ponder over their actions. Instead of presenting Islamic evidences for their actions, they begin to say, our elders have been carrying out this tradition for a long time, and perhaps there isn’t a single household from our family who does not carry out these customs and traditions, so how can we leave them just because someone is telling us to. If these people were to keep the commandments of Allah Almighty and his Beloved Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in their minds and ponder over their actions, then they will come to know that some of their customs and actions are in clear opposition to the Shari’ah, and they are carrying the weight of their own sins as well as others upon their backs. (Siraat-ul-Jinaan, pp.104)

How is it to oppose the Shari’ah in following one’s forefathers?

Remember! Opposing the Shari’ah by following one’s misguided forefathers is Haraam. Similarly, to follow one’s forefathers in committing sins is impermissible, because according to the blessed Hadees, a person cannot be obeyed in an action that entails the disobedience of Allah Almighty. (Muslim Kitab-ul-Imarah, pp. 789, Hadees 4765)

If people are told to follow the Shari’ah on occasions of marriage, death and others, they reply by saying that these are the traditions of their forefathers, family and caste; this is completely incorrect and invalid. To summarise, following wrong people is wrong, and following good people is good; just as we follow the companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم, their successors, the Mujtahid Imams, the saints and the pious people رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه, then this is good as the Quran itself has commanded us to do this. It is stated:

وَ كُوْنُوْا مَعَ الصّٰدِقِیْنَ(۱۱۹)

And be with the truthful ones.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)](Part 11, Surah At-Taubah, Verse 119)