their objectives, and fulfill (some)(1) of their needs. Many people therefore suppose that this makes them allies of Allah, when in fact they are allies of the devils.

Likewise, false hadiths may gain currency among many who claim adherence(2) to the Sunnah, since they suppose such hadiths to be part of the Sunnah. These include reports narrated about the merits of Ashura—apart from fasting—and about the merit of applying kohl on that day, bathing, the hadith(3), dyeing, shaking hands, spending more generously on one’s family that day, and similar practices. There is no authentic hadith concerning Ashura(4) other than fasting.

Likewise, everything narrated about the merit of specific prayers(5) on that day is entirely false and fabricated, by consensus of those with expertise. None of the leading scholars transmitted any of these hadiths in their books.

That is why, when(6) Imam Ahmad was asked about the report narrated as follows—“Whoever spends generously on his family on the day of Ashura”—he replied, “It has no basis.”

Likewise, all the hadiths narrated concerning the particular merit of Rajab, the merit of fasting during it or fasting any part of it, or the merit of a particular prayer in it, such as the Raghāib prayer, are fabricated lies.

Likewise, what is narrated concerning prayers for the days of the week, such as the prayers for Sunday and Monday