It is also said: A section of people, when they call upon Allah, say, “Our Lord, by their status with You.”
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The questioner : A section of people, when they call upon Allah, say, “Our Lord, by their status with You,” meaning the status of the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the righteous. Is this considered a means of this supplication between the servant and his Lord? And may peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you.
The Shaykh : We should know that a means is only taken as a means if it is a true means, whether its being a true means is established by the Shari'ah or by reality.
As for taking as a means something that has not been established as a means in the Shari'ah or in reality, this is idle talk, and indeed a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah). Because establishing that this thing is a cause, while Allah the Exalted has not made it a cause, means legislating alongside Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in His decree or His Shari'ah, or associating with Allah the Exalted in His decree or His Shari'ah. So whoever establishes a cause that has not been established as a cause, neither by reality nor by the Shari'ah, has committed shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) by making what is not a cause into a cause.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We look: Is the means, or tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) to Allah the Exalted by the status of the awliya (close friends of Allah), the prophets, and the righteous, mentioned in the Shari'ah as a means? The answer is no. And we say to everyone who hears this: If you have evidence from the Shari'ah, from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or from the Companions, or from those who followed them in excellence, that tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by status is prescribed, then bring it to us under the title “Light on the Path” on the Saudi Arabian radio. And we pledge to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and ask Him for help that whenever a firm legal evidence comes to us, we will follow it, because that is our obligation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So if anyone among the people has that tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by status is prescribed, let him please present it, for we will take it, and we will be grateful for what he has provided us.
And if there is no evidence from the Shari'ah—and that is the case—then I do not know at all that tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by status is a prescribed matter. So is status a means according to reality? The answer is no, because status with Allah is only benefited from by the one who has the status. As for others, what benefit do they have? If this man has status with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), then the one who benefits from this status is the man himself. As for me, what benefit do I have from his status?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, status is not a means according to reality either. So if status is not a means, neither by the Shari'ah nor by reality, it is not permissible to take it as a means. And on this basis, it is forbidden for a person to say, “O Allah, I ask You by the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him),” or by the status of so-and-so or so-and-so of those they claim are awliya (close friends of Allah), because that is not a legal cause nor a real cause. And if it is not a legal or real cause, then establishing it as a cause is a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But instead of saying, “I ask You by the status of the Prophet” or “by the status of the wali (close friend of Allah),” one should say, “O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy, I ask You by Your favor, I ask You by Your goodness.” This is better, because the favor of Allah, His goodness, and His mercy are more comprehensive, more general, and more beneficial for the person than the status of a man with Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So your asking by the favor of Allah and His mercy, and the like of that from the attributes of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) by which you seek nearness to Him, is undoubtedly better, more beneficial for the soul, and closer to being answered. Yes.
The questioner : You have done well. May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : We should know that a means is only taken as a means if it is a true means, whether its being a true means is established by the Shari'ah or by reality.
As for taking as a means something that has not been established as a means in the Shari'ah or in reality, this is idle talk, and indeed a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah). Because establishing that this thing is a cause, while Allah the Exalted has not made it a cause, means legislating alongside Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in His decree or His Shari'ah, or associating with Allah the Exalted in His decree or His Shari'ah. So whoever establishes a cause that has not been established as a cause, neither by reality nor by the Shari'ah, has committed shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) by making what is not a cause into a cause.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We look: Is the means, or tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) to Allah the Exalted by the status of the awliya (close friends of Allah), the prophets, and the righteous, mentioned in the Shari'ah as a means? The answer is no. And we say to everyone who hears this: If you have evidence from the Shari'ah, from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or from the Companions, or from those who followed them in excellence, that tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by status is prescribed, then bring it to us under the title “Light on the Path” on the Saudi Arabian radio. And we pledge to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and ask Him for help that whenever a firm legal evidence comes to us, we will follow it, because that is our obligation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So if anyone among the people has that tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by status is prescribed, let him please present it, for we will take it, and we will be grateful for what he has provided us.
And if there is no evidence from the Shari'ah—and that is the case—then I do not know at all that tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by status is a prescribed matter. So is status a means according to reality? The answer is no, because status with Allah is only benefited from by the one who has the status. As for others, what benefit do they have? If this man has status with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), then the one who benefits from this status is the man himself. As for me, what benefit do I have from his status?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, status is not a means according to reality either. So if status is not a means, neither by the Shari'ah nor by reality, it is not permissible to take it as a means. And on this basis, it is forbidden for a person to say, “O Allah, I ask You by the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him),” or by the status of so-and-so or so-and-so of those they claim are awliya (close friends of Allah), because that is not a legal cause nor a real cause. And if it is not a legal or real cause, then establishing it as a cause is a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But instead of saying, “I ask You by the status of the Prophet” or “by the status of the wali (close friend of Allah),” one should say, “O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy, I ask You by Your favor, I ask You by Your goodness.” This is better, because the favor of Allah, His goodness, and His mercy are more comprehensive, more general, and more beneficial for the person than the status of a man with Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So your asking by the favor of Allah and His mercy, and the like of that from the attributes of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) by which you seek nearness to Him, is undoubtedly better, more beneficial for the soul, and closer to being answered. Yes.
The questioner : You have done well. May Allah reward you.