V2:37- Ruling on seeking Shafa`ah from the Prophet (ﷺ) or any other dead person
- 4 years ago
37- Ruling on seeking Shafa`ah from the Prophet (ﷺ) or any other dead person
Q: Many people may say, "Grant us Shafa`ah (intercession), Muhammad!" Is this practice regarded as a sort of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)? If so, what should they say?
A: Seeking Shafa`ah from the Prophet (ﷺ) or any other dead person is impermissible. It is even considered a sort of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship that takes the Muslim out of Islam) according to Muslim scholars. This is because the Prophet (ﷺ) cannot benefit anyone as long as he is no longer alive. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Say: 'To Allah belongs all intercession.") Shafa`ah belongs to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). As for the Prophet (ﷺ) and other dead persons, they cannot settle any matter after their death whether through Shafa`ah, Dua`a' (supplication) or anything else. When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity), or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious child, who prays for him (for the deceased). However, it was authentically reported that our invocation of Allah's Blessings on the Prophet (ﷺ) is displayed before him (ﷺ). Thus, he (ﷺ) is reported to have said: Your invocation of Allah's Blessing on me reaches me wherever you are), Invoke Allah's Blessings on me as your invocations reach me wherever you are.) As for the Hadith reading that people's deeds are displayed before the Prophet (ﷺ); if they are good, he thanks Allah and if they are evil, he asks Allah's forgiveness for them, this Hadith is weak and cannot be authentically reported from the Prophet (ﷺ). Even if this Hadith was authentic, it would not be evidence that permits people to seek Shafa`ah from the Prophet (ﷺ). That is why it is impermissible to seek Shafa`ah from the Prophet (ﷺ) or the dead because this practice is a form of major Shirk as it is a practice of seeking some needs from the dead such as seeking recovery for ack person, victory over an enemy, helping constrained people, and so on. All such practices are a sort of major Shirk. There is no difference between seeking such things from the Prophet (ﷺ) or seeking them from Shaykh `Abdul-Qadir and Shaykh so and so, Al-Badawy, Al-Husayn, or any other dead person. Seeking such things from the dead is impermissible. It is regarded as a sort of Shirk. The dead are in dire need of people invoking Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness for them since they died as Muslims. If a Muslim invokes Allah's Blessings on the Prophet (ﷺ), the Prophet (ﷺ) will return his invocation and invoke Allah (Exalted be He) for him. It is also impermissible to seek Shafa`ah and victory over an enemy from the dead. Rather, these were habits of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) and the people of Shirk. Therefore, a Muslim should be on his guard against such practices.
[Vol. 2, Page No. 105-106]
Q: Many people may say, "Grant us Shafa`ah (intercession), Muhammad!" Is this practice regarded as a sort of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)? If so, what should they say?
A: Seeking Shafa`ah from the Prophet (ﷺ) or any other dead person is impermissible. It is even considered a sort of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship that takes the Muslim out of Islam) according to Muslim scholars. This is because the Prophet (ﷺ) cannot benefit anyone as long as he is no longer alive. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Say: 'To Allah belongs all intercession.") Shafa`ah belongs to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). As for the Prophet (ﷺ) and other dead persons, they cannot settle any matter after their death whether through Shafa`ah, Dua`a' (supplication) or anything else. When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity), or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious child, who prays for him (for the deceased). However, it was authentically reported that our invocation of Allah's Blessings on the Prophet (ﷺ) is displayed before him (ﷺ). Thus, he (ﷺ) is reported to have said: Your invocation of Allah's Blessing on me reaches me wherever you are), Invoke Allah's Blessings on me as your invocations reach me wherever you are.) As for the Hadith reading that people's deeds are displayed before the Prophet (ﷺ); if they are good, he thanks Allah and if they are evil, he asks Allah's forgiveness for them, this Hadith is weak and cannot be authentically reported from the Prophet (ﷺ). Even if this Hadith was authentic, it would not be evidence that permits people to seek Shafa`ah from the Prophet (ﷺ). That is why it is impermissible to seek Shafa`ah from the Prophet (ﷺ) or the dead because this practice is a form of major Shirk as it is a practice of seeking some needs from the dead such as seeking recovery for ack person, victory over an enemy, helping constrained people, and so on. All such practices are a sort of major Shirk. There is no difference between seeking such things from the Prophet (ﷺ) or seeking them from Shaykh `Abdul-Qadir and Shaykh so and so, Al-Badawy, Al-Husayn, or any other dead person. Seeking such things from the dead is impermissible. It is regarded as a sort of Shirk. The dead are in dire need of people invoking Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness for them since they died as Muslims. If a Muslim invokes Allah's Blessings on the Prophet (ﷺ), the Prophet (ﷺ) will return his invocation and invoke Allah (Exalted be He) for him. It is also impermissible to seek Shafa`ah and victory over an enemy from the dead. Rather, these were habits of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) and the people of Shirk. Therefore, a Muslim should be on his guard against such practices.
[Vol. 2, Page No. 105-106]