The Khatam-Braais

Summarizing the Blessed Days and Nights of Ramadhaan, Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“This is a month, the first of which brings Allah’s Mercy, the middle of which brings His Forgiveness and the last of which brings emancipation from the Fire of Jahannam.” (Fadhaail-e-A’maal)

Some Mashaa’ikh said:

“A covenant was made with us that we shall not fill our stomachs (completely) when eating, especially in the nights of Ramadhaan.” 

“It is better that one should eat less in the nights of Ramadhaan than on other nights. After all, what is the utility of fasting after having filled oneself at Sehri and Iftaar?”

Whilst the Mashaa’ikh encourage less-eating, especially in the Month of Ramadhaan, many of us who due our weakness, should at least eat a moderate amount. One should not over-eat, as this is extremely detrimental to one’s spiritual and physical health. May Allah Ta’ala give us the understanding and Tawfeeq to implement this, Aameen.

It is observed that when the Khatam of the Qur’an Majeed takes place in Taraaweeh Salaah at various Masaajid, some then organize a ‘braai’. It should be understood that we are currently observing the Blessed Month of Ramadhaan, and it is incumbent upon each one of us to refrain from acts which may lead to negligence and sins, thereby depriving ourselves of the precious moments, days and nights of this Blessed Month.

In a famous Kitaab which is available in perhaps every Muslims’ house – Fazaail-e-A’maal, in the chapter on virtues of Ramadhaan – the first Hadith mentions the narration in which Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) addressed the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu anhum) on the last day of Sha’baan and advised them regarding the upcoming month of Ramadhaan. Among the advises was the mention of Laylatul-Qadr, which should be sought AT THE END of Ramadhaan!

Thus, we learn that the concluding days and nights of Ramadhaan are indeed valuable and precious. For in the odd nights of the last ten nights lies a night which if honoured with some extra optional Ibaadat, can earn one the reward of Ibaadat of more than a thousand months! As simple as that!

Whilst various Huffaaz may have their Taraaweeh Khatam during different nights of this Blessed Month, many Masaajid as well as the different venues which host the performance of Taraaweeh Salaah will have the Khatam of the Qur’an Majeed during one of the last ten nights, from which the 25^th, 27^th and 29^th are the common nights of the Taraweeh’s Khatamul-Qur’an.

Upon the Khatam of the Qur’an Majeed in Taraweeh, some Musallis and Imaams, especially those at the venues other than the Masjid, organize a braai. The reason for this braai we understand is to celebrate or express their happiness of the Khatam of the Qur’an Majeed.

However, one should remember that this is a Special Month, not like any other month. In this month, Allah Ta’ala doubles, triples and multiplies manifold the rewards of A’maal (deeds) which His Servants carry out. So much so, that the reward of a Nafl (optional) Salaah is equal to a Fardh Salaah. And the reward of a Fardh Salaah is that of seventy Faraaidh! So many bonuses one may accrue in this month! Every night of this Month is indeed Sacred and Priceless. In fact, every moment of this Month is Valuable! A Hadith mentions that daily, one Du’a of a Mu’min is definitely accepted. Thus, every moment and every act of Ibaadat are priceless.   

To the contrary, events which cause one to become unmindful and negligent in carrying out good deeds are disliked. One such event is a braai.

The Mashaa’ikh have discouraged braais in the month of Ramadhaan saying that this is not the month to braai, rather, it is the month to cry – by engaging in Istighfaar over one’s sins.  

The Reasons

A braai generally is made by a family or friends. Very seldom do we learn of a braai in which there was only one person. A group, or a family will have a braai together, as is the norm. Perhaps, a braai without ‘company’ cannot be called a braai.  

Bearing this in mind, friends and Musallis will partake of the braai after the Taraweeh. While this group will sit and wait for the braai to be done, there will definitely be talking and chatting that will take place. Of the talks, there will most likely be Dunyawee (worldly) talk, backbiting, slandering, vulgarity, false jokes to make people laugh (which is an accursed deed as per the Hadith) and lies. Together with this, some might light a Haraam Hookah or vape and enter a smoking-contest with the braai-stove/s to see who blows out more smoke.

Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) disliked engaging in (worldly) conversations after Esha Salaah. Deen teaches us to go early to bed after Esha so that we will be able to wake up for Tahajjud Salaah. Thus, there is no place in Deen for such futile activities where friends congregate after Esha Salaah with motives which have nothing of Deen in them. This applies to even out of Ramadhaan, and is emphasized much more in Ramadhaan.

One is encouraged to spend the night in the company of one’s family, in one’s home. For it is a time for family, Tarbiyat of the children etc. To partake of Deeni programs rendered by the Ulama-e-Haq is also allowed.  

A braai in Ramadhaan is truly a spiritually unhealthy event. While Ramadhaan is a month to eat less, we tend to eat more, especially at such Khatam-braais. If one is really hungry after Taraweeh, eat something light at home, in the company of one’s family! This will be much more fruitful. Not at a street-braai venue dubbed as ‘Taraweeh-braai’ or ‘Khatam-braai’, whether this braai is at someone’s garden, or in the Masjid parking lot which destroys the entire Imaani atmosphere of the Masjid.

Some participants of the Khatam-braais then over-eat, as a result, they oversleep Sehri. Hence, the Sunnah of Sehri, which is a special time of Rahmat, Maghfirat and Barakah, is then lost. A time in which we are supposed to wake up early to plant the seeds of various deeds is lost. Tahajjud, Zikrullah, Du’a, Istighfaar, Tilaawat and the Sehri meal are among the deeds and ‘seeds’ of Sehri – which some may oversleep due to the gluttony of the Khatam-braai feast. In fact, a Hadith encourages one to partake of Sehri because the food of Sehri is filled with Barakah.

Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Eat Sehri, because there are great blessings in it.” 

If the food is filled with Barakah, how much more Barakaat won’t there be in the various forms of Ibaadaat one may engage in, at the time of Sehri? Allahu-Akbar!  

Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) went on further and warned those who have an ‘anti-Sehri’ attitude, or who miss Sehri due to oversleeping after the ‘Khatam-braai’ by saying, “The difference between our fasting and that of the Ahlul-Kitaab (Jews and Christians) is in our partaking of food at Sehri which they do not.”

Now, by indulging in overeating at a Khatam-braai after Taraweeh – a time in which we were supposed to sleep early to wake up for Sehri – as a result, we are oversleeping Sehri, these Barakaat are LOST! Can there be anyone who is a greater loser than such a person?

Besides that, for those who may argue that they do not miss Sehri even after the ‘Khatam-braai’ or ‘Taraweeh-braai’, they should remember that the nights of Ramadhaan are very special and precious. Allah Ta’ala’s Special Attention is directed to the people on earth. He is willing to forgive those seeking Maghfirat, and grant those asking and begging Him for favours. How many are the groups of friends or Musallis at the Khatam-braai losing out by ignoring these Calls, rather indulging in sinful and futile talks and waste precious hours, minutes and seconds of the nights of Ramadhaan? Allahu-Akbar!

Another point is the source of the meat obtained for the Khatam-braai. Is the meat obtained from an abattoir which stuns the animals prior to slaughtering? If so, this renders the meat unfit for Muslims’ consumption even if it has a ‘Halaal’ logo! Imagine, a Month of Barakah, Acceptance and Forgiveness, yet our intake is of such an un-Islamic nature! Ulama-e-Haq have said that animals which are stunned are Haraam to eat!

Merely placing one’s reliance on stamps and logos of so-called ‘Halaal’ certifying bodies is not a valid argument at all. Dozens of times, these very same so-called ‘Halaal’ certifiers have been caught ‘red-handed’ certifying PORK meat!

When these issues are discussed, there appears to be certain standard replies from these so-called ‘Halaal’ bodies, one of which is, ‘labelling error’. Well, if they can’t get their labelling right, how can we trust the meat they certify/approve?

It is a huge calamity if one buys meats from just ANYWHERE (any outlet) that is certified by these so-called ‘Halaal’ certifiers. If one’s trust for them is strong and one’s confidence in them is unbreakable, then refer to Darul-Emaan’s book titled ‘Ummati, Ummati’ and see the evidence of the ‘Halaal’ PORK certified by these so-called ‘Halaal’ certifiers yourself!

May Allah Ta’ala remove from us the love for gluttonous-Khatam-braais, especially in the month of Ramadhaan, Aameen.  

Another factor of major significance is that these braais are the brainchild of juniors in this ‘worst of eras’. Never ever was it the practice of Muslims from the Khairul Quroon to our recent Akaabireen’s time. The innovation of this practice is therefore glaring. From time immemorial, Muslims would spend the balance of the nights of Ramadhaan either in Qiyaamul-Layl, Tilaawat of the Qur’an Kareem or in rest to wake up for Tahajjud Salaah, not in merrymaking and babbling around fire and smoke.

Braais – whether cloaked with the word ‘Taraweeh’ or ‘Khatam’ – in the Month of Ramadhaan are ‘super-spreader’ events of ‘Laa-Ya’nee’ – Futility!

Stunned-meat which is sizzling on the braai stove at the ‘Khatam-braai’ event is worse than the most lethal poison for one’s spiritual health, the negative effects of which could be noticed the moment Ramadhaan is over!