Some people swear by the awliya (close friends of Allah) and ask them for help, so what do you advise these people?
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The questioner : Adnan Abdul Qadir from Kosti, Sudan, says: Some people, may Allah guide them, swear by the awliya (close friends of Allah) and ask them for help. What do you advise these people? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. Our answer to this question is that asking the dead awliya (close friends of Allah), or the living ones who are unable to directly fulfill the need, for the fulfillment of needs is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that expels one from the religion, and its doer is eternally in the Fire of Hell. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:72].
However, if the wali (close friend of Allah) is present and a person asks him for something he is capable of, such as helping him move his furniture out of the house or loading it into the car, or the like, then there is nothing wrong with it. This is because asking a living, present, and capable person to fulfill a need is permissible, as it is seeking the assistance of one's Muslim brother in fulfilling his need. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1009.
As for swearing by the awliya (close friends of Allah), this is also shirk (associating partners with Allah), based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):Riyad as-Salihin 1711. However, if a person believes that this wali (close friend of Allah) deserves the same level of glorification that Allah Mighty and Majestic deserves, then it is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). But if he does not believe that, yet he swears by this wali (close friend of Allah) out of respect and glorification for him, without believing that he deserves the same level of glorification that the Great Lord deserves, then this is minor shirk (associating partners with Allah).
In any case, one must be cautious of this and not swear except by Allah Mighty and Majestic, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 2679. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. Our answer to this question is that asking the dead awliya (close friends of Allah), or the living ones who are unable to directly fulfill the need, for the fulfillment of needs is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that expels one from the religion, and its doer is eternally in the Fire of Hell. Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.
إِنَّهُ مَن يُشرِك بِاللَّهِ فَقَد حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ الجَنَّةَ وَمَأواهُ النّارُ وَما لِلظّالِمينَ مِن أَنصارٍHowever, if the wali (close friend of Allah) is present and a person asks him for something he is capable of, such as helping him move his furniture out of the house or loading it into the car, or the like, then there is nothing wrong with it. This is because asking a living, present, and capable person to fulfill a need is permissible, as it is seeking the assistance of one's Muslim brother in fulfilling his need. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
And assisting a man to ride upon his beast, or helping him load his luggage upon it, is a Sadaqa
تعين الرجل في دابته فتحمله عليها أو ترفع له عليها متاعه صدقةAs for swearing by the awliya (close friends of Allah), this is also shirk (associating partners with Allah), based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):
He who swears by anyone or anything other than Allah, has indeed committed an act of Kufr or Shirk
من حلف بغير الله فقد كفر أو أشركIn any case, one must be cautious of this and not swear except by Allah Mighty and Majestic, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever has to take an oath should swear by Allah or remain silent.
من كان حالفا فليحلف بالله أو ليصمتThe questioner : May Allah bless you.