Combining the abandonment of asking others for supplication with 'Umar's request for Uwais to supplicate for him
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Your Eminence! Is there a weakness in the reliance upon Allah (tawakkul) of a person who asks another, whom he sees to be righteous on the surface, to supplicate for him in his absence? If so, what is your guidance regarding 'Umar's request for Uwais al-Qarani to supplicate for him, even though 'Umar is superior to Uwais?
A person asking another to supplicate for him, even if the only issue with it is that he asked people, and among the pledges of allegiance the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) took from his Companions was: that they should not ask people for anything.
And "anything" is an indefinite noun in a context of negation, which encompasses everything; this is the principle of jurisprudence, to the extent that if one of their sticks fell from them while they were on their mounts, they would dismount and pick it up, and not say to anyone: "Hand me the stick"; because they pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) not to ask people for anything. If this were the only issue, it would be sufficient, but perhaps there is contempt for oneself and a bad opinion in a person's heart, so he asks others.It is said: O my brother! Have a good opinion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And if you are not worthy of having supplication accepted, then the supplication of others will not benefit you. So you must have a good opinion of Allah, and not make an intermediary between you and Allah who supplicates for you; you supplicate to your Lord yourself.Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: [Al-A'raf: 55] So your own supplication to Allah is an act of worship, so how do you deprive yourself of this great worship? Also, some people, when they ask a person who appears righteous to supplicate for them, may rely on that supplication and never supplicate for themselves. And in it—also—Third issue: is that the one asked to supplicate may become arrogant about himself, thinking he is worthy of being asked to supplicate.
But Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If you ask your brother to supplicate for you—intending thereby to benefit him by his kindness to you, or to benefit him if he supplicates for you in his absence—The angel says: Amen, and may you be rewarded with the same.
Then there is nothing wrong with that. But if you intend only your own benefit, then this is from the blameworthy matter.
As for what you mentioned regarding 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asking Uwais to supplicate for him (may Allah be pleased with him), that was by the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and it was specific to that man. For this reason, 'Umar or no one else was asked to say to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): "Supplicate to Allah for us," and Abu Bakr is superior to 'Umar, and superior to Uwais, and superior to the rest of the Companions. But this was specific to this man whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged those who met him to say to him: "Supplicate to Allah for me," and specific matters do not extend beyond their place.
A person asking another to supplicate for him, even if the only issue with it is that he asked people, and among the pledges of allegiance the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) took from his Companions was: that they should not ask people for anything.
And "anything" is an indefinite noun in a context of negation, which encompasses everything; this is the principle of jurisprudence, to the extent that if one of their sticks fell from them while they were on their mounts, they would dismount and pick it up, and not say to anyone: "Hand me the stick"; because they pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) not to ask people for anything. If this were the only issue, it would be sufficient, but perhaps there is contempt for oneself and a bad opinion in a person's heart, so he asks others.It is said: O my brother! Have a good opinion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And if you are not worthy of having supplication accepted, then the supplication of others will not benefit you. So you must have a good opinion of Allah, and not make an intermediary between you and Allah who supplicates for you; you supplicate to your Lord yourself.Allah the Mighty and Majestic says:
Call upon your Lord in humility and privately
ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعاً وَخُفْيَةًBut Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If you ask your brother to supplicate for you—intending thereby to benefit him by his kindness to you, or to benefit him if he supplicates for you in his absence—The angel says: Amen, and may you be rewarded with the same.
Then there is nothing wrong with that. But if you intend only your own benefit, then this is from the blameworthy matter.
As for what you mentioned regarding 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asking Uwais to supplicate for him (may Allah be pleased with him), that was by the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and it was specific to that man. For this reason, 'Umar or no one else was asked to say to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): "Supplicate to Allah for us," and Abu Bakr is superior to 'Umar, and superior to Uwais, and superior to the rest of the Companions. But this was specific to this man whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged those who met him to say to him: "Supplicate to Allah for me," and specific matters do not extend beyond their place.