Calling “Yā Rasūl” in Times of Hardship
Source: Fatāwā Amun Pūrī by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amun Pūrī
The Question
Is it permissible to call upon the Prophet ﷺ in times of hardship by saying “Yā Rasūl”?
The Answer
Calling upon anyone other than Allah for supernatural help beyond means (fawq al-asbāb) is worship, and worship belongs solely to Allah.
Thus, calling out to the Prophet ﷺ or anyone else in this manner is shirk (associating partners with Allah).
If no Ṣaḥābī ever called upon the Prophet ﷺ in such a way, then no one else can be allowed this practice either.
Qur’ānic Evidence
❀ Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَادْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ﴾ (al-Muʾmin: 65)
“So call upon Him, devoting the religion purely to Him.”
❀ ﴿فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَدًا﴾ (al-Jinn: 18)
“Do not call upon anyone along with Allah.”
❀ ﴿قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَدْعُو رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ أَحَدًا﴾ (al-Jinn: 20)
“Say: I only call upon my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with Him.”
❀ ﴿وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ﴾ (al-Aḥqāf: 5)
“Who is more astray than the one who calls besides Allah those who will not answer him until the Day of Judgment?”
❀ ﴿وَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ ۘ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ﴾ (al-Qaṣaṣ: 88)
“Do not call upon another god besides Allah; there is no deity except Him.”
❀ ﴿إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ﴾ (Fāṭir: 14)
“If you call them, they cannot hear you; and if they did hear, they could not respond to you. And on the Day of Judgment they will disown your shirk.”
❀ ﴿وَمَا دُعَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ﴾ (al-Raʿd: 14)
“The call of the disbelievers is nothing but in vain.”
❀ ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ عِبَادٌ أَمْثَالُكُمْ﴾ (al-Aʿrāf: 194)
“Those whom you call upon besides Allah are servants like you. Call them, then let them respond to you if you are truthful.”
Conclusion
- Calling “Yā Rasūl” for help in times of hardship is not permissible.
- Seeking supernatural aid from anyone other than Allah is shirk.
- True tawḥīd requires calling only upon Allah for help.
