Is "Sharaf Shams" authentic? / The views of jurists

According to Ashura News, citing Tasnim News Agency, Sharaf al-Shams, which is considered one of the special and mystical days, has been identified as coinciding with the 19th of Farvardin. According to the proponents of this phenomenon in the occult sciences, on this day, the sun enters a specific point in the sky, which, according to some, has special spiritual, cosmic and spiritual effects. This day has long been known as an opportunity to pray, write special adhkar and perform special deeds. In this regard, the famous Sharaf al-Shams amulet, which is usually written on yellow agate, has a special place among those interested in the occult sciences and Islamic wisdom.

Believers in Sharaf al-Shams believe that this day is a window to approach the world of heaven and receive divine blessings. The writing of sacred names and special symbols with specific rituals on this day is considered not only as a talisman for protection, but also as a symbol of man's connection with the higher worlds. Although these beliefs have always had supporters and opponents among scholars and commentators, their impact on the religious and spiritual culture of the people, especially in Iran, is undeniable; so much so that even on the 19th of Farvardin, many people with sincere intentions write or carry the Sharaf al-Shams, hoping to benefit from its spiritual effects.

At the same time, there are ambiguities and unknowns in this regard that must be answered precisely by those in favor of the Sharaf al-Shams.

Scientific perspective:

The first point is that according to the table in the book "Al-Tafhim", the Sharaf al-Shams is when the Sun is 19 degrees in Aries. However, it should be noted that the difference between the astronomical year and the calendar year causes the Sun's position in the zodiac to shift slightly on a particular day. Sometimes leap years also cause a slight shift in the alignment of the two. In addition, from a computational point of view, the sun being in the 19th degree of Aries does not correspond to the 19th of Farvardin. Calendarists say that the first day of the first year of Aries is the date so that calendars can be adjusted based on that, so it is not a real issue and is just an agreement. However, from an astronomical point of view, the sun at the moment of the year is at the end of the constellation Pisces, so the 19th degree of Aries is not the 19th of Farvardin, but the middle of the month of Ardibahesht. (Mehdi Daneshyar, expert in astrophysics, astrochemistry and cosmology)

Narrational view:

The second point is related to the origin of this view: Does "Sharaf al-Shams" have a narrational root? In other words, was this practice part of the life of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) and did the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) adhere to it and encourage the Shiites to do it? Looking at the historical background of the Sun-honoring, it becomes clear that this practice had no place in the life of the progeny. Mubasher Kashani considers the Sun-honoring to be one of the strange sciences and emphasizes that no trace of it can be found in the narrational sources or books of supplications and remembrances of the early generations; rather, its validity has been raised by some of the later generations in the last few centuries.

There is only one reference to a quote from the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) that is not found in the early Shiite works and the main Shiite narrational books. The only citation that exists is attributed to “Misbah Kaf’ami” (known as “Junnah al-Wafiya”), but searches show that this narration was not found in the book of Misbah. Even researchers believe that such a narration does not exist in this book. Therefore, the direct attribution of these letters to Imam Ali (peace be upon him) in “Misbah Kaf’ami” is ambiguous and no solid evidence has been provided for it. The only al-Kafami mentions is the position of the sun in the signs of Aries, Taurus, and Gemini. He writes: “Time is the result of the cycle of day and night and is a precious human capital for achieving happiness. Each day and night have 12 hours, although the actual length of the hours increases or decreases depending on the season. The longest day is on the 13th of Huziran (around 23rd of Khordad)... and spring, for them, is when the sun is in the signs of Aries, Taurus, and Gemini (i.e., Farvardin, Ordibehesht, Khordad).”

Meanwhile, Allama Majlisi, in volume 54 of the book Bihar al-Anwar, discusses the disagreement among astronomers about the position of the “sharf” (the highest point of astronomical influence) of the planets and points out that according to astronomical rules, the sun’s sharf is in Aries and the mercury’s sharf is in Virgo, but in practice such a distance between them is not possible.

However, some great authorities have considered the imitation of Sharaf Shams to be invalid:

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi writes in his istifta’a: “The ring and amulet of Sharaf Shams have not been mentioned in authentic narrations and have no validity. It is appropriate for believers to use the verses and narrations that have been included in authentic books from the Infallibles (peace be upon them). Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani also says, “No authentic document has been seen attributing it to the Infallible Imams (peace be upon them).”

As a result, a brief examination of the history of “Sharaf Shams” reveals that this topic was first raised by scholars of foreign sciences and gradually expanded over time and gained more branches. In other words, the initial origin of this belief goes back to the circles of the occult sciences, and over time, with the addition of various details and beliefs, it has taken on its present form. The amulets written on it are actually talismans, and sometimes we see the symbol of the "Star of David", which is one of the main symbols of magicians, on some engravings.

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