History of Yasinan

Yasinan or tahlilan is an event to pray for the family or a neighbor who had died usually read prayers and read Surah Yasin accompanied with doing that in the majority of the Indonesian people.

Tahlil event is generally done on every Friday. When someone dies, then tahlil performed on:
- Seven (7) consecutive days after the first day of death;
- Day-to-40
- Day-to-100
- Day-to-1000 or the annual death of a person. .


Yasinan and Tahlil not done by most of the groups affiliated with the Wahhabi Salafists in Indonesia because it considers the group as heretical (also called "bid'ah"= something that no guidance from religion and hadist)

Etymologically of tahlil (understanding language) are reading la ilaha ill-Allah (لاإله إلا الله). In terms of socio-cultural in Indonesia, tahlil is a socio-religious ceremonies to commemorate and pray for those who died at the same time.

Called socio-cultural event because tahlil only known and practiced by most Indonesian Muslims.

Called religious event because most of the readings in tahlil taken from the Quran and Hadith.

Tahlil etiquette in general is often done when a family experiencing grief (there is one of family who passed away), which is actually within Islam itself there are not an event for commemorating the death of a person.

People do yasinan and tahlil event had the intent to entertain the family of grief, with the meaning that it is already provision and providence of God Almighty (الله) that the family left behind is not soluble in the dumps ...

Yasinan and Tahlil reading tradition as did the Muslims present there are not performed at the time of the prophet Muhammad and his companions. But the tradition was started since the time of propagation of the religion of Islam to Indonesia by the Sunan Walisongo particularly in Java that they do based from the Qur'an and the Hadist of the Prophet, then they draw up a series of readings tahlil, routinely practice it and teach it to the Muslims.

This they did because at that time there is a tradition in Javanese society when left for dead by his relatives performed the ritual for seven consecutive days and forty days after death, they believe that these rituals can atone for the sins of the grave or the expert least could add to the reward, but in practice often filled with gambling and drunkenness

This kind of background, the Sunan Walisongo moved to change their customs with Islamic rituals, which is filled with prayer together, say a prayer for the safety of the grave experts and family with reading Yasin and tahlil

Beyond the basic argument of worship should not or heresy, which is certainly all the creatures of God Almighty (الله), whether living or dead need kindness and salvation prayer.

for people who have died applicable provisions, as the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad SAW,:

From Abu Hurairah ra, said: "Muhammad the Messenger said: 

"When a child of Adam dies, broke his knowledge except for three cases, namely: as perpetual charity, beneficial knowledge, and pious children who pray for him/her." (Narrated by Muslim)

 
Yes .. when we die later,  it had dropped out of world affairs, except charity, beneficial knowledge and a pious child's prayer.

This hadith confirms that prayer pious son will be up to the parents, to give kindness and safety of his parents although was dead beyond the grave.

• Is prayer of wife/husband, prayer of family, prayer of others people, prayer of neighbors, prayer of friends will not be up to the people who have died?  

• Are we forbidden to pray for those who have died?

• Do we sin if we pray for the dead?

• Whether we will be wasted doing pray for the dead?

   

Wallahu A'lam Bishawab (and only Allah is Omniscient)

For that, than we are arguing on what is rightfully of Allah will accept our prayers and worship or not .. we better get back to the original intent.

In the hadith narrated by Imam Al-Bukhary and Imam Muslim, Muhammad the Messenger said:

" Surely every practice just depends on the intentions and every person will get just what he intended."

So that let us re-align the intention, so that what we do can not be astray and got the blessing of Allah.



* Note :

Oh ya , in addition to prayer pious child still there are 2 things that can bring good to people who have died , including us if we die later , the alms and useful knowledge.

For alms, we can  do with all our capabilities , the reward will continue to flow to us even though we were dead . Like the charity build a mosque , the reward will be continuously we have received over the mosque was used by many people .

For useful knowledge may take the form we give a good lesson to the crowd , so that these people practice the science of us then we will get the reward as well .

Like the hadith of the Prophet ,

 "He that leadeth to practice kindness of others then he gets the reward of those who practice it as a reward . " ( Narrated by Muslim )

This applies also if we give the book of Yasin and tahlil with translation into 3 language  to family , friends or school library , as long as they practice the contents of this book then we will get the same reward as they are.

It could also be there when our family who died , book of Yasin and tahlil with translation into 3 language  is given to guests who come , so that we can pray together for the good and safety of the family , the guests who came and for those who have died .

IN SHAA ALLAH  (May GOD bless us)