The Ruling on Seeking Aid from Created Beings
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Q287: The questioner asks: Is seeking nearness to Allah the Mighty and Majestic through other than Him a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah)?
A287: Seeking nearness to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, through created beings, if one slaughters for them, makes vows to them, or calls upon them for aid, believing that this brings one closer to Allah, then this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) and worship of the created being. Allah the Exalted said:[Yunus 10:18], and He, Glorified is He, said: [Az-Zumar 39:3].
This is what the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance did. One does not seek nearness to Allah through persons. However, if one believes that Allah is the One who answers, but makes this servant, whom he claims to be righteous, and Allah knows best, a means between him and Allah, without directing any part of worship to him, but considering him merely a means and a bringer of nearness to Allah, then this is bid'ah (religious innovation); because Allah has not prescribed for us to seek nearness to Him through persons. Rather, He has prescribed for us to seek nearness to Him through His names and attributes, Glorified and Exalted is He, and to seek nearness to Him through righteous deeds, and to seek nearness to Him through the supplication of the righteous who are present. This is what Allah has prescribed for us, and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, has prescribed it for us.
A287: Seeking nearness to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, through created beings, if one slaughters for them, makes vows to them, or calls upon them for aid, believing that this brings one closer to Allah, then this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) and worship of the created being. Allah the Exalted said:
And they worship other than Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, "These are our intercessors with Allah " Say, "Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?" Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لاَ يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلاَ يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَؤُلاَءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ قُلْ أَتُنَبِّئُونَ اللَّهَ بِمَا لاَ يَعْلَمُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلاَ فِي الْأَرْضِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَUnquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion. And those who take protectors besides Him [say], "We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position." Indeed, Allah will judge between them concerning that over which they differ. Indeed, Allah does not guide he who is a liar and [confirmed] disbeliever.
أَلاَ لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلاَّ لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَفَّارٌThis is what the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance did. One does not seek nearness to Allah through persons. However, if one believes that Allah is the One who answers, but makes this servant, whom he claims to be righteous, and Allah knows best, a means between him and Allah, without directing any part of worship to him, but considering him merely a means and a bringer of nearness to Allah, then this is bid'ah (religious innovation); because Allah has not prescribed for us to seek nearness to Him through persons. Rather, He has prescribed for us to seek nearness to Him through His names and attributes, Glorified and Exalted is He, and to seek nearness to Him through righteous deeds, and to seek nearness to Him through the supplication of the righteous who are present. This is what Allah has prescribed for us, and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, has prescribed it for us.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.