Ruling on the Imāmah of One Who Believes ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رحمه الله is “al-Ghawth”
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling on someone who believes that ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رحمه الله is "al-Ghawth" (the ultimate helper or spiritual savior)? Can such a person lead the prayer?
The Imāmah of a person of innovation (mubtadiʿ) is not permissible.
One who believes that a deceased saint, such as Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رحمه الله, holds the title and function of “al-Ghawth”—meaning he helps people in their difficulties, answers their calls, or fulfills their needs—is guilty of an innovated belief (bidʿah), and such a person cannot lead the prayer.
“One of the categories of shirk is to seek one’s needs from the dead, to seek relief (istighāthah) from them, and to turn one's attention to them. This form of shirk is the foundation of polytheism in the world.”
The deceased has no power over their own benefit or harm, so how could they possibly help others? When someone seeks from them or asks them to intercede with Allah on their behalf, they do so out of ignorance, not knowing who intercedes and before whom intercession is made.”
Madarij al-Sālikīn, 1/346
✔ Believing that Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رحمه الله is “al-Ghawth” who helps people in hardship, even after his death, is a baseless and innovated belief.
✔ Such a person is a mubtadiʿ (innovator) in ʿaqīdah.
✔ The imāmah of an innovator is invalid, and prayer behind them should be avoided.
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on someone who believes that ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رحمه الله is "al-Ghawth" (the ultimate helper or spiritual savior)? Can such a person lead the prayer?
❖ Answer:
The Imāmah of a person of innovation (mubtadiʿ) is not permissible.
One who believes that a deceased saint, such as Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رحمه الله, holds the title and function of “al-Ghawth”—meaning he helps people in their difficulties, answers their calls, or fulfills their needs—is guilty of an innovated belief (bidʿah), and such a person cannot lead the prayer.
❖ Scholarly Evidence:
❀ Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله (d. 751 AH) said:
“One of the categories of shirk is to seek one’s needs from the dead, to seek relief (istighāthah) from them, and to turn one's attention to them. This form of shirk is the foundation of polytheism in the world.”
The deceased has no power over their own benefit or harm, so how could they possibly help others? When someone seeks from them or asks them to intercede with Allah on their behalf, they do so out of ignorance, not knowing who intercedes and before whom intercession is made.”
Madarij al-Sālikīn, 1/346❖ Summary:
✔ Believing that Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رحمه الله is “al-Ghawth” who helps people in hardship, even after his death, is a baseless and innovated belief.
✔ Such a person is a mubtadiʿ (innovator) in ʿaqīdah.
✔ The imāmah of an innovator is invalid, and prayer behind them should be avoided.
