The Ruling on Seeking Nearness to Allah Through the Prophet and Clarification of the Prescribed Means of Seeking Nearness
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Question:
The listener (M. M.), an Egyptian resident in the Kingdom, asks again, as in his previous question, about the ruling on one who leads people in the Friday prayer and says in his sermon: “O Allah, our Lord, upon You we rely, and through Your Prophet we seek nearness to You.” What is the ruling on this seeking nearness? Please inform us. May Allah reward you.
Answer:
This seeking nearness is a religious innovation (bid'ah) according to the majority of scholars, but the prayer is valid. However, the seeking nearness is an innovation. Seeking nearness through the status of our Prophet, or through our Prophet, or by the right of our Prophet, or by the right of the prophets, or by the right of the angels, or by the essence of the angels, or by the right of so-and-so, or so-and-so the son of so-and-so, or by the right of my father, or the like of that—none of this is from the Shari'ah. The means of seeking nearness is through the names of Allah and His attributes, and through righteous deeds, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf: 180]. So one says: “O Allah, I ask You by Your beautiful names and Your exalted attributes to have mercy on us, and... to send us rain,” and the like of that. Or: “O Allah, I ask You by my faith in You, my obedience to You, and my following of Your Prophet.” One seeks nearness through his good deeds.
As for seeking nearness through the status of so-and-so, or through our Prophet, or through the status of our Prophet, or by the right of our Prophet, or by the right of the prophets or the angels, all of this is an innovation (bid'ah) according to the people of the Sunnah, and there is no evidence for it.
It is established in the authentic hadith that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, when he heard a man saying:Bulugh al-Maram 16:125, because he sought nearness through the attributes of Allah the Exalted and His names.
Likewise, seeking nearness to Allah through righteous deeds, as established in the two Sahihs in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), that three men took shelter in a cave in the wilderness due to the night and rain. They entered it to spend the night and protect themselves from the rain, when a rock slid down from the mountain and blocked the mouth of the cave. By the permission of Allah , He does not do this to His servants, nor does He prescribe for His servants what the people of the cave did, but so that people may know the remedy for distress by what Allah has prescribed. When the rock closed in on them, they tried to push it away but could not. They said among themselves: "Indeed, nothing will save you from this calamity except that you call upon Allah with your righteous deeds." So the rock opened up and they walked out by the mercy of Allah , by means of this great means, through righteous deeds they had done for Allah, which benefited them in their time of need. They sought nearness to Allah with them in their time of need, and they benefited them.
This indicates that seeking nearness to Allah through righteous deeds is one of the greatest means, especially in times of need and hardship. He, (Exalted and Majestic is He), said: [Surat al-Naml: 62] , and He, (Exalted and Majestic is He), said: [Surat Ghafir: 60]. So, He, (Glorified and Exalted is He), decreed this rock so that these people would seek nearness to Allah through it, so that they would know the value of their deeds, and so that people in general would also know the value of their deeds, and so that they would seek nearness to Allah as these people did when hardships befall them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) related this story to us so that we would know it, act upon it, and benefit from it. It is an authentic hadith, agreed upon for its authenticity by al-Bukhari and Muslim (may Allah have mercy on them both). And success is from Allah.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good and benefit through you. So, we conclude from what you have graciously provided that seeking nearness through the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is not permissible. Is it only seeking nearness through righteous deeds that is required and permissible?
The Shaykh: Yes, through the beautiful names, the names of Allah and His attributes, and through faith and the oneness of Allah (tawhid), and through all righteous deeds, these are means. As for the essence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or the status of the Prophet, or the status of the prophets or the angels or others, that is not a means.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
The listener (M. M.), an Egyptian resident in the Kingdom, asks again, as in his previous question, about the ruling on one who leads people in the Friday prayer and says in his sermon: “O Allah, our Lord, upon You we rely, and through Your Prophet we seek nearness to You.” What is the ruling on this seeking nearness? Please inform us. May Allah reward you.
Answer:
This seeking nearness is a religious innovation (bid'ah) according to the majority of scholars, but the prayer is valid. However, the seeking nearness is an innovation. Seeking nearness through the status of our Prophet, or through our Prophet, or by the right of our Prophet, or by the right of the prophets, or by the right of the angels, or by the essence of the angels, or by the right of so-and-so, or so-and-so the son of so-and-so, or by the right of my father, or the like of that—none of this is from the Shari'ah. The means of seeking nearness is through the names of Allah and His attributes, and through righteous deeds, as Allah the Exalted said:
And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them
وَلِلَّهِ الأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَاAs for seeking nearness through the status of so-and-so, or through our Prophet, or through the status of our Prophet, or by the right of our Prophet, or by the right of the prophets or the angels, all of this is an innovation (bid'ah) according to the people of the Sunnah, and there is no evidence for it.
It is established in the authentic hadith that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, when he heard a man saying:
‘O Allah! I ask you by virtue that I testify that you are Allah; there is no God but You, the one —· the Self Sufficient Master, Who did not beget, and was not begotten, and to whom no one is equal.’ Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) then said, “He has asked Allah by His Name by which when asked, He gives, and by which when supplicated, He answers.”
اللهم إني أسألك بأني أشهد أنك أنت الله لا إله إلا أنت الأحد الصمد الذي لم يلد ولم يولد ولم يكن له كفوًا أحد، قال ﷺ: لقد سأل الله باسمه الذي إذا سئل به أعطى وإذا دعي به أجابLikewise, seeking nearness to Allah through righteous deeds, as established in the two Sahihs in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), that three men took shelter in a cave in the wilderness due to the night and rain. They entered it to spend the night and protect themselves from the rain, when a rock slid down from the mountain and blocked the mouth of the cave. By the permission of Allah , He does not do this to His servants, nor does He prescribe for His servants what the people of the cave did, but so that people may know the remedy for distress by what Allah has prescribed. When the rock closed in on them, they tried to push it away but could not. They said among themselves: "Indeed, nothing will save you from this calamity except that you call upon Allah with your righteous deeds." So the rock opened up and they walked out by the mercy of Allah , by means of this great means, through righteous deeds they had done for Allah, which benefited them in their time of need. They sought nearness to Allah with them in their time of need, and they benefited them.
This indicates that seeking nearness to Allah through righteous deeds is one of the greatest means, especially in times of need and hardship. He, (Exalted and Majestic is He), said:
Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil
أَمَّنْ يُجِيبُ الْمُضطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَCall upon Me; I will respond to you.
ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good and benefit through you. So, we conclude from what you have graciously provided that seeking nearness through the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is not permissible. Is it only seeking nearness through righteous deeds that is required and permissible?
The Shaykh: Yes, through the beautiful names, the names of Allah and His attributes, and through faith and the oneness of Allah (tawhid), and through all righteous deeds, these are means. As for the essence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or the status of the Prophet, or the status of the prophets or the angels or others, that is not a means.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.