The attachment of some of this Ummah to the deceased awliya (close friends of Allah) through supplication and calling for aid
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The Shaykh : Because when you look at those who attach themselves to the awliya, those who attach themselves to the awliya completely, to the point where they think that they can benefit or harm, you find that in times of hardship they turn to the awliya, they supplicate to them, they call for their aid, they seek their help, and they forget whom? They forget Allah. Good. We say, you are now a Muslim, meaning that you claim to belong to Islam. And the one who claims to belong to Islam is the one who makes the final judgment to whom? Yes, to Allah and His Messenger. Please, between us and you is the Book of Allah. Who is the master of the awliya? No, Allah is not the master of the awliya; Allah is the Master with absolute sovereignty. Who is the master of the awliya among humans? The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is the master of the awliya among humans, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Good. What did Allah say to Muhammad? Allah said to Muhammad: [Al-A'raf 7:188] [Al-A'raf 7:188]. And Allah said to him: [Al-An'am 6:50] until you ask me about the treasures of Allah [Al-An'am 6:50] until I warn you of what surrounds you [Al-An'am 6:50]. And consider how He said here "I do not say to you," whereas in the story of Noah He said: [Hud 11:31] because this verse addresses a people who are present [Al-An'am 6:50]. As for Noah, he said to his people and did not address them with the explicit address "disbeliever." Good.
What do the two verses indicate? That the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) does not possess the power to benefit or harm himself, he does not have the treasures of Allah, and he does not know the unseen. Good. Rather, Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Jinn 72:21]. To whom is the address? To the Ummah. No, the address is to the Messenger: "I do not possess for the Ummah harm or guidance," meaning I do not possess the ability to harm you with anything or to guide you to anything. Add to that His saying: [Al-Jinn 72:22] meaning: If Allah intended me with evil, no one would prevent it, and I would not find a refuge to which I could turn other than Allah [Al-Jinn 72:23] And he is the master of what? The master of the awliya. So what about those below him? What about Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, 'Ali, Ibn Hanbal, and the others among the awliya? They do not possess that. And glory be to Allah, my brothers, a person goes to a grave and asks the owner of the grave, seeks intercession through him, seeks his help, calls for his aid, and leaves the One in Whose hand is the dominion of all things. Glory be to Allah, where are the minds? Where are the minds, let alone the religion?! Did you not know that the owner of the grave was like you, eating and drinking, walking in the markets, suffering from the cold, and being bothered by the heat? Did you not know that he died and his body became a body with no spirit in it, and the most compassionate people among you carried him and buried him? All this happened, so how do you now come and supplicate to the owner of this grave? This is folly in reason and misguidance in religion. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:130]. And what is the religion of Ibrahim? The religion of Ibrahim is what Allah mentioned, He says: [An-Nahl 16:123]. He was not an associate of partners with Allah on any day of time, rather he called to the worship of Allah and disavowed those who worship other than Allah [Az-Zukhruf 43:26]. What? [Az-Zukhruf 43:26-27]. And He said the Exalted: [At-Tawbah 9:114].
So, my brothers, the Hanifi religion is distancing oneself from shirk (associating partners with Allah) and that a person does not associate anyone with Allah, neither a Messenger, nor a Prophet, nor an angel, nor a wali (close friend of Allah), nor an imam, nor anyone else, because all of these do not possess the power to benefit or harm themselves, let alone possess that power for others.
Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed.
قل لا أملك لنفسي نفعا ولا ضرا إلا ما شاء اللهSay, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe."
قُلْ لَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونSay, [O Muhammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah
قل لا أقول لكم عندي خزائن اللهor that I know the unseen
ولا أعلم الغيبnor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me.
ولا أقول لكم إني ملك إن أتبع إلا ما يوحى إليnor do I tell you that I am an angel
ولا أقول إني ملكI do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah
لا أقول لكم عندي خزائن اللهWhat do the two verses indicate? That the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) does not possess the power to benefit or harm himself, he does not have the treasures of Allah, and he does not know the unseen. Good. Rather, Allah the Exalted said:
Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction."
قل إني لا أملك لكم ضرا ولا رشداSay, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allah anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge.
قل إني لن يجيرني من الله أحد ولن أجد من دونه ملتحداBut [I have for you] only notification from Allah, and His messages
إلا بلاغا من الله ورسالاتهAnd who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself
ومن يرغب عن ملة إبراهيم إلا من سفه نفسهThen We revealed to you, [O Muhammad], to follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of those who associate with Allah.
ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَAnd [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people
وإذ قال ابراهيم لأبيه وقومه"Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship (27) Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me."
إِنَّنِي بَرَاءٌ مِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ * إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِAnd the request of forgiveness of Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became apparent to Abraham that his father was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed was Abraham compassionate and patient.
وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَنْ مَوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌSo, my brothers, the Hanifi religion is distancing oneself from shirk (associating partners with Allah) and that a person does not associate anyone with Allah, neither a Messenger, nor a Prophet, nor an angel, nor a wali (close friend of Allah), nor an imam, nor anyone else, because all of these do not possess the power to benefit or harm themselves, let alone possess that power for others.