The Imam of a Mosque Who Appears Righteous, Yet He Holds a Session After 'Isha' Every Night in Which He Repeats Certain Dhikr, Such as
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The questioner : His first question states that we have an imam in the mosque who is a memorizer of the Qur'an and recites it with tajwid, and the signs of righteousness are evident on him. In addition to his regularity in prayer, he fasts one day and breaks the fast the next. However, he always holds circles of dhikr after 'Isha' that continue until late at night, in which they repeat certain dhikr, including saying, "Maddad, O my master, O Messenger of Allah," and "Maddad, O my master, 'Abd al-Qadir," and similar dhikr. Is this permissible, and will they be rewarded for it? And do these actions affect the validity of our prayers behind him? If so, what should we do about our past prayers? Yes.
The Shaykh : In truth, what the questioner mentioned is very saddening. This imam, whom he described as one who maintains prayer and maintains fasting—fasting one day and breaking the fast the next—and whose outward state appears to be upright, has been played with by Shaytan, causing him to exit Islam through shirk (associating partners with Allah), whether he knows it or not. Calling upon other than Allah the Mighty and Majestic is major shirk that expels one from the religion, whether one calls upon the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) or calls upon others—and others are of less status and less honor before Allah the Mighty and Majestic than he is. If calling upon the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is shirk, then calling upon others is uglier and uglier than 'Abd al-Qadir or anyone other than 'Abd al-Qadir. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) himself does not possess the power to benefit or harm anyone. Allah the Exalted said, commanding him:[Al-Jinn 72:21] And He said, commanding him: [Al-An'am 6:50] And He said, commanding him: [Al-A'raf 7:188] Indeed, Allah the Exalted said, commanding him: [Al-Jinn 72:22] If the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) himself cannot be protected by anyone from Allah, how much less can others do so? Calling upon other than Allah is shirk that expels one from the religion, and Allah the Mighty and Majestic does not forgive shirk, as He said: [An-Nisa 4:48] And its companion is in the Fire, as He said: [Al-Ma'idah 5:72] My advice to this imam is to repent to Allah the Mighty and Majestic from this matter that nullifies deeds, for shirk nullifies deeds. Allah the Exalted said: [Az-Zumar 39:65] And He said: [Al-An'am 6:88] So let him repent to Allah from this, and let him worship Allah the Exalted and Majestic with what He has prescribed of dhikr and acts of worship, and not go beyond that to these bid'ah (religious innovations), but rather to these matters of shirk. And let him always recite, or always reflect upon, the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Ghafir 40:60]
The questioner : The second question.
The Shaykh : In truth, what the questioner mentioned is very saddening. This imam, whom he described as one who maintains prayer and maintains fasting—fasting one day and breaking the fast the next—and whose outward state appears to be upright, has been played with by Shaytan, causing him to exit Islam through shirk (associating partners with Allah), whether he knows it or not. Calling upon other than Allah the Mighty and Majestic is major shirk that expels one from the religion, whether one calls upon the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) or calls upon others—and others are of less status and less honor before Allah the Mighty and Majestic than he is. If calling upon the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is shirk, then calling upon others is uglier and uglier than 'Abd al-Qadir or anyone other than 'Abd al-Qadir. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) himself does not possess the power to benefit or harm anyone. Allah the Exalted said, commanding him:
Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction."
قل إني لا أملك لكم ضراً ولا رشداSay, [O Muhammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me."
قل لا أقول لكم عندي خزائن الله ولا أعلم الغيب ولا أقول لكم إني ملك إن أتبع إلا ما يوحى إليSay, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe."
قل لا أملك لنفسي نفعاً ولا ضرا إلا ما شاء الله ولو كنت أعلم الغيب لاستكثرت من الخير وما مسّني السوء إن أنا إلا نذير وبشير لقوم يؤمنونSay, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allah anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge.
قل إني لن يجيرني من الله أحد ولن أجد من دونه ملتحداIndeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills
إن الله لا يغفر أن يشرك به ويغفر ما دون ذلك لمن يشاءIndeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.
إنه من يشرك بالله فقد حرّم الله عليه الجنة ومأواه النار وما للظالمين من أنصارAnd it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate [anything] with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers."
ولقد أوحي إليك وإلى الذين من قبلك لئن أشركت ليحبطن عملك ولتكونن من الخاسرينif they had associated others with Allah, then worthless for them would be whatever they were doing.
لو أشركوا لحبط عنهم ما كانوا يعملونAnd your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.
وقال ربكم ادعوني أستجب لكم إن الذين يستكبرون عن عبادتي سيدخلون جهنم داخرينThe questioner : The second question.