What is the ruling on making du'a' to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
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The questioner : A questioner says: The grave of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is well known, and he is the master of the awliya (close friends of Allah), and he is alive with the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection). So what prevents us from making du'a' to him (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : From making du'a' to him?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : By Allah, I believe that I do not know this question. Does anyone doubt that making du'a' to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is shirk (associating partners with Allah)? Only an ignorant person doubts it. Allah the Exalted said to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):[Ash-Shu'ara 26:213]. Allah says to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): [Ash-Shu'ara 26:213]. And this is while he is the master of creation, may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him. And He, Mighty and Majestic, says: [Az-Zumar 39:65]. Is it in the adhan (the call to prayer)? Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. Lord of this perfect call and this established prayer, grant Muhammad the intercession and the excellence, and raise him to the praiseworthy station which You have promised him. Indeed, You do not break Your promise. Repeat the question.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : On the Day of 'Arafah, if it coincides with Friday, you pray the Zuhr (the midday prayer) and 'Asr (the afternoon prayer) and do not pray Jumu'ah (the Friday prayer). Yes. And the statement here is for the pilgrims, as for non-pilgrims, they pray Jumu'ah, it is well known. Yes.
The questioner : The grave of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is well known, and he is the master of the awliya (close friends of Allah), and he is alive with the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection), so what prevents us from making du'a' to him (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : The prevention is what you have heard from the noble verses, and du'a' (supplication) is specific to Allah, Mighty and Majestic.[Ghafir 40:60]. And a man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . And Allah said to His Prophet, commanding him to say: [Al-Jinn 72:21-22] meaning if Allah intended to afflict me with something, no one would protect me from it, and I would not find a refuge, a shelter, or a protector. And this is while he is the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And He, Mighty and Majestic, says: [Al-An'am 6:50]. So how do we make du'a' to him? And are we more knowledgeable about the state of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) than his Companions? His Companions, without a doubt. Did any of them approach his grave to ask him? When drought struck them in the time of the Rightly Guided Caliph, the second Caliph in the Islamic community, they did not seek rain through him. Even though in his lifetime they sought rain through him. They would say, "O Messenger of Allah, call upon Allah to send us rain," and they did not call upon him. They would say, "Call upon Allah to send us rain." And yet, the Muslims did not seek rain through him. Rather, 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Allah, we used to seek nearness to You through our Prophet, so You gave us rain" meaning through the du'a' of the Prophet "and we seek nearness to You through the uncle of our Prophet" meaning al-'Abbas ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him). So al-'Abbas would stand and make du'a'. He would call upon Allah, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is undoubtedly alive in his grave with the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection). We do not know its nature, because we do not know the unseen except what Allah has informed us of and revealed to us. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : From making du'a' to him?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : By Allah, I believe that I do not know this question. Does anyone doubt that making du'a' to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is shirk (associating partners with Allah)? Only an ignorant person doubts it. Allah the Exalted said to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
So do not invoke with Allah another deity and [thus] be among the punished.
فلا تدع مع الله إلها آخر فتكون من المعذبينSo do not invoke with Allah another deity and [thus] be among the punished.
فلا تدع مع الله إلها آخر فتكون من المعذبينAnd it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate [anything] with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers."
ولقد أوحي إليك وإلى الذين من قبلك لئن أشركت ليحبطن عملك ولتكوننّ من الخاسرينThe questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : On the Day of 'Arafah, if it coincides with Friday, you pray the Zuhr (the midday prayer) and 'Asr (the afternoon prayer) and do not pray Jumu'ah (the Friday prayer). Yes. And the statement here is for the pilgrims, as for non-pilgrims, they pray Jumu'ah, it is well known. Yes.
The questioner : The grave of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is well known, and he is the master of the awliya (close friends of Allah), and he is alive with the life of the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection), so what prevents us from making du'a' to him (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : The prevention is what you have heard from the noble verses, and du'a' (supplication) is specific to Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.
وقال ربكم ادعوني أستجب لكم إن الذين يستكبرون عن عبادتي سيدخلون جهنم داخرينWhat Allah wills and what you will. He said: Have you made me equal to Allah? Rather, what Allah wills alone
ما شاء الله وشئت. فقال : أجعلتني لله ندا بل ما شاء الله وحده(21) Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction." (22) Say, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allah anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge.
قل لا أملك لكم ضرا ولا رشدا قل إني لن يجيرني من الله أحد ولن أجد من دونه ملتحداI do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel
قل لا أقول لكم عندي خزائن الله ولا أعلم الغيب ولا أقول لكم إني ملكThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.