Written by: Maulana Abul Hasan Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
Question:
What is the ruling on seeking help from other than Allah? Please clarify its prohibition in the light of Shariah.
Answer:
None except Allah can bring benefit or harm to anyone. Calling upon any being other than Allah for things beyond the capacity of creation is considered Shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is especially true for calling upon the dead, who cannot hear or respond.
Allah Almighty says:
"And do not call upon other than Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you do so, then you would surely be among the wrongdoers."
[Surah Yunus: 106]
In this verse, Allah explicitly prohibits calling upon anyone other than Him for fulfilling needs or removing difficulties. Allah also clarifies that no one besides Him can bring benefit or harm.
Allah Almighty further states:
"And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him."
[Surah Yunus: 108]
In an authentic Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
"Know that if the entire nation were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you except with what Allah has already written for you."
[Tirmidhi, Book on the Description of the Day of Judgment: Chapter 2016]
The Quran also states:
"Indeed, those you worship besides Allah do not possess for you [the power of] provision. So seek provision from Allah and worship Him."
[Surah Al-Ankabut: 17]
In another place, Allah says:
"And who is more astray than one who invokes besides Allah those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they, of their invocation, are unaware. And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship."
[Surah Al-Ahqaf: 5-6]
This verse also proves that calling upon anyone other than Allah for help is considered their worship, while humans have been created solely for the worship of Allah.
The Quran further states:
"Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil?"
[Surah An-Naml: 62]
These are just a few examples, as there are numerous other texts in the Quran and Sunnah that clearly demonstrate that no sensible person can consider anyone other than Allah as a source of help or relief. Even the polytheists of Makkah could not deny this truth. The Quran mentions their acknowledgment at various points. If it were correct to seek help at the grave of any pious person, then who could be greater than the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)? However, not a single Companion (may Allah be pleased with them) ever sought help from the Prophet's grave.
If it were permissible, the Companions, especially the Rightly Guided Caliphs, who faced great challenges and hardships during their time, would certainly have gone to the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Likewise, when it comes to making dua (supplication), none of these esteemed Companions ever stood at the Prophet's grave and asked him to pray for them. Yes, it is permissible to request prayers from a righteous person during their lifetime, but this does not involve seeking anything from them directly; rather, it is asking them to supplicate to Allah on one's behalf.
Question:
What is the ruling on seeking help from other than Allah? Please clarify its prohibition in the light of Shariah.
Answer:
None except Allah can bring benefit or harm to anyone. Calling upon any being other than Allah for things beyond the capacity of creation is considered Shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is especially true for calling upon the dead, who cannot hear or respond.
Allah Almighty says:
"And do not call upon other than Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you do so, then you would surely be among the wrongdoers."
[Surah Yunus: 106]
In this verse, Allah explicitly prohibits calling upon anyone other than Him for fulfilling needs or removing difficulties. Allah also clarifies that no one besides Him can bring benefit or harm.
Allah Almighty further states:
"And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him."
[Surah Yunus: 108]
In an authentic Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
"Know that if the entire nation were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you except with what Allah has already written for you."
[Tirmidhi, Book on the Description of the Day of Judgment: Chapter 2016]
The Quran also states:
"Indeed, those you worship besides Allah do not possess for you [the power of] provision. So seek provision from Allah and worship Him."
[Surah Al-Ankabut: 17]
In another place, Allah says:
"And who is more astray than one who invokes besides Allah those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they, of their invocation, are unaware. And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship."
[Surah Al-Ahqaf: 5-6]
This verse also proves that calling upon anyone other than Allah for help is considered their worship, while humans have been created solely for the worship of Allah.
The Quran further states:
"Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil?"
[Surah An-Naml: 62]
These are just a few examples, as there are numerous other texts in the Quran and Sunnah that clearly demonstrate that no sensible person can consider anyone other than Allah as a source of help or relief. Even the polytheists of Makkah could not deny this truth. The Quran mentions their acknowledgment at various points. If it were correct to seek help at the grave of any pious person, then who could be greater than the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)? However, not a single Companion (may Allah be pleased with them) ever sought help from the Prophet's grave.
If it were permissible, the Companions, especially the Rightly Guided Caliphs, who faced great challenges and hardships during their time, would certainly have gone to the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Likewise, when it comes to making dua (supplication), none of these esteemed Companions ever stood at the Prophet's grave and asked him to pray for them. Yes, it is permissible to request prayers from a righteous person during their lifetime, but this does not involve seeking anything from them directly; rather, it is asking them to supplicate to Allah on one's behalf.