Seeking nearness to Allah through a created being: saying “We seek nearness to You through Allah the Great”
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Fatwa number ( 21362 )
Q: I read an article in the newspaper Okaz, issue number ( 12320 ), dated 16/2/ 1421 AH, by the writer Mashal al-Sudairi, titled: ( On the Auspicious Bird ). What I read in this article included his quoting from some female students who address His Excellency the President General of Girls' Education: ( “We seek nearness to You through Allah the Great, and through His Noble Book, that You would have mercy on our situation... etc.” ). I ask Your Eminence to inform me of the ruling on that phrase, and whether it falls under the category of: ( “Do not seek intercession with Allah over His creation” ) which the Imam al-Mujaddid Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in ( Kitab al-Tawhid ), and cited the hadith of Jubayr ibn Mutt'im (may Allah be pleased with him) which was narrated by Abu
Dawud , regarding the prohibition of such a phrase? If there is a legal concern in it, and if you see fit to alert the newspaper and the writer to this, given the importance of the subject.
A : Yes, this phrase ( “We seek nearness to You through Allah the Great” ) is like the phrase: ( “We seek intercession with Allah over You” ), which is the phrase that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited, and he became angry when he heard it with great anger; because it diminishes the right of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He); because the one through whom intercession is sought and the one through whom nearness is sought is of a lower rank than the one for whom intercession is sought and the one to whom nearness is sought. So it is obligatory for the one who says this phrase: to repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and not to return to such an ugly phrase. And it is obligatory for newspapers not to publish such an ugly phrase that violates the creed. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions.
Q: I read an article in the newspaper Okaz, issue number ( 12320 ), dated 16/2/ 1421 AH, by the writer Mashal al-Sudairi, titled: ( On the Auspicious Bird ). What I read in this article included his quoting from some female students who address His Excellency the President General of Girls' Education: ( “We seek nearness to You through Allah the Great, and through His Noble Book, that You would have mercy on our situation... etc.” ). I ask Your Eminence to inform me of the ruling on that phrase, and whether it falls under the category of: ( “Do not seek intercession with Allah over His creation” ) which the Imam al-Mujaddid Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in ( Kitab al-Tawhid ), and cited the hadith of Jubayr ibn Mutt'im (may Allah be pleased with him) which was narrated by Abu
Dawud , regarding the prohibition of such a phrase? If there is a legal concern in it, and if you see fit to alert the newspaper and the writer to this, given the importance of the subject.
A : Yes, this phrase ( “We seek nearness to You through Allah the Great” ) is like the phrase: ( “We seek intercession with Allah over You” ), which is the phrase that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited, and he became angry when he heard it with great anger; because it diminishes the right of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He); because the one through whom intercession is sought and the one through whom nearness is sought is of a lower rank than the one for whom intercession is sought and the one to whom nearness is sought. So it is obligatory for the one who says this phrase: to repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and not to return to such an ugly phrase. And it is obligatory for newspapers not to publish such an ugly phrase that violates the creed. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.