What is meant by the "Abdal" whom the Sufis claim have taken control of the world with Allah's permission?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh: I have a relative who leans toward Sufism, and he told me that there is something called the Abdal?
The Shaykh : In?
The questioner : Abdal, Abdal.
The Shaykh : Are there Abdal?
The questioner : They have control over the world with Allah's permission, and so on. I read the tafsir of Ibn Kathir, and in the virtues of Surat al-Ikhlas, it mentioned so-and-so and so-and-so, and that he was among the Abdal. Then he completed the text. What is your opinion regarding the Abdal?
The Shaykh : The Abdal, may Allah reward you, are those when one of them dies, Allah the Exalted replaces him with another who stands among the people as a teacher, guide, and director. This is from the Abdal. As for anyone who claims that someone acts in the universe alongside Allah, whoever claims that someone acts in the universe with Allah is one who associates partners with Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with major shirk (associating partners with Allah). Allah the Exalted said:[Saba 34:22] meaning: there is no one who assists Allah [Saba 34:23] As for those Sufis who claim that there are poles (aqtub) who manage the universe, or the Rafidah (the Twelver Shi'ah) who claim that there are imams who manage the universe, this is major shirk. They must repent and know that the Manager is Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Allah the Exalted said: [Yunus 10:31] The answer: "They will say, Allah." And they are polytheists; they will say, "Allah."
The questioner : Does he mean that if a Muslim needs someone or has a need from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), Allah enables one of the Abdal, or one of the Abdal, to come from a far place with super speed to help him?
The Shaykh : How much?
The questioner : With super speed from a far place, he comes to him.
The Shaykh : This is a lie, always. If someone appears to a person and says, "I am so-and-so," then it is Shaytan (Satan), and Shaytan may take the form of a human. The Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned that some Shayatins take his form and stand at 'Arafah, issue fatwas to people, and say, "I am Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah." Did you understand? This is a lie and is not permissible. The scholars who said that this Ummah (the Muslim community) has Abdal, such as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in *Al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah*, and likewise Ibn Kathir and other scholars of the Sunnah, their intention by the Abdal is those when one of those who guides, directs, and teaches the servants of Allah dies, another replaces him, meaning he becomes a substitute for him. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh.
The Shaykh : On the right or the left, the truth and falsehood have become mixed. Yes.
The Shaykh : In?
The questioner : Abdal, Abdal.
The Shaykh : Are there Abdal?
The questioner : They have control over the world with Allah's permission, and so on. I read the tafsir of Ibn Kathir, and in the virtues of Surat al-Ikhlas, it mentioned so-and-so and so-and-so, and that he was among the Abdal. Then he completed the text. What is your opinion regarding the Abdal?
The Shaykh : The Abdal, may Allah reward you, are those when one of them dies, Allah the Exalted replaces him with another who stands among the people as a teacher, guide, and director. This is from the Abdal. As for anyone who claims that someone acts in the universe alongside Allah, whoever claims that someone acts in the universe with Allah is one who associates partners with Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with major shirk (associating partners with Allah). Allah the Exalted said:
Say, [O Muhammad], "Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allah." They do not possess an atom's weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant.
قُلْ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَلا فِي الأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِنْ شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ ظَهِيرٍAnd intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits.
وَلا تَنفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِنْدَهُ إِلاَّ لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُSay, "Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Or who controls hearing and sight and who brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living and who arranges [every] matter?"
قُلْ مَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ أَمَّنْ يَمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالأَبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنْ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنْ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَThe questioner : Does he mean that if a Muslim needs someone or has a need from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), Allah enables one of the Abdal, or one of the Abdal, to come from a far place with super speed to help him?
The Shaykh : How much?
The questioner : With super speed from a far place, he comes to him.
The Shaykh : This is a lie, always. If someone appears to a person and says, "I am so-and-so," then it is Shaytan (Satan), and Shaytan may take the form of a human. The Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned that some Shayatins take his form and stand at 'Arafah, issue fatwas to people, and say, "I am Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah." Did you understand? This is a lie and is not permissible. The scholars who said that this Ummah (the Muslim community) has Abdal, such as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in *Al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah*, and likewise Ibn Kathir and other scholars of the Sunnah, their intention by the Abdal is those when one of those who guides, directs, and teaches the servants of Allah dies, another replaces him, meaning he becomes a substitute for him. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh.
The Shaykh : On the right or the left, the truth and falsehood have become mixed. Yes.