Seeking Nearness to Allah Through Other Than Allah and Rubbing Against Graves
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 6310 ):
Q1: A man who is illiterate, who cannot read or write, says: "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)," but he seeks nearness to Allah through other than Allah, saying: "Help, O Badawi, and O Husayn," or he makes vows to other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and rubs against graves. He has fallen into major shirk, not minor shirk. Is it permissible for us to say that he is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah)? Or should we say that he is ignorant of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and not rule that he is a disbeliever? Is it permissible to pray behind him, marry his female relatives, or eat his slaughtered animals, since he mentions the name of Allah over them? We ask your eminence to answer, and may Allah guide you.
A1: Supplicating to other than Allah is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Mu'minun 23:117] , and He said (Mighty and Majestic): [Yunus 10:106]
As for tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means), some of it is shirk, some of it is forbidden and a bid'ah (religious innovation), and all of it is prohibited. As for rubbing against graves, it is forbidden and shirk. Whoever falls into any of shirk, the ruling is explained to him and supported with evidence. If he repents and returns, praise be to Allah. If he persists in the shirk he is upon, he is ruled to be a disbeliever. It is not permissible to pray behind a mushrik, nor to marry his female relatives, nor to eat his slaughtered animals, even if he mentions the name of Allah. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: A man who is illiterate, who cannot read or write, says: "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)," but he seeks nearness to Allah through other than Allah, saying: "Help, O Badawi, and O Husayn," or he makes vows to other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and rubs against graves. He has fallen into major shirk, not minor shirk. Is it permissible for us to say that he is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah)? Or should we say that he is ignorant of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and not rule that he is a disbeliever? Is it permissible to pray behind him, marry his female relatives, or eat his slaughtered animals, since he mentions the name of Allah over them? We ask your eminence to answer, and may Allah guide you.
A1: Supplicating to other than Allah is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). Allah the Exalted said:
And whoever invokes besides Allah another deity for which he has no proof - then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.
وَمَنْ يَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ لاَ بُرْهَانَ لَهُ بِهِ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ إِنَّهُ لاَ يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُونَAnd do not invoke besides Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be of the wrongdoers.'"
وَلاَ تَدْعُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لاَ يَنْفَعُكَ وَلاَ يَضُرُّكَ فَإِنْ فَعَلْتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذًا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَAs for tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means), some of it is shirk, some of it is forbidden and a bid'ah (religious innovation), and all of it is prohibited. As for rubbing against graves, it is forbidden and shirk. Whoever falls into any of shirk, the ruling is explained to him and supported with evidence. If he repents and returns, praise be to Allah. If he persists in the shirk he is upon, he is ruled to be a disbeliever. It is not permissible to pray behind a mushrik, nor to marry his female relatives, nor to eat his slaughtered animals, even if he mentions the name of Allah. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.