Akhiri Chahar Shambah
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Akhiri Chahar Shambah
| type = Islamic
| image =
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| observedby = Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghan and Persian Muslims
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| significance = Muhammad's temporary recovery
| begins =
| ends =
| date = Last Wednesday of Safar
| scheduling =
| duration = 1 day
| frequency = Annual
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| celebrations =
| observances = Nafl prayers, donations, prayers
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{{Muhammad}}
Akhiri Chahar Shambah is a holy day{{Cite Banglapedia |article=Akhiri Chahar Shambah |author=Syed Ashraf Ali}} for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent and Iran.{{cite news |date=1 January 2014 |title=আজ পবিত্র আখেরি চাহার শোম্বা |lang=bn|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE |newspaper=Prothom Alo |access-date=10 December 2015 |archive-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630011809/https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE |url-status=live }} It is an Arabic and Persian word-pair; its Arabic part is akheri, meaning "last" and the Persian part is chahar sambah, meaning "Wednesday".{{cite web |url=https://www.banglatribune.com/columns/574149 |title=আখেরি চাহার শোম্বার ইতিহাস ও তাৎপর্য |lang=bn |date=23 October 2019 |work=Bangla Tribune |first=Md Abu Saleh |last=Sekendar |access-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919093230/https://www.banglatribune.com/columns/574149/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%8E%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF|archive-date=19 September 2022|url-status=live}}
Origin
At the beginning of Hijri 11, Muhammad fell seriously ill. Gradually his physical condition started to deteriorate. He became so ill that he could not even lead the prayer. He recovered on Wednesday, the 28th Safar. The day was the last Wednesday of the month of Safar.
On this day feeling somewhat better, he took a bath and led the prayer for the last time. The people of Medina came to know about this news{{cite news |date=4 January 2013 |title=অবিস্মরণীয় আখেরী চাহার সোম্বা |lang=bn|url=http://archive.ittefaq.com.bd/index.php?ref=MjBfMDFfMDRfMTNfNF8yMl8xXzg1MDA= |newspaper=The Daily Ittefaq |access-date=10 December 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304232455/http://archive.ittefaq.com.bd/index.php?ref=MjBfMDFfMDRfMTNfNF8yMl8xXzg1MDA= |url-status=live }} and came in groups to see him. All of them offered charity, prayers and prayers in thanksgiving. Some of his followers freed their slaves and donated money or camels. On that day Abu Bakr donated 5 thousand, Umar 7 thousand, Uthman 10 thousand, Ali 3 thousand dirhams and Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf donated 100 camels.
Observances
Although there is a difference of opinion among religious scholars regarding the observance of this day, this day is observed in the light of certain rules.{{cite web|title=আখেরী চাহার সোম্বা' কাকে বলে। শরী'আতে এরূপ কোন দিবসের অনুমোদন আছে কি?|lang=bn|url=https://at-tahreek.com/site/show/125|archive-date=14 December 2022|access-date=14 December 2022|website=At Tahreek|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221214015835/https://at-tahreek.com/site/show/125|url-status=dead}} The day is originally celebrated as 'Thanksgiving Day'; So that after taking bath and performing two rak'as Al-Shukr Nafl prayers, prayers for freedom from disease and charity are done. Islamic mehfils are held in various mosques, madrasas, darbars, khanqahs to observe this day. On this day, various educational institutions in Bangladesh are officially closed as well as considered as an optional holiday in offices and courts.{{cite news|url=https://dailyinqilab.com/details/44798/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE|title=আজ পবিত্র আখেরি চাহার শোম্বা|lang=bn|date=9 December 2015|newspaper=Daily Inqilab|access-date=10 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214204544/http://www.dailyinqilab.com/details/44798/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE|archive-date=14 December 2015|url-status=dead}}