[Q 418] Langar-e-Hussayni and Its Significance

QUESTION:

What is langar e hussayni

ANSWER:

Langar-e-Hussayni (لنگر حسینی) refers to the food that is distributed in gatherings held for the Isal-e-Sawab (ایصالِ ثواب — conveying of reward) of Imam Hussain رضي الله تعالى عنه. Such gatherings are organized to earn reward on his behalf and present a spiritual gift to his noble court. These gatherings typically include acts of virtue like Quran Khwani (قرآن خوانی — recitation of the Qur’an), Naat Khwani (نعت خوانی — recitation of poetry in praise of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), religious speeches, Zikr-o-Azkaar (ذکر و اذکار — remembrance of Allah), and mention of the pious. Arrangements are also made for food distribution (Langar), recitation of Fatiha (فاتحہ — prayers for the deceased), and other charitable acts.

This act of Isal-e-Sawab is supported by the Qur’an, Hadith, statements of the Fuqaha (فقہاء — jurists), and the practices of the Salaf-e-Saliheen (سلفِ صالحین — pious predecessors).

There is no restriction of a specific place or time for such gatherings or prayers; they can be held at any time and any location — whether in a mosque, a madrasa, someone’s home, or even at the shrine of a saint. Hence, organizing Langar-e-Hussayni is a blessed and rewarding act.

Allah Almighty mentions about those who pray for their predecessors in the Qur’an:

﴾وَالَّذِیْنَ جَآءُوْ مِنْۢ بَعْدِهِمْ یَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَ لِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِیْنَ سَبَقُوْنَا بِالْإِیْمَانِ﴿
Translation (Kanz-ul-Iman): “And those who came after them say: ‘O our Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith.’”

(Surah Al-Hashr, Ayah 10, Para 28)

Commenting on this verse, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi عليه رحمۃ اللہ القوي writes:

Two rulings are derived from this verse:

1. A person should not pray only for himself but also for his predecessors.
2. Gatherings like Urs, Khatm, Niaz, and Fatiha for the elders of the religion — especially for the Sahabah (companions of the Prophet) and Ahl-e-Bayt (the Prophet’s household) — are praiseworthy because they involve prayers for those pious personalities.”

(Tafsir Noor al-Irfan, under this verse)

It is stated in Sahih al-Bukhari:

“أن رجلا قال للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إن أمي افتلتت نفسها، وإني أظنها لو تكلمت تصدقت، فهل لها أجر إن تصدقت عنها؟ قال: نعم”
“A man said to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: ‘My mother passed away suddenly, and I believe that had she spoken, she would have given charity. If I give charity on her behalf, will she receive the reward?’ The Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم replied: ‘Yes, she will.’”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Page 186, Karachi Edition)

It is mentioned in Radd al-Muhtar:

“صرح علماؤنا في باب الحج عن الغير بأن للإنسان أن يجعل ثواب عمله لغيره صلاة أو صوماً أو صدقة أو غيرها، كذا في الهداية”
“Our scholars have clearly stated in the chapter ‘Hajj on behalf of others’ that a person can convey the reward of his actions — be it prayer, fasting, charity, or any other deed — to another person. The same is mentioned in Al-Hidayah.”

(Radd al-Muhtar ‘ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Volume 3, Page 180, Peshawar Edition)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti Scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 29th June 2025.