The Promised Mahdi (AS) has stated that his religion is the Book of Allah (The Holy Quran) and the following of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah^SAS. Thus, he prevented from all the deeds which fall in the category of innovations (Bidat). In this connection some people have questions about  practice of  Bahra-e-‘Aam (common benediction day) amongst the Mahdavis. On this day the activity is that a day prior to the day of the Urs (death anniversary) of any Buzurg (imminent elder), people will assemble with their Murshid and collectively fetch water or collect the fire wood or attend to other items of work that is required. They will do this collectively without discriminating between big and small, rich or poor etc.

Before the Qur’an, the teacher and servant are equal
The mat and the throne are one and the same

Then the Murshid will distribute among the people that are present, whatever he had at that time. This is called the Bahr-e-‘Aam and there cannot be any mark of innovation in it, since such type of collective efforts are not prohibited in Islam. Bahra means benediction. The assembly a day before the Anniversary of the Buzurg is called ljma. The benediction and spiritual bliss of that Buzurg is distributed to commoners on that day. The distribution is made in the manner that the people will approach the priest one by one and spread their cloth and the priest will lift with both the hands whatever edible is available at that time and put it in the spread out cloth. Very simple things like bangal gram, lobha etc duly boiled would be distributed. This is called Nareeza. At one such instance when Hz. Malik Ilhadad Khalifa-e-Groh Rz had nothing except few breads or chapattis, the bread (Nan) was broken in to small pieces and distributed to the gathering. Since that day it is called, Nan- Reza (Bread crumbs), and due to frequent use it has become, Nareeza.

This type of distribution is completely in accordance to the Hadith of the Prophet(SAS). It is reported that once Hz. Abu Hurairah Rz. told the Prophet Salam that “O Prophet Salam my memory is very weak and I cannot remember anything”. The Prophet Salam asked him to spread his cloth. Hz. Abu Hurrairah Rz spread the cloth (of his shirt). The Prophet Salam joined both his hands like lifting something and poured it in the cloth spread of Hz. Abu Hurrairah Rz. This was repeated two or three times. Hz Abu Hurairah folded the cloth and embraced it. After that Hz. Abu Hurrairah Rz. reports that his memory became very sharp and he forgot nothing. The reason for his remembering so many traditions (Hadiths) is due to the same (benediction). What was given by the Prophet Salam and what was taken by Hz. Abu Hurrairah Rz. is known to these two holy personalities alone. But it was certainly the bliss or the benedication which was given to Hz. Hurrairah Rz.

On the similar lines the Murshids distribute the benediction in the shape of material things. Since the eyes of the receiver cannot see the spiritual bliss and the Buzurg of whom the Bahr’a’ is distributed will have spiritual effect on the material goods. The Murshid who is distributing the benediction is the successor of the same Buzurg, who had availed the bliss of the buzurg through different links like a chain. The best example of this is the cover of the Holy Ka’bah. If the cover is sent from a particular place, the people would touch it with respect put it on their heads and eyes and kiss it. Even though it is not put on Ka’bah, yet, it is respected since the name of Ka’bah is attached to it. This gives a connection to the cloth which elevates its status, among the eyes of the believers.

On that day (the day of common benediction) fetching the water and bringing the firewood on heads also indicates the respect and spiritual heights of the Buzurg whose Bahr-e-Aam is being observed. Instead of frowning upon these very simple activities, it is necessary to give them due respect and importance. Because simplicity is the basic concept of Islam. Such simple works were also attended by the Prophet^SAS himself. The details can be seen in the books on the biography of the Prophet Salam. Once during a journey a goat was slaughtered. The different tasks such as skinning it, cutting and cooking it was entrusted by the Prophet^SAS to each one of the Holy Companions. He himself volunteered to collect the ‘fire wood’. Thus in this manner on the occasion of a gathering, collecting the fire wood is the Sunnah of the Prophet Salam, which is revived on the day of Bahr-e-Aam of each of the departed holy souls.

On the occasion of Bahra-e-‘Aam, the nobles,  ministers, indigents and poor people all gather together and lift water pots or wood bundles on their heads and bring it back to the Daira’ along with the Murshid. Any rich person or even the king doing this simple work in front of his subjects, kills his ego (Nafs). In spite of the feeling that the servants and the people who they govern, may look down upon them for doing such insignificant work, the rich noble and even the kings do this, which is not only a lesson on equity, but also demolishes the pride and arrogance of the individual. This will help him in attaining the heaven in the Hereafter. For a work relating to the community, he had not cared about his status and the taunts of people. This is not a simple matter. Now since the water supply is available at each house, though water taps, and the electric (LPG) stoves are in use, the fetching of water or the firewood will appear to be an additional item and appear as wasteful. However the performance of any Sunnat or the practices of the Murshideen-e-Kiram, such suspicions should be treated as Satanic ‘ The running between Safa and Marwa, (Saee) or throwing stones at the Satan, were the acts of Hz. Ibrahim AS, Ismail AS and Hajra AS., and were done based on necessity at that time. But even when there is no necessity today, it is still in practice and Allah and the Prophet Salam have ordered and included such things as religious work, which are Sunnat, and in accordance with the Islamic teachings, have provided basis for their retention as remembrance for future.

The importance of Bahra-e-Aam is that on that day the Murshid talks about the life and practices of the buzurg whose Bahra-e-Aam is being conducted. This will increase in the hearts of the listeners a desire to do good deeds. Besides this, the knowledge about the religion, faith and the culture and history will also increase. The reason for conducting Bahra-e- Aam a day before the Urs which is the day of the death of the Buzrug is because the day of Bahr-e-Aam is the last day of the life of the Buzurg in this world. Whenever a high-ranking person stays at a place for certain time and departs, he would give the people who have served him, gifts, rewards etc before his departure. Similarly, the Buzurgan-e-Deen before departing from this world to the next (Hereafter) distribute their spiritual bounty amongst the people, and bless their adherents and successors with glad tidings etc. Thus, one day prior to their Urs their benediction is distributed and their share of spiritual bounty is remembered.

Their eyes focused especially on your present condition
O my heart be content that their bounty is available in general

On the day of demise of the eminent elders, by celebrating the urs, the poor, the needy and the Fuqara (indigents choosing the path of Allah) are fed because the meaning of the Urs is the synonymous to the meaning of feeding on a marriage ceremony. This is to indicate that on this day such and such Buzurg had joined his real beloved (Allah). There is no other background other than this. This practice is neither prohibited nor against the Sunnah of the Prophet (Salam). The Prophet Salam himself with the intention of benefiting the soul of Hz. Hamza Rz. had distributed the palm dates in the name of Allah which he received. For the deceased believers, cooking some food and feeding the poor and the Fuqara is not only permissible but also desirable. According to the saying of the Prophet Salam the best (Sadqah) charity is the feeding the hungry. Since this deed is a charity and is the source of virtues, the fixation of time for it is also not undesirable. For this reason there will always be an urgency around completing this deed (which itself is a blessing) and by feeding the poor, hungry and the Fuqara, its performer will not only become entitled to the virtues and blessings himself , but will also become the source for conveying the rewards to the souls of his deceased elders. For the Fuqara in the state of starvation who are dependent on Allah, the saying of the Prophet Salam is enough – “The night of starvation for the Fuqara is the night of Miraj for them”. Feeding such Fuqara carries the virtue and bliss that cannot be seen by the ordinary eyes.

For such Fuqara only the following has been said,

“The clothing of such people was the clothing of God
Their feeding amounted to feeding Allah Himself.”

However according to the Hadith of the Prophet Salam, if someone offers prayers (Salat), observes fast (Soum) or gives charity (Sadqua) the virtue and bliss of the same if offered to his deceased parents or relatives will reach them invariably. Offering funeral prayer, offering Fatiha at the graveyards or arranging Hajj in Lieu (Hajj-e-Badal) are included in such type of acts. Therefore among the Mahdavis, the offering of saathi (sixty fastings or paying the cost of food for sixty poors) in lieu of the broken fast (Soum) or for missed prayers is for this reason only, that the deceased shall not be accountable, thereafter if such things are due by him and the compensation of such defaults is not made.

“The lifting of the dead body after payment of saathi is the source for the Salvation of the dead one”.