has any good and show us how the Prophet did it.

It is established in Islam to perform bath for a deceased Muslim and to bury them. Show us the evidence for Fidau, how did the Prophet did it? When did he do it? What was recited? Did he "Ganu si" like those Alfas?

madridguy:
Fidau prayer is never a bidia and doesn't stopped in Yoruba land alone. Make your findings very well and stop saying what Allah S.W.T didn't say in the holy Quran.

Are you a Muslim?

Probably you benefit from the bid'ah of eating at burials too. They share you money!

But a bid'ah is Bid'ah! It is all misguidance that leads to hell!

1. Deeds for the Deceased: The deeds that benefit the deceased have been discussed in a separate post. It is essential to learn how to increase the rewards for deceased Muslim parents.

Here are the Highlights from https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/8248289/deeds-meet-dead
a. Ongoing Charity .e.g. a waqf or endowment.
b. A du'a made by a righteous son/daughter.
c. Beneficial knowledge which the dead left behind.
d. Other Charity done on behalf of the dead.
e. Fulfilling the vows of the dead if it does not contradict Islam.
f. Paying the debt of the dead. e.g. Ramadan fasts, money, etc.
g. Performing Hajj/Umrah on behalf of the dead.
h. Allotting a share of the ('Eid al-adha) Sacrifice to one's dead.

AntilsIam:
So those Alfas, chief imams, imams, sheikhs, etc that gathered at Wasiu Ayinde's house are novices that doesn't understand quran, hadith and Islam right?

Thank God for wasiu that exposed your yansh. Upon your M-M ticket, see wetin hunger caused you allah's slaves

So do you mean the prophet didn't pray for his demised children or wife? So what did he do to them?
So the say he buried them he stopped offering prayer to them?

When the Quran right said that we Muslim should not forget our dead ones like some other faith...

Rashduct4luv:


You should show us where the Prophet you follow performed fidau on his kids that died or others from his wives or companions that died!

You are the one required to bring the evidence that Fidau has any good and show us how the Prophet did it.

It is established in Islam to perform bath for a deceased Muslim and to bury them. Show us the evidence for Fidau, how did the Prophet did it? When did he do it? What was recited? Did he "Ganu si" like those Alfas?

Stop saying jargons on what you don't know. How come praying for our dead loved ones turned to Bidia?

AbuTwins:


Are you a Muslim?

Probably you benefit from the bid'ah of eating at burials too. They share you money!

But a bid'ah is Bid'ah! It is all misguidance that leads to hell!

Stop saying what you don't know.

Show us where the Holy prophet or Sahaba did so.

You should only interfere in Islamic issue when you have that knowledge

madridguy:
Fidau prayer is never a bidia and doesn't stopped in Yoruba land alone. Make your findings very well and stop saying what Allah S.W.T didn't say in the holy Quran.

Lukgaf:
In many parts of Yoruba land, it is common to organize congregational prayers (Fidau) on specific days after someone’s death—3 days, 8 days, 40 days, or even anniversaries, depending on the age of the deceased.

However, as widespread as this practice is, it is nothing but bid’ah (an innovation), and Islam does not permit it.

Allah has perfected this religion, and there is no room for adding or modifying acts of worship. If a practice was good, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his companions would have done it. But there is no evidence that they ever gathered for special prayers on specific days after a person’s death.

When a matter is unclear, we should follow the guidance of scholars who rely on the Qur'an and Sunnah, not blindly follow cultural traditions.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) strongly warned against innovations in Islam:

"Whoever introduces into this matter of ours (Islam) something that is not part of it, it will be rejected." (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim)

If Fidau was part of Islam, the Prophet and his companions would have done it. But instead, they taught us what actually benefits the dead.

What Truly Benefits the Deceased?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: continuous charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him." *
(Sahih Muslim)

Nowhere in this hadith is there mention of gathering people for a Fidau prayer. Instead, the best thing we can do for our deceased loved ones is:
1. Give Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity) on their behalf.
2. Spread beneficial knowledge in their name.
3. Make sincere dua for them as their children or loved ones.

Let’s be honest—many so-called Alfas exploit families through these gatherings. They turn Fidau into a money-making event, and perhaps that’s why a popular musician used the word "Ganu si". Families spend money on food, drinks, and unnecessary expenses, believing they are honoring the deceased, when in reality, they are following a practice with no basis in Islam.

Instead of organizing Fidau gatherings, let us:
- Pray privately and sincerely for the deceased.
- Encourage their family to engage in Sadaqah Jariyah.
- Avoid falling into the trap of cultural practices that contradict Islam.

May Allah guide us all to follow His true teachings and protect us from innovations in religion. Ameen.


Abu Afs Lukgaf

U guys just made this ur ,"Quran/Hadith" to stiff the adherents and making it problematic for both worshipers and non-islam, don't do this, dnt do that, if you dnt do this, where is the GRACE which GOD is known for?, ..... Have you ever thought that, if God doesn't want human not to be doing all instructions that human beings handed over to you in name of religion books ( Quran & Bible), which you erroneously believed it was an Angel. God can design humans in such a way, we comply without much ado. Just like "AI" and "Robotics".

We made laws for humans and not the other way round.

Because God doesn't say something expressly in holy books, doesn't mean human beings shouldn't do it, PROVIDED it doesn't lead to sins

Can God expressly write everything we should do and not to do?

If fidau doesn't benefit the dead, is doing it harming the dead? Attimes fidau is beneficial cos u will learn from the lecture u hear at the fidau, so I will never condemn it cos doing it is not harming anybody. Why didn't we just cram the Quran instead of just reading it since the prophet didn't write it down. We should minimize condemning our fellow Muslim.

Fact

madridguy:
Stop saying jargons on what you don't know. How come praying for our dead loved ones turned to Bidia?

You are the person that should stop saying what you dont know
The Religion of Islam is backed by facts from the Quran and Hadiths.
You should Pray for your Dead ones but dont Gather and Fix loudspeakers, eat, drink and sing praises
No one said you should do that its Bid’a
Nothing different from a Typical Igbo Burial.
Its Bid’a
The Prophet (SAW) never gathered his companions for Any Fida,u or Whatever

AntilsIam:
So those Alfas, chief imams, imams, sheikhs, etc that gathered at Wasiu Ayinde's house are novices that doesn't understand quran, hadith and Islam right?

Thank God for wasiu that exposed your yansh. Upon your M-M ticket, see wetin hunger caused you allah's slaves

Because a lot of people are doing it doesn't make it right ogbeni

Zidane199:
If fidau doesn't benefit the dead, is doing it harming the dead? Attimes fidau is beneficial cos u will learn from the lecture u hear at the fidau, so I will never condemn it cos doing it is not harming anybody. Why didn't we just cram the Quran instead of just reading it since the prophet didn't write it down. We should minimize condemning our fellow Muslim.

its Innovation in Islam because the Prophet never did it.
Innovation is Haram in Islam

Will they listen?

You need to go back to your Arabic class. During the era of the prophet, Janazah prayer is conducted one by one. Even when the messenger of Allah PBUH ed on, his disciple never observed the Janazah prayer on him Jammah. Each one of them enter his room observe their own janazah prayer and leave...

So should we start condemning the congregation Janazah prayer we are doing today?
I am not ing wearing aso ebi, playing music or drinking alcohol or tunning Fidau to a street carnival.

aumeehn:

You are the person that should stop saying what you dont know
The Religion of Islam is backed by facts from the Quran and Hadiths.
You should Pray for your Dead ones but dont Gather and Fix loudspeakers, eat, drink and sing praises
No one said you should do that its Bid’a
Nothing different from a Typical Igbo Burial.
Its Bid’a
The Prophet (SAW) never gathered his companions for Any Fida,u or Whatever

madridguy:
Stop saying jargons on what you don't know. How come praying for our dead loved ones turned to Bidia?

You like prolonging things! Show us from the Qur'an and Sunnah how it is done?

Where did the Prophet call alfas to come Ganu si burial?

Alhamdullillah Muslims are opening their eyes to the Sunnah!

Don't let some jobless Alfas come eat and collect your money after losing any of your relatives!

I am asking you, did the prophet and sahabah lay curses on their loved one after their demised? Since you said they don't offer prayer for them.

egalitarianism:
Stop saying what you don't know.

Show us where the Holy prophet or Sahaba did so.

You should only interfere in Islamic issue when you have that knowledge

You are turning this to a joke. The prophet according to history always visit people that lost their loved ones. Are you saying when he reached there he won't offer any prayer?

When he lost his beloved ones too won't his sahabah offer him prayer.

AbuTwins:


You like prolonging things! Show us from the Qur'an and Sunnah how it is done?

Where did the Prophet call alfas to come Ganu si burial?

madridguy:
You are turning this to a joke. The prophet according to history always visit people that lost their loved ones. Are you saying when he reached there he won't offer any prayer?

When he lost his beloved ones too won't his sahabah offer him prayer.

Show us where he ate at the gathering?
Show us where he packed people to the burial?
Show us one instance from an authentic hadith?
Show us where he collected money at the gathering?

I don't need to bend any hadith to suit myself. He goes around with his Sahabah but no record if he eat or not. Also no record where he condemned eating.

AbuTwins:


Show us where he ate at the gathering?
Show us where he packed people to the burial?
Show us one instance from an authentic hadith?

[quote author=Rashduct4luv post=133945183]

You should show us where the Prophet you follow performed fidau on his kids that died or others from his wives or companions that died!

You are the one required to bring the evidence that Fidau has any good and show us how the Prophet did it.

It is established in Islam to perform bath for a deceased Muslim and to bury them. Show us the evidence for Fidau, how did the Prophet did it? When did he do it? What was recited? Did he "Ganu si" like those Alfas?[/quote)

can you show it in the Quran and Hadith the Islamic school that prophet Muhammad attended or the one he enroll his children , can u tell me how many Quran competition the prophet Muhammad glance the occasion , can u tell me the certificate prophet Muhammad obtained before he was appointed by Allah has is messager.if u cant provide it , so all those who attend madrasat are bidia? Because prophet Muhammad was only trained by angel jubril.so all the Quran competition are bidia and forbidden because there is no record of it with prophet Muhammad,and setting school certificate as the minimum requirements for western education before someone can be appointed as Immam is bidia and also forbidden. For prophet Muhammad metion pious children as one of deed that can meet the dead has explain it all that 3,7 and 40 days Fidau prayers is not a bidia because no body can organize fidau prayer for dead one except family and good relatives . Allah know best

My late dad, may Almighty Allah have mercy on his soul, before his death warned me being the eldest son, very sternly about this.

He was so stern that he almost placed a curse upon anyone who would against his wish!

After his death we didn’t do anything for him

But I ensure to always him in my 5daily prayers

I do 30 instigfara and recite Sura Ikhlas after every of my 5daily prayers, for him. No matter how busy I am I must do this

Fidau is not innovation.

aumeehn:
its Innovation in Islam because the Prophet never did it.
Innovation is Haram in Islam

So why are you offering prayer for him after each prayer when he has told you not to do so?

NOETHNICITY:
My late dad, may Almighty Allah have mercy on his soul, before his death warned me being the eldest son, very sternly about this.

He was so stern that he almost placed a curse upon anyone who would against his wish!

After his death we didn’t do anything for him

But I ensure to always him in my 5daily prayers

I do 30 instigfara and recite Sura Ikhlas after every of my 5daily prayers, for him. No matter how busy I am I must do this

madridguy:
I don't need to bend any hadith to suit myself. He goes around with his Sahabah but no record if he eat or not. Also no record where he condemned eating.

Show us the hadith!

You are a liar till you bring it.

madridguy:
You are turning this to a joke. The prophet according to history always visit people that lost their loved ones. Are you saying when he reached there he won't offer any prayer?

When he lost his beloved ones too won't his sahabah offer him prayer.

Visiting the bereaved is quite different from organizing a coming together for prayers and other stuff

Very different

madridguy:
Stop saying jargons on what you don't know. How come praying for our dead loved ones turned to Bidia?

They didn't say praying for a dead loved ones bad , infact it is good but , ganusi is bidiah