This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Irshad Ullah Maan's book In Search of Truth.
To consider anyone other than Allah Almighty as the true owner is shirk (polytheism); He alone possesses all the authority of governance and rule in the universe. No one else has any control over it except Allah.
Reference: (Al-Hashr:23)
Allah Almighty said in Surah Ar-Ra'd:
[اَللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡ رَفَعَ السَّمٰوٰتِ بِغَیۡرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوۡنَہَا ثُمَّ اسۡتَوٰی عَلَی الۡعَرۡشِ وَ سَخَّرَ الشَّمۡسَ وَ الۡقَمَرَ ؕ کُلٌّ یَّجۡرِیۡ لِاَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّی ؕ یُدَبِّرُ الۡاَمۡرَ یُفَصِّلُ الۡاٰیٰتِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّکُمۡ تُوۡقِنُوۡنَ]
Allah is the One who raised the heavens without pillars that you see, then He established Himself above the Throne and subjected the sun and the moon, each running for an appointed term. He manages all affairs, explaining the signs in detail so that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.
Reference: Ar-Ra'd:2
The entire system of the universe is managed by Allah Almighty, and He alone is the owner of all the treasures of the earth and the heavens. To consider anyone else as the giver, the granter of wealth, the reliever of difficulties, or the helper is shirk. And He is the Giver. Also, He said:
[اَمِ اتَّخَذُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ شُفَعَآءَ ؕ قُلۡ اَوَ لَوۡ کَانُوۡا لَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ شَیۡئًا وَّ لَا یَعۡقِلُوۡنَ]،[ قُلۡ لِّلّٰہِ الشَّفَاعَۃُ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ لَہٗ مُلۡکُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ ثُمَّ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ]
[Or have they taken others as intercessors besides Allah? Say, "Even though they do not possess any ownership or intellect," say, "Intercession belongs entirely to Allah; the dominion of the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. Then to Him you will be returned."]
Reference: Az-Zumar:44,43
On the Day of Judgment, the authority to allow or disallow intercession, to accept or reject intercession, to grant reward or punishment, and to seize or release anyone will belong solely to Allah Almighty:
[یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اسۡتَجِیۡبُوۡا لِلّٰہِ وَ لِلرَّسُوۡلِ اِذَا دَعَاکُمۡ لِمَا یُحۡیِیۡکُمۡ ۚ وَ اعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّ اللّٰہَ یَحُوۡلُ بَیۡنَ الۡمَرۡءِ وَ قَلۡبِہٖ وَ اَنَّہٗۤ اِلَیۡہِ تُحۡشَرُوۡنَ]
Believers! Obey Allah and His Messenger when the Messenger calls you to that which gives you life, and know that Allah stands between a person and his heart, and that you will all be gathered before Him.
Reference: Al-Anfal:24
The One who turns hearts, guides, and grants the ability to do good is only Allah Almighty; considering anyone else capable of this is shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Reference: (Al-Anfal:24)
The One who provides scarcity or abundance of sustenance, health and sickness, profit and loss, life and death is only Allah Almighty. Considering any other creation capable of this is shirk.
Reference: (Hud:6)
The One who grants or withholds offspring, who gives sons and daughters, is only Allah Almighty, and considering anyone else capable of this is shirk:
[لِلّٰہِ مُلۡکُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ یَخۡلُقُ مَا یَشَآءُ ؕیَہَبُ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ اِنَاثًا وَّ یَہَبُ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ الذُّکُوۡرَ]،[ اَوۡ یُزَوِّجُہُمۡ ذُکۡرَانًا وَّ اِنَاثًا ۚ وَ یَجۡعَلُ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ عَقِیۡمًا ؕ اِنَّہٗ عَلِیۡمٌ قَدِیۡرٌ]
[The dominion of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah alone; He creates what He wills; He grants daughters to whom He wills and sons to whom He wills], [or He combines them, granting sons and daughters, and He makes whom He wills barren. Indeed, He is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.]
Reference: Ash-Shura:50,49
All the goodness of this world and the Hereafter is only in the control of Allah Almighty; considering anyone else capable of this is shirk:
[قُلِ اللّٰہُمَّ مٰلِکَ الۡمُلۡکِ تُؤۡتِی الۡمُلۡکَ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ وَ تَنۡزِعُ الۡمُلۡکَ مِمَّنۡ تَشَآءُ ۫ وَ تُعِزُّ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ وَ تُذِلُّ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ ؕ بِیَدِکَ الۡخَیۡرُ ؕ اِنَّکَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ]
Say, O Allah! Owner of the Kingdom! You give the kingdom to whom You will and You take the kingdom away from whom You will, and You honor whom You will and You humiliate whom You will. In Your hand is all good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.
Reference: (Al-Imran: 26)
Allah Almighty knows the secrets of the hearts, and He is the one who turns the hearts. Holding any belief about any creation in this regard is shirk.
Reference: (Al-Anfal: 43)
Here we will cite references from Ahmad Raza Khan Sahib’s Quranic translation with Tafsir, which clearly show that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not have control over his life, meaning you did not have the authority over profit and loss, but on every occasion, you ﷺ prayed to Allah Almighty, and Allah Almighty helped you ﷺ and your companions on every occasion and protected you ﷺ and the companions.
If this is the condition of the best of the Prophets ﷺ and the greatest of the saints, namely the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), then what to say about the rest of the elders?
Regarding the actions of the Prophet ﷺ according to Muradabadi Tafsir:
Reference: Al Imran, Benefits: 47, 340], [Al Ma'idah, F: 134], [Al An'am, Benefits: 79, 78, 126, 128], [Yunus, Benefits: 33 to 40, 149, 177, 208, 222, 225], [Al Anfal, (complete Surah)], [Ar-Ra'd, Benefits: 84, 86, 90], [Bani Isra'il, Benefits: 71, 72, 167, Verse: 54, 26, 27], [Al-Kahf, Benefits 9, 48, 49], [Maryam, Benefits: 109 to 111], [Ad-Duha, Benefits: 4 to 12], [An-Nasr Benefits: 2, 3]
and countless other places in this Tafsir.Regarding the prayers of the Prophet ﷺ according to Muradabadi Tafsir:
Reference: Al-Baqarah, F 388], [Al Imran, Benefits 116, 340], [An-Nisa, F 283], [Al An'am, F 141], [Al Anfal, Benefits 19, 89 Badr], [At-Tawbah: F273], [Ar-Ra'd: F 39], [Bani Isra'il, Benefits 72, 175, 176], [Al-Mu’minun, Benefits: 101, 124], [Az-Zukhruf, Benefits: 15, 141], [Ad-Dukhan, F 8], [Al-Qalam: 18]
And a very important point is written in Muradabadi Tafsir: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out to fight against the [disbelievers], he recited [حَسْبُنَا اللہُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ] while proceeding.
Reference: Al Imran: 173, F 340
And when Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was thrown into the fire by Nimrod, he also recited these same words.
Reference: Al Anbiya: 68, F 123
It is proven that neither the Prophet ﷺ nor Ibrahim (peace be upon him) had any control over the situation, but at critical moments they said: "Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs."When only Allah is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter become distressed, and when others besides Him are mentioned, they suddenly brighten with joy.
Reference: (Surah Az-Zumar: 45)
The cry of the so-called Muslim: Fill my lap, O Muhammad (ﷺ)
Allah's command: O Prophet! Tell them that I have no control over your benefit or harm.
Reference: Al-Jinn: 21
The cry of the so-called Muslim: Whatever you want, ask from the door of Mustafa!
Allah's command: Your Lord says, call upon Me; I will respond to you.
Reference: Al-Mu’min: 60
For more references:
Reference: An-Naml: 62
, [Al-A’raf: 55, 56[/ref]The cry of the so-called Muslim: Shahbaz, take flight to know the state of hearts!
Allah's command: And Allah knows the state of the hearts.
Reference: At-Taghabun: 4
For more references:
Reference: Qaf: 16
, [Al-Ankabut: 10[/ref]The cry of the so-called Muslim: Bad, bad Imam, spoil my bad luck properly
Allah's command: And if Allah puts you in any hardship, then who can remove it except Him? And if He intends good for you, He is capable of all things.
Reference: Al-An’am: 17
For further references:
Reference: Yunus: 107
, [Fatir: 2[/ref]The so-called Muslim's call: Keep my beloved safe, take me away from sorrow, O Qalandar Lal
Allah's command: And whoever desires honor, let him know that all honor belongs entirely to Allah's control.
Reference: Fatir: 10
For further references:
Reference: Aal Imran: 26
, [Yunus: 65[/ref]The so-called Muslim's call: It is a radiant light, every affliction is far away
Allah's command: And those whom you call besides Allah have no power even as much as the peel of a date seed.
Reference: Fatir: 13
For further references:
Reference: Aal Imran: 26
, [Yunus: 65[/ref]The so-called Muslim's call: All the prophets are at your door, O questioner, King of Medina!
Allah's command: O people! You are all beggars at Allah's door, and Allah is the Rich, the Praiseworthy.
Reference: Fatir: 15
For further references:
Reference: Ar-Rahman: 29
, [Al-Baqarah: 186[/ref]The so-called Muslim's call: O Master Ali! O Lion of God! Make my boat reach the shore
Allah's Command: When they board the ship, they call upon Allah alone, sincerely devoted to their religion, but when He delivers them safely to the land, they suddenly associate others with Him.
Reference: Al-Ankabut: 65
For further references:
Reference: Al-An'am: 63], [Yunus: 22
The so-called Muslim's plea: Baba Shah Jamal! Give me a son, Rattalal
Allah's Command: The dominion of the earth and the heavens belongs to Allah alone. He creates whatever He wills; He grants daughters to whom He wills, and He grants sons to whom He wills; He grants both sons and daughters in varying combinations to whom He wills, and He leaves barren whom He wills. He is indeed All-Knowing and All-Powerful.
Reference: Lashura: 49, 50], [Al-A'raf: 189, 190], [Az-Zumar: 8
In religious circles, the question is often raised with great intensity whether anyone other than Allah can solve difficulties or if only Allah is capable of it. However, neither side manages to convince the other. When an intelligent person contemplates this question, he examines and evaluates it from various perspectives: can any being other than Allah solve difficulties? There are ten different forms of this question that require answers. It is hoped that my difficulty will be resolved and I will be given a satisfactory answer to this question:
① If any being other than Allah can solve difficulties, then please explain how that being can hear a voice from thousands of miles away, either in life or in the grave after life?
② Even if it is proven that he can hear a voice from such a distance, then the question arises whether he is familiar with every language in the world?
③ If it is also proven that he is familiar with every language, then the question arises: if thousands of people present their problems to him at the same time, will he listen to and understand all their problems simultaneously?
④ Does he ever feel sleepy, or is he always awake? If he sleeps, then who will solve the problems?
⑤ If a person is unable to speak, then how will he listen to and solve the matter of the supplicant's heart?
⑥ A person faces many kinds of difficulties from birth to death; if Allah Almighty can solve all these difficulties, then what is the need to turn to others? If others can solve all these problems, then what is the need for Allah?
⑦ If only Allah is not capable of solving all difficulties, then it is possible that Allah has taken upon Himself the responsibility of solving some difficulties and has given the authority to solve some difficulties to others. Should we have such a list?
⑧ Apart from Allah, can any being who can remove difficulties also create difficulties, or is their duty only to remove difficulties? If they can solve difficulties, then who is the one who creates difficulties?
⑨ Ultimately, the conclusion will be that Allah is the one who creates difficulties and the non-Allah being is the one who solves difficulties. If Allah insists on creating difficulties and another being insists on solving difficulties, then which being will prevail?
⑩ When performing the funeral prayer for any chosen or sinful being, should Allah be called upon for forgiveness or this difficulty-removing non-Allah?
