Ruling on supplicating to an attribute of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)
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What is the ruling on a person supplicating to an attribute of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), with an explanation of the basis for this ruling?The Shaykh: Does the attribute act?The questioner: No, it does not act.
The Shaykh: If you supplicate to that which does not act, is it permissible?The questioner: It is not permissible.
The Shaykh: It is not permissible. For this reason, the Shaykh al-Islam said: Supplicating to an attribute is disbelief by consensus.
He said this in the book *Al-Istighathah*. Also, if you supplicate to the attribute, you make it independent, bringing you good and repelling evil from you. This means you have made it a god alongside Allah.
The questioner: Does this include the saying of the common people: "O Face of Allah"?
Or something similar to that?The Shaykh: No, "O Face of Allah" means Allah (Mighty and Majestic).Like His saying, the Exalted: [Ar-Rahman: 27] meaning: the Lord (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner: And does a prohibition follow from that?The Shaykh: What is it?The questioner himself: That it may become confused for him that it is from supplicating to an attribute.
The Shaykh: No, that is far-fetched.But if he meant by his saying: "O Face of Allah!" seeking intercession with Allah against this man,Meaning: making Allah an intercessor. This is forbidden, because Allah the Exalted is too great and too exalted to be an intercessor. He grants intercession at His presence, but one does not seek intercession through Him.
The Shaykh: If you supplicate to that which does not act, is it permissible?The questioner: It is not permissible.
The Shaykh: It is not permissible. For this reason, the Shaykh al-Islam said: Supplicating to an attribute is disbelief by consensus.
He said this in the book *Al-Istighathah*. Also, if you supplicate to the attribute, you make it independent, bringing you good and repelling evil from you. This means you have made it a god alongside Allah.
The questioner: Does this include the saying of the common people: "O Face of Allah"?
Or something similar to that?The Shaykh: No, "O Face of Allah" means Allah (Mighty and Majestic).Like His saying, the Exalted:
And the Face of your Lord will remain
وَيَبْقَى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَThe questioner: And does a prohibition follow from that?The Shaykh: What is it?The questioner himself: That it may become confused for him that it is from supplicating to an attribute.
The Shaykh: No, that is far-fetched.But if he meant by his saying: "O Face of Allah!" seeking intercession with Allah against this man,Meaning: making Allah an intercessor. This is forbidden, because Allah the Exalted is too great and too exalted to be an intercessor. He grants intercession at His presence, but one does not seek intercession through Him.