Seeking Blessing from a Created Being
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 18511 )
Q 2: We hope you will kindly clarify for me when the forbidden (innovative) seeking of blessing constitutes major shirk (associating partners with Allah) , and when it constitutes minor shirk. Please provide examples.
A 2: Seeking blessing from a created being falls into two categories. The first is seeking blessing from a created being, such as a grave, a tree, a stone, or a person, whether living or dead, on the belief that the one doing so will obtain blessing from that created being, or that it will bring him closer to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and intercede for him with Him, as the first polytheists did. This is considered major shirk (associating partners with Allah) of the same type as the actions of the polytheists with their idols and statues, and it is the type mentioned in the hadith of Abu Waqid al-Laythi regarding the polytheists hanging their weapons on the tree. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered that to be major shirk (associating partners with Allah) on the part of those who hung them, and he compared the statement of those who requested it from him
to the statement of the Children of Israel to Moses: . The second category is seeking blessing from a created being on the belief that seeking blessing from it is an act of nearness to Allah for which He rewards, not because it harms or benefits, such as the ignorant seeking blessing from the covering of the Ka'bah , rubbing against the walls of the Ka'bah , the Station of Ibrahim , the Prophet's Chamber , and the pillars of al-Masjid al-Haram and al-Masjid al-Nabawi ; hoping for blessing from Allah. This type of seeking blessing is considered a bid'ah (religious innovation) and a means to major shirk (associating partners with Allah), except for what is specified by evidence, such as drinking from the water of Zamzam and seeking blessing from the sweat of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), his hair, and what touched his body, and the virtue of his ablution (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him). There is no harm in this due to the existence of evidence for it. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q 2: We hope you will kindly clarify for me when the forbidden (innovative) seeking of blessing constitutes major shirk (associating partners with Allah) , and when it constitutes minor shirk. Please provide examples.
A 2: Seeking blessing from a created being falls into two categories. The first is seeking blessing from a created being, such as a grave, a tree, a stone, or a person, whether living or dead, on the belief that the one doing so will obtain blessing from that created being, or that it will bring him closer to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and intercede for him with Him, as the first polytheists did. This is considered major shirk (associating partners with Allah) of the same type as the actions of the polytheists with their idols and statues, and it is the type mentioned in the hadith of Abu Waqid al-Laythi regarding the polytheists hanging their weapons on the tree. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered that to be major shirk (associating partners with Allah) on the part of those who hung them, and he compared the statement of those who requested it from him
to the statement of the Children of Israel to Moses:
Make for us a god as they have gods
اجْعَلْ لَنَا إِلَهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.