Ruling on avoiding eating meat during the first ten days of Muharram

Praise
be to Allah

Refraining from eating permissible things that Allah has
allowed comes under the heading of monasticism that was prohibited by
Allah, may He be exalted, and His Messenger. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn
Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Monasticism means giving up things that are permissible, such
as marriage, eating meat, and so on. A group among the Sahaabah (may Allah
be pleased with them) thought of following some monastic practices, but
Allah, may He be exalted, sent down revelation forbidding them to do that,
as He said (interpretation of the meaning): “O
you who believe! Make not unlawful the Taiyibat (all that is good as regards
foods, things, deeds, beliefs, persons, etc.) which Allah has made lawful to
you, and transgress not. Verily, Allah does not like the transgressors”
[al-Maa’idah 5:87]. And
it is proven in as-Saheehayn that there was a group of the Companions
of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), one of whom said:
As for me, I will fast and never not fast. Another said: As for me, I will
pray qiyaam (voluntary prayers at night) and never sleep. Another said: As
for me, I will not marry women. Another said: As for me, I will not eat
meat. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stood up to
deliver a speech and said: What is the matter with men of whom one says such
and such? But I fast and do not fast, I pray qiyaam and I sleep, I marry
women, and I eat meat. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me.” The
saheeh texts explain that monasticism is an innovation and misguidance.

End quote from al-Jawaab as-Saheeh (2/194-197)

To sum up: whoever seeks to worship Allah, may He be exalted,
by refraining from eating meat or from other permissible things on specific
days, this comes under the heading of prescribing religious practice for
which Allah has not given permission.

That applies whether this is due to a belief that these days
have some special characteristic that dictates refraining from eating meat,

or because one regards it as haraam or makrooh

or because of a belief that refraining from eating meat
during these days is obligatory or mustahabb

or because of a belief that one may draw closer to Allah by
refraining from eating meat or from other permissible things in a particular
way.

All of that comes under the heading of innovations and
misguidance for which Allah has not given permission.

Ash-Shaatibi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Everyone who restricts himself from consuming that which
Allah has permitted, without a legitimate shar‘i reason for doing so, has
diverged from the Sunnah of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him), and the one who acts upon something other than the Sunnah by way
of a religious practice is essentially an innovator.

End quote from al-I‘tisaam (p. 59)

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him)
said:

Allah, may He be exalted, commanded mankind to worship Him
alone and not to associate anything with Him in worship, and to worship Him
according to what He prescribed; and He commanded that they should not
worship Him by any acts of worship other than that. Allah, may He be
exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“So whoever
hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and
associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord”

[al-Kahf 18:110]

“…that He
might try you, which of you is the best in deeds”

[Hood 11:7].

With regard to the one who follows the path of asceticism and
worship, if he appears outwardly to be following Islamic teachings, but his
intention is to show off, gain a good reputation and gain people’s respect,
then his good deeds are invalid and are not acceptable to Allah. It is
proven in as-Saheeh that Allah says: “I
am the least in need of a partner. Whoever does any deed in which he
associates someone else with Me, I disavow him and all of his deeds are for
the one whom he associated with Me.” And in as-Saheeh it is narrated that
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever talks
about his good deeds (to show off), Allah will expose him (on the Day of
Resurrection), and whoever makes a (hypocritical) display, Allah will make a
display of him.”

If he is sincere in his intention, but he worships Allah by
doing acts of worship other than those that are prescribed, such as one who
remains silent constantly, or stands in the sun or on the roof constantly,
or does not wear ordinary clothes, and always wears wool or sackcloth, and
the like, or covers his face, or refrains from eating bread or milk, or
drinking water, and so on – these acts of worship are invalid and are to be
rejected, as it is proven in as-Saheeh in a report from ‘Aa’ishah
that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever
introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will
have it rejected.

And it is proven from him in as-Saheeh that there was
a group among his Companions, one of whom said: As for me, I will fast and
never not fast. Another said: As for me, I will pray qiyaam (voluntary
prayers at night) and never sleep. Another said: As for me, I will not marry
women. Another said: As for me, I will not eat meat. The Prophet (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) stood up to deliver a speech and said: What
is the matter with men of whom one says such and such? But I fast and do not
fast, I pray qiyaam and I sleep, I marry women and I eat meat. Whoever turns
away from my Sunnah is not of me.”

So this is the principle with regard to acts of worship,
because fasting and prayer are both acts of worship.

Refraining from eating meat or getting married is permissible
in principle, but when that went beyond the framework of the Sunnah and the
individual committed himself to more than is prescribed, or committed
himself to refraining from that which is permissible, as monks do, the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) disavowed those who do
such things as having turned away from his Sunnah towards something else,
and he said: “There is no monasticism in Islam.”

End quote from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (11/612-614)

Conclusion: 

Having the custom of not eating meat during these days, in
the manner mentioned – whether that was based on a covenant with Allah, or
with other people, or with one’s own self, or without any covenant – all
comes under the heading of innovation that is not permissible as a means of
drawing closer to Allah, may He be exalted, and it is not permissible to
obey one’s parents and grandparents concerning that, or to follow them in
doing it. 

For more information, please see the answer to question no.
193281

And Allah knows best.