The Ruling on Seeking Nearness to Allah Through the Status of the Prophets, the Awliya, and the Like of Them
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This is a letter received by the program from Fawaz Muhammad Ali from Iraq, Ninawa Governorate. He says in his letter:
What is the ruling on a Muslim who performs the obligatory acts and seeks nearness to Allah through the status of the noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? Is it permissible to accuse him of shirk (associating partners with Allah)? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: The Muslim who establishes tawhid (the oneness of Allah), calls upon Him alone (Glorified and Exalted is He), and believes that He is the true God, and holds the meaning of "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no deity but Allah), which means that there is no true object of worship except Allah, and believes in Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and that he is truly the Messenger of Allah, whom Allah sent to all the worlds, to the jinn and mankind, is called a Muslim. This is because he has brought the two testimonies, established the oneness of Allah alone, and affirmed the truth of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Thus, he is a Muslim. If he commits any of the sins, this constitutes a defect in his faith and a diminishment of his faith, such as zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), theft, or riba (usury or interest), provided he does not believe that such acts are permissible, but rather obeyed his desires in committing these sins or some of them. This results in a diminishment of his faith and a weakening of his faith.
As for seeking nearness to Allah through the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), saying, "O Allah, I ask You by the status of Muhammad or by the right of Muhammad," this is a bid'ah (religious innovation) according to the majority of scholars, and it is a diminishment and weakening of the faith. It does not make one a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah) or a kafir (disbeliever); rather, he is a Muslim. However, this is a diminishment and weakening of the faith, like the other sins and innovations that do not take one out of the religion. This is because supplication and the means of supplication are based on divine legislation (taqwiyyah), and there is no indication in the Shari'ah that seeking nearness through his status (peace and blessings be upon him) is a legislated means. Rather, this is something that people have innovated.
Therefore, seeking nearness to Allah through the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or through the status of the prophets, or by the right of the Prophet, or by the right of the prophets, or by the status of so-and-so, or by the status of Ali, or by the status of the People of the House, all of this is among the innovations, and it is obligatory to abandon it. However, it is not shirk; rather, it is among the means to shirk, and it is not shirk itself. Its practitioner is not a mushrik, but a Muslim who has committed an innovation that diminishes and weakens the faith according to the majority of scholars. This is because the means in supplication are based on divine legislation. Thus, the Muslim seeks nearness to Allah by His names and attributes, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [Al-A'raf: 180]. And he seeks nearness through tawhid and faith, as mentioned in the hadith: Bulugh al-Maram 16:125 This is seeking nearness through the tawhid of Allah.
Likewise, seeking nearness through righteous deeds, as in the hadith of the companions of the cave who were trapped by a rock when they entered the cave for rain or to spend the night.
This indicates that seeking nearness through righteous deeds is among the causes of acceptance of supplication.
As for seeking nearness through the status of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), or the status of so-and-so, or the status of Ali, or the status of Umar, or the status of al-Siddiq, or the status of the People of the House, or the like of that, this has no basis. However, one should seek nearness through faith, saying, "O Allah, I ask You by my faith in Your Prophet, by my faith in You, by my love for You, by my love for Your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)." This is good; this is a good means. Or one should seek nearness through tawhid, saying, "O Allah, I ask You that You are Allah, there is no deity but You... that I testify that You are Allah, there is no deity but You, that You are the One, the Unique." All of this is good. Or one should seek nearness to Allah through kindness to his parents, or through maintaining the prayers, or through his restraint from shameful deeds. All of these are righteous deeds.
This is what the scholars and the people of investigation from among the people of insight have established.
As for seeking nearness through his status, or through the status of so-and-so, or by the right of so-and-so, this is a bid'ah (religious innovation), and the position of the majority of scholars is that it is not prescribed. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you and reward you with good.
What is the ruling on a Muslim who performs the obligatory acts and seeks nearness to Allah through the status of the noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? Is it permissible to accuse him of shirk (associating partners with Allah)? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: The Muslim who establishes tawhid (the oneness of Allah), calls upon Him alone (Glorified and Exalted is He), and believes that He is the true God, and holds the meaning of "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no deity but Allah), which means that there is no true object of worship except Allah, and believes in Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and that he is truly the Messenger of Allah, whom Allah sent to all the worlds, to the jinn and mankind, is called a Muslim. This is because he has brought the two testimonies, established the oneness of Allah alone, and affirmed the truth of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Thus, he is a Muslim. If he commits any of the sins, this constitutes a defect in his faith and a diminishment of his faith, such as zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), theft, or riba (usury or interest), provided he does not believe that such acts are permissible, but rather obeyed his desires in committing these sins or some of them. This results in a diminishment of his faith and a weakening of his faith.
As for seeking nearness to Allah through the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), saying, "O Allah, I ask You by the status of Muhammad or by the right of Muhammad," this is a bid'ah (religious innovation) according to the majority of scholars, and it is a diminishment and weakening of the faith. It does not make one a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah) or a kafir (disbeliever); rather, he is a Muslim. However, this is a diminishment and weakening of the faith, like the other sins and innovations that do not take one out of the religion. This is because supplication and the means of supplication are based on divine legislation (taqwiyyah), and there is no indication in the Shari'ah that seeking nearness through his status (peace and blessings be upon him) is a legislated means. Rather, this is something that people have innovated.
Therefore, seeking nearness to Allah through the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or through the status of the prophets, or by the right of the Prophet, or by the right of the prophets, or by the status of so-and-so, or by the status of Ali, or by the status of the People of the House, all of this is among the innovations, and it is obligatory to abandon it. However, it is not shirk; rather, it is among the means to shirk, and it is not shirk itself. Its practitioner is not a mushrik, but a Muslim who has committed an innovation that diminishes and weakens the faith according to the majority of scholars. This is because the means in supplication are based on divine legislation. Thus, the Muslim seeks nearness to Allah by His names and attributes, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :
And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them
وَلِلَّهِ الأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَاO 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.
اللهم إني أسألك بأني أشهد أنك أنت الله لا إله إلا أنت، الأحد الصمد الذي لم يلد ولم يولد ولم يكن له كفواً أحدLikewise, seeking nearness through righteous deeds, as in the hadith of the companions of the cave who were trapped by a rock when they entered the cave for rain or to spend the night
So a great rock closed in on them, and they were unable to move it. Some of them said to others, "Nothing will save you from this rock except that you call upon Allah with your righteous deeds." So they called upon Allah with their righteous deeds. One of them sought nearness through his kindness to his parents, and the rock opened up a little. Then another sought nearness through his restraint from zina (unlawful sexual intercourse); he had a cousin's daughter whom he loved very much, and he wanted to have relations with her, but she refused him. Then a year of hardship and need came upon her, and she came to him seeking his help. He said to her, "Only if you allow me to have relations with you." She agreed on the condition that he give her one hundred and twenty dinars of gold. When he sat between her legs, she said, "Fear Allah and do not break the seal except with its right." He feared Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and rose from her and did not commit the shameful act. He said, "O Allah, if You know that I did that seeking Your Face, then relieve us of what we are in." So the rock opened up a little, but they were still unable to get out. Then the third one sought nearness through his fulfillment of a trust; he had a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of grain belonging to some workers, which he left with him. He increased it and worked with it until it became a large amount of wealth in camels, cows, sheep, and slaves. When its owner came, he returned it to him all complete. He said, "O Lord! If You know that I did that seeking Your Face, then relieve us of what we are in." So the rock opened up, and they went out.
فانطبقت عليهم صخرة عظيمة فلم يستطيعوا دفعها، فقال بعضهم لبعض: إنه لن ينجيكم من هذه الصخرة إلا أن تدعو الله بصالح أعمالكم، فدعوا الله بصالح أعمالهم، توسل أحدهم ببره لوالديه فانفرجت الصخرة بعض الشيء، ثم توسل الآخر بعفته عن الزنا وأنه كان له بنت عم يحبها كثيراً فأرادها عن نفسها فأبت عليه ثم إنها ألمت بها سنة وحاجة فجاءت إليه تطلبه العون، فقال لها: إلا أن تمكنيني من نفسك فوافقت على أن يعطيها مائة وعشرين ديناراً من الذهب، فلما جلس برجليها قالت: اتق الله ولا تفض الخاتم إلا بحقه، فخاف من الله سبحانه وقام عنها ولم يأت الفاحشة، وقال: اللهم إن كنت تعلم أني فعلت ذلك ابتغاء وجهك فافرج عنا ما نحن فيه فانفرجت الصخرة بعض الشيء ولكن لا يستطيعون الخروج، ثم توسل الثالث بأدائه الأمانة وأنه كان عنده آصع لبعض العمال تركها عنده نماها وعمل فيها حتى صارت مالاً كثيراً من الإبل والبقر والغنم والرقيق، فلما جاء صاحبها أداها إليه كلها كاملة، فقال: يا رب! إن كنت تعلم أني فعلت ذلك ابتغاء وجهك فافرج عنا ما نحن فيه، فانفرجت الصخرة وخرجواThis indicates that seeking nearness through righteous deeds is among the causes of acceptance of supplication.
As for seeking nearness through the status of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), or the status of so-and-so, or the status of Ali, or the status of Umar, or the status of al-Siddiq, or the status of the People of the House, or the like of that, this has no basis. However, one should seek nearness through faith, saying, "O Allah, I ask You by my faith in Your Prophet, by my faith in You, by my love for You, by my love for Your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)." This is good; this is a good means. Or one should seek nearness through tawhid, saying, "O Allah, I ask You that You are Allah, there is no deity but You... that I testify that You are Allah, there is no deity but You, that You are the One, the Unique." All of this is good. Or one should seek nearness to Allah through kindness to his parents, or through maintaining the prayers, or through his restraint from shameful deeds. All of these are righteous deeds.
This is what the scholars and the people of investigation from among the people of insight have established.
As for seeking nearness through his status, or through the status of so-and-so, or by the right of so-and-so, this is a bid'ah (religious innovation), and the position of the majority of scholars is that it is not prescribed. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you and reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.