What is the ruling on saying: "For the sake of the Prophet, so-and-so..."
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
What is the ruling on the common people saying: "For the sake of the Prophet, come with me," or: "For the sake of the Prophet, do so-and-so"?
Answer:
This is incorrect speech, and although it has an interpretation, it is not befitting to say this. One should say: "For the sake of Allah," so that he worships Him thereby and draws near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and he should not say: "For the sake of the Prophet, come with me," or: "Give me so-and-so," or: "Do so-and-so."
However, it has an interpretation if his intention is, meaning: following the Prophet and obeying the Prophet. With this interpretation, the phrase is acceptable. That is, if he says: "Give me this in obedience to the Prophet, for the sake of the Prophet, in obedience to the Prophet, and in compliance with his Shari'ah, and in emulating him in assisting the needy, helping the poor, and the like, then its meaning is correct.
But this phrase is not befitting; because it suggests shirk (associating partners with Allah). It suggests that by "for the sake of the Prophet," you give, pray, fast, and visit for the sake of the Prophet, not for the sake of Allah. The Prophet is not to be worshipped; rather, he is to be obeyed and followed. So worship is the right of Allah alone (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, the scholars explained the testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah to mean: believing in what he reported, obeying him in what he commanded, avoiding what he forbade and warned against, and not worshipping Allah except with what He has prescribed. This is the meaning of the testimony: to believe in his reports, to obey his commands, to refrain from his prohibitions, and not to worship except with his Shari'ah. It is not part of the testimony that we worship him besides Allah. No, worship is the right of Allah alone. For this reason, He (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [al-Jinn:18], [Al-Fatihah 1:5].
And when Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said to 'Isa: [al-Ma'idah:116-117], this is the call of all the messengers: [al-Anbiya:25]. And the Prophet says to them: Sunan al-Bayhaqi 1:325. He does not command them to worship him, but rather he commands them to follow him and obey him in what he brought, peace and blessings be upon him.
So phrases that suggest shirk (associating partners with Allah) should be abandoned, and it is obligatory to abandon them.
What is the ruling on the common people saying: "For the sake of the Prophet, come with me," or: "For the sake of the Prophet, do so-and-so"?
Answer:
This is incorrect speech, and although it has an interpretation, it is not befitting to say this. One should say: "For the sake of Allah," so that he worships Him thereby and draws near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and he should not say: "For the sake of the Prophet, come with me," or: "Give me so-and-so," or: "Do so-and-so."
However, it has an interpretation if his intention is, meaning: following the Prophet and obeying the Prophet. With this interpretation, the phrase is acceptable. That is, if he says: "Give me this in obedience to the Prophet, for the sake of the Prophet, in obedience to the Prophet, and in compliance with his Shari'ah, and in emulating him in assisting the needy, helping the poor, and the like, then its meaning is correct.
But this phrase is not befitting; because it suggests shirk (associating partners with Allah). It suggests that by "for the sake of the Prophet," you give, pray, fast, and visit for the sake of the Prophet, not for the sake of Allah. The Prophet is not to be worshipped; rather, he is to be obeyed and followed. So worship is the right of Allah alone (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, the scholars explained the testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah to mean: believing in what he reported, obeying him in what he commanded, avoiding what he forbade and warned against, and not worshipping Allah except with what He has prescribed. This is the meaning of the testimony: to believe in his reports, to obey his commands, to refrain from his prohibitions, and not to worship except with his Shari'ah. It is not part of the testimony that we worship him besides Allah. No, worship is the right of Allah alone. For this reason, He (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
so do not invoke with Allah anyone.
فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَدًاIt is You we worship and You we ask for help.
إياك نعبد وإياك نستعينAnd when Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said to 'Isa:
did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. (117) I said not to them except what You commanded me - to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.
أَأَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ إِنْ كُنْتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْAnd We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِSay: "There is no god but Allah," and you will succeed.
قولوا: لا إله إلا الله تُفلحواSo phrases that suggest shirk (associating partners with Allah) should be abandoned, and it is obligatory to abandon them.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.