Praying Behind One Who Calls for Aid Other Than Allah and Shows Loyalty to Him
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Fatwa No. ( 2787 ):
Q: A man lives among a group that calls for aid other than Allah. Is it permissible for him to pray behind them, and is it obligatory for him to emigrate from them? Is their shirk (associating partners with Allah) major shirk? And is their loyalty like the loyalty of true disbelievers?
A: If the state of those among whom you live is as you mentioned—calling for aid other than Allah, such as calling for aid from the dead, from the absent among the living, or from trees, stones, stars, or the like—then they are mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) committing major shirk, which takes one out of the fold of Islam. It is not permissible to show loyalty to them, just as it is not permissible to show loyalty to disbelievers. Prayer behind them is not valid, and it is not permissible to keep their company or reside among them, except for one who calls them to the truth with clear evidence, and hopes that they will respond to him and that their religious condition will be rectified through his efforts. Otherwise, it is obligatory for him to boycott them and join another group with whom he can cooperate in upholding the fundamentals and branches of Islam and reviving the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). If he does not
find such a group, he should isolate himself from all the sects, even if he faces hardship; for it is established from Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
People used to ask the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the good times, but I used to ask him about bad times fearing lest they overtake me. I said: Messenger of Allah, we were in the midst of ignorance and evil, and then God brought us this good (time through Islam). Is there any bad time after this good one? He said: Yes. I asked: Will there be a good time again after that bad time? He said: Yes, but therein will be a hidden evil. I asked: What will be the evil hidden therein? He said: (That time will witness the rise of) the people who will adopt ways other than mine and seek guidance other than mine. You will know good points as well as bad points. I asked: Will there be a bad time after this good one? He said: Yes. (A time will come) when there will be people standing and inviting at the gates of Hell. Whoso responds to their call they will throw them into the fire. I said: Messenger of Allah, describe them for us. He said: All right. They will be a people having the same complexion as ours and speaking our language. I said: Messenger of Allah, what do you suggest if I happen to live in that time? He said: You should stick to the main body of the Muslims and their leader. I said: If they have no (such thing as the) main body and have no leader? He said: Separate yourself from all these factions, though you may have to eat the roots of trees (in a jungle) until death comes to you and you are in this state.
كان الناس يسألون رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الخير، وكنت أسأله عن الشر مخافة أن أقع فيه، فقلت: يا رسول الله، إنا كنا في جاهلية وشر فجاءنا الله بهذا الخير، فهل بعد هذا الخير من شر؟ قال: نعم، فقلت: فهل بعد هذا الشر من خير؟ قال: نعم، وفيه دخن، قلت: وما دخنه؟ قال: قوم يستنون بغير سنتي ويهدون بغير هديي تعرف منهم وتنكر، فقلت: فهل بعد ذلك الخير من شر؟ قال: نعم، دعاة على أبواب جهنم من أجابهم إليها قذفوه فيها، فقلت: يا رسول الله، صفهم لنا، قال: نعم، هم من بني جلدتنا، ويتكلمون بألسنتنا، قلت: يا رسول الله، فما تأمرني إن أدركني ذلك؟ قال: تلزم جماعة المسلمين وإمامهم. فقلت: فإن لم تكن لهم جماعة ولا إمام؟ قال: فاعتزل تلك الفرق كلها ولو أن تعض على أصل شجرة حتى يدركك الموت وأنت على ذلك
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.