['Aalim Network QR] Wearing of Green String

[sukaina panju <sukaina.panju@utoronto.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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Dear Brothers and sisters in Islam

Thanks to Dr. Takim for the following reply

Salaams

Zahir Panju
Moderator ABDG-A


QUESTION:
 
 A lot of Khojah Shias have a practice of keeping a green string around their
 wrist taken from an 'alam for good luck or protection or something like
 that.  I want to know if this practice is something that is taken from the
 teachings of Ahlul-Bayt or whether it is recomended.
 
 I remember that in one Shi'a gathering, there was a Shi'i Iranian who asked
 my father the significance of this string.  He explained that it reminded
 him of the hindu practice of doing so called Raaki or something like that.
 
 I want to know where we should draw the line for doing cultural things in
 the name of religion.  Are we not responsible if by doing these things we
 give a wrong impression of Tashayy'u and Ahlul-Bayt?

ANSWER:

 Salaamun 'Alaykum,
 
 There is nothing in the traditions I have seen which ask us to wear strings
 of any colour. The ahl ul bayt have not taught us of such practices.
 
 I do believe that which should not indulge in practices which are related to
 HInduism or other religions especially when we confuse these cultural
 practices with religious ones. Sometimes we emphasize these practices more
 than religious acts. May Allah guide us all to the correct practices, Amin.
 
 
 LIyakatali