Author: Abu Saeed Salafi
Some individuals, interfering in religion, have fabricated a new prayer called "Namaz-e-Ghousia" and attributed it to Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله). This prayer is a mixture of innovations, superstitions, and polytheism. The essence of religion is to follow the sayings and actions of the Prophet (ﷺ). It is impossible to attain nearness to Allah through non-legitimate means. Although these individuals consider their actions commendable, the truth is that declaring such practices as religion and worship is a corruption on earth. Allah Almighty says:
"When it is said to them: 'Do not cause corruption on the earth,' they say: 'We are but reformers.' Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not."
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 11-12)
Innovations lead to corruption and mischief on the earth. Some people continue to invent new innovations, not content with the practices of the Prophet (ﷺ).
"Whoever seeks help from me in distress, I will relieve him. Whoever calls upon me by my name in difficulty, I will alleviate his hardship. Whoever makes me an intermediary with Allah in any need, it will be fulfilled. Whoever prays two rak'ahs, reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-Ikhlas eleven times in each rak'ah, then sends blessings and peace upon the Prophet (ﷺ) after the prayer, and remembers me, then takes eleven steps towards Iraq, mentions my name, and states his need, it will be fulfilled by the will of Allah."
(Bujhat al-Asrar wa Ma'din al-Anwar, p. 102, Fadl Dhikr Ashabihi wa Bushrahum, Egypt edition)
Comment:
This is a blatant lie falsely attributed to Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. The narrator of this fabricated story is Abu al-Ma'ali Abdul Rahim bin Muzaffar, the teacher of Shatnufi, about whom no biographical details are available. It is unknown who he is. Additionally, the clear verification of Abu al-Qasim Bazzaz in this chain is required. What is the status of such unknown individuals in religion?
The scholars have expressed dissatisfaction with the book in which this narration is mentioned, describing it as a collection of myths. For instance:
Hafiz Dhahabi (رحمه الله) stated:
"Sheikh Nooruddin Shatnufi compiled a comprehensive book on the life and news of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله) in three volumes, which includes both truth and falsehood, as well as reliable and weak reports. He narrated stories from unreliable sources."
(Tareekh al-Islam, 12/252)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) stated:
"Kamal Ja'far said that Shatnufi mentioned strange and bizarre stories in this book. The scholars have criticized many of his stories and chains of transmission."
(Al-Durar al-Kamina, 3/141)
Hafiz Ibn Rajab stated:
"Abu al-Hasan Shatnufi al-Muqri compiled a three-volume book on the virtues and qualities of Sheikh Abdul Qadir (رحمه الله), filled with all kinds of stories, true and false. A person's falsehood is evident if he narrates everything he hears. I have seen part of this book and do not trust anything in it. I only reference things known from other reliable sources. This book is full of unknown narrators and contains false claims and excessive exaggerations. Such things cannot be attributed to Sheikh Abdul Qadir (رحمه الله). Furthermore, I found that Kamal Ja'far al-Adfuni said that Shatnufi himself is accused of fabricating the contents of this book."
(Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila, 2/194-195)
Dear Readers! You have learned about Namaz-e-Ghousia and the book used to support it. Those who consider this prayer as part of the religion are audacious. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with our matter (religion) will have it rejected."
(Sahih Muslim, 2/77, Hadith: 1718)
Hafiz Ibn Rajab stated:
"This hadith is a great principle of Islam. It serves as a scale for evaluating actions outwardly, just as the hadith 'Actions are judged by intentions' serves as a scale for evaluating actions inwardly. Just as any act not done for Allah's sake is not rewarded, any act not in accordance with Allah's and His Messenger's commands is rejected. Anyone who introduces something in religion not sanctioned by Allah and His Messenger has nothing to do with religion."
(Jami' al-Uloom wal-Hikam, p. 8)
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) stated:
"Human actions, whether words or deeds, are of two types: acts of worship that perfect their religion and customs they need for their worldly life. From a detailed study of the principles of Shariah, we know that acts of worship prescribed by Allah or beloved to Him are established only through Shariah."
(Al-Qawa'id al-Nuraniyah, pp. 78-79)
Creating a prayer and justifying it with the intercession of pious individuals is not part of religion; it is inventing a new religion.
Some individuals, interfering in religion, have fabricated a new prayer called "Namaz-e-Ghousia" and attributed it to Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله). This prayer is a mixture of innovations, superstitions, and polytheism. The essence of religion is to follow the sayings and actions of the Prophet (ﷺ). It is impossible to attain nearness to Allah through non-legitimate means. Although these individuals consider their actions commendable, the truth is that declaring such practices as religion and worship is a corruption on earth. Allah Almighty says:
"When it is said to them: 'Do not cause corruption on the earth,' they say: 'We are but reformers.' Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not."
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 11-12)
Innovations lead to corruption and mischief on the earth. Some people continue to invent new innovations, not content with the practices of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Who Invented Namaz-e-Ghousia and When?
Muslims were unaware of this prayer until the seventh century Hijri. It was first introduced by an Egyptian Qari and misguided Sufi, Abu al-Hasan Ali bin Yusuf Shatnufi (644-713 AH). He attributes the following statement to Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله):"Whoever seeks help from me in distress, I will relieve him. Whoever calls upon me by my name in difficulty, I will alleviate his hardship. Whoever makes me an intermediary with Allah in any need, it will be fulfilled. Whoever prays two rak'ahs, reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-Ikhlas eleven times in each rak'ah, then sends blessings and peace upon the Prophet (ﷺ) after the prayer, and remembers me, then takes eleven steps towards Iraq, mentions my name, and states his need, it will be fulfilled by the will of Allah."
(Bujhat al-Asrar wa Ma'din al-Anwar, p. 102, Fadl Dhikr Ashabihi wa Bushrahum, Egypt edition)
Comment:
This is a blatant lie falsely attributed to Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. The narrator of this fabricated story is Abu al-Ma'ali Abdul Rahim bin Muzaffar, the teacher of Shatnufi, about whom no biographical details are available. It is unknown who he is. Additionally, the clear verification of Abu al-Qasim Bazzaz in this chain is required. What is the status of such unknown individuals in religion?
The scholars have expressed dissatisfaction with the book in which this narration is mentioned, describing it as a collection of myths. For instance:
Hafiz Dhahabi (رحمه الله) stated:
"Sheikh Nooruddin Shatnufi compiled a comprehensive book on the life and news of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله) in three volumes, which includes both truth and falsehood, as well as reliable and weak reports. He narrated stories from unreliable sources."
(Tareekh al-Islam, 12/252)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) stated:
"Kamal Ja'far said that Shatnufi mentioned strange and bizarre stories in this book. The scholars have criticized many of his stories and chains of transmission."
(Al-Durar al-Kamina, 3/141)
Hafiz Ibn Rajab stated:
"Abu al-Hasan Shatnufi al-Muqri compiled a three-volume book on the virtues and qualities of Sheikh Abdul Qadir (رحمه الله), filled with all kinds of stories, true and false. A person's falsehood is evident if he narrates everything he hears. I have seen part of this book and do not trust anything in it. I only reference things known from other reliable sources. This book is full of unknown narrators and contains false claims and excessive exaggerations. Such things cannot be attributed to Sheikh Abdul Qadir (رحمه الله). Furthermore, I found that Kamal Ja'far al-Adfuni said that Shatnufi himself is accused of fabricating the contents of this book."
(Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila, 2/194-195)
Dear Readers! You have learned about Namaz-e-Ghousia and the book used to support it. Those who consider this prayer as part of the religion are audacious. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with our matter (religion) will have it rejected."
(Sahih Muslim, 2/77, Hadith: 1718)
Hafiz Ibn Rajab stated:
"This hadith is a great principle of Islam. It serves as a scale for evaluating actions outwardly, just as the hadith 'Actions are judged by intentions' serves as a scale for evaluating actions inwardly. Just as any act not done for Allah's sake is not rewarded, any act not in accordance with Allah's and His Messenger's commands is rejected. Anyone who introduces something in religion not sanctioned by Allah and His Messenger has nothing to do with religion."
(Jami' al-Uloom wal-Hikam, p. 8)
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) stated:
"Human actions, whether words or deeds, are of two types: acts of worship that perfect their religion and customs they need for their worldly life. From a detailed study of the principles of Shariah, we know that acts of worship prescribed by Allah or beloved to Him are established only through Shariah."
(Al-Qawa'id al-Nuraniyah, pp. 78-79)
Creating a prayer and justifying it with the intercession of pious individuals is not part of religion; it is inventing a new religion.