What is the ruling on what some people believe regarding the awliya (close friends of Allah) concerning benefiting, harming, relieving distress, and fulfilling needs, specifically those who are the owners of graves?
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The questioner : What some people believe regarding the awliya (close friends of Allah) concerning benefiting, harming, relieving distress, and fulfilling needs, whether they are the living or the owners of graves?
The Shaykh : This belief is invalid because the One who holds the power to benefit, harm, and relieve distress is Allah (Mighty and Majestic), not the awliya. The awliya do not possess the power to benefit or harm themselves, let alone others, whether they are alive or dead. Only Allah (Mighty and Majestic) answers the call of the distressed when he calls Him and removes the evil. If the prophets, who are the masters of the awliya and above the rank of the awliya, do not possess the power to benefit or harm themselves, what can be said of others?
Allah the Exalted said regarding Noah:[Hud 11:31] And Allah the Exalted said to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): [Al-An'am 6:50] And He said to him: [Al-Jinn 72:21-22] And He the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf 7:188].
The awliya do not possess the power to give anyone anything, neither benefit nor harm, whether they are alive or dead. They do not possess the power to guide a lost person, nor to enrich a poor person, nor to cure a sick person. That is only for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for themselves, when harm befalls them, they do not possess the power to repel it or remove it; rather, they are incapable of doing so. How then can they possess that power for others?
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : This belief is invalid because the One who holds the power to benefit, harm, and relieve distress is Allah (Mighty and Majestic), not the awliya. The awliya do not possess the power to benefit or harm themselves, let alone others, whether they are alive or dead. Only Allah (Mighty and Majestic) answers the call of the distressed when he calls Him and removes the evil. If the prophets, who are the masters of the awliya and above the rank of the awliya, do not possess the power to benefit or harm themselves, what can be said of others?
Allah the Exalted said regarding Noah:
And I 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
وَلا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلا أَقُولُ إِنِّي مَلَكٌSay, [O Muhammad], "I 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. I only follow what is revealed to me."
قُلْ لا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ(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.
قُلْ إِنِّي لا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلا رَشَدًا * قُلْ إِنِّي لَنْ يُجِيرَنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَنْ أَجِدَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًاSay, "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 لا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَThe awliya do not possess the power to give anyone anything, neither benefit nor harm, whether they are alive or dead. They do not possess the power to guide a lost person, nor to enrich a poor person, nor to cure a sick person. That is only for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for themselves, when harm befalls them, they do not possess the power to repel it or remove it; rather, they are incapable of doing so. How then can they possess that power for others?
The questioner : May Allah bless you.