This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Irshad Ullah Maan's book The Search for Truth.
According to the Deobandis, instead of the Creator, creation also provides relief from difficulties and fulfills needs, as the Deobandi author of the book "Inkishaaf" writes: These very people are the inheritors of the Musnad Irshad, and the needs of creation are fulfilled through them.
Reference: (Inkishaaf:250)
[1] Ashraf Ali Thanvi Sahib writes:
I swear that no broken-hearted person came to you (at the noble shrine) to present a prayer without their brokenness being mended (in such a way that due to the spiritual life, you heard and prayed, and it was successful).
[2] Nor did any seeker of refuge come to your court in panic but returned safely. They did not feel ashamed of their condition (as one does when a matter fails).
[3] And no poor seeker (present at the shrine) came to you without a stream (of needs) flowing from the mark of his footsteps (in such a way that due to the spiritual life you heard and prayed, and he succeeded).
[4] And no distressed person called upon you (present at the shrine for prayer) at the time of any calamity but your help and ease responded to him (in such a way that due to the spiritual life you heard and prayed, and he succeeded).
To understand the belief of the Deobandis who seek to solve difficulties from sources other than Allah, read the following incident. Observe the belief in the difficulty-solving, the influence and prestige of the spiritual guide of Haji Imdadullah Sahib, the spiritual guide of the followers of Deobandis, in the heart and the court of the Divine:
You are O Light of Muhammad! The special beloved of God
In India, you are the deputy of Muhammad Mustafa (ﷺ)
You are the helper of help and aid, then why fear?
The words of the beloved of love make hands and feet tremble
O Shah Noor Muhammad! It is time for help
The support in the world is solely because of your existence
I have no request from anyone else
Rather, on the Day of Judgment when God will be the judge
I will hold your hem and say openly
O Shah Noor Muhammad! It is time for help
How did Haji Sahib come to know that his special Pir is beloved by God, when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ says: [والله ما أدرى و أنا رسول الله ما يفعل بي .... و في رواية : ما يفعل به ولا بكم]
I do not know what treatment Allah will give me, even though I am the Messenger of Allah, and what will happen to you.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Funerals, Chapter on Visiting the Dead after Death when Wrapped in Shrouds: 1243 and Book of Interpretation, Chapter on Flowing Eye in a Dream: 7018
And then the day will come when angels and Jibra'il will stand in rows and:
[لَّا یَتَکَلَّمُوۡنَ اِلَّا مَنۡ اَذِنَ لَہُ الرَّحۡمٰنُ وَ قَالَ صَوَابًا]
Only those whom the Lord permits will speak, and that too correctly.
Reference: (An-Naba:38)
Will Noor Muhammad Sahib help at that time, because of whom Haji Sahib is becoming fearless, when Allah Almighty says:
[اِذۡ تَبَرَّاَ الَّذِیۡنَ اتُّبِعُوۡا مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّبَعُوۡا وَ رَاَوُا الۡعَذَابَ وَ تَقَطَّعَتۡ بِہِمُ الۡاَسۡبَابُ]
When those who were followed disassociate themselves from those who followed, and they see the punishment and their causes are cut off.
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:166)
Similarly, Allah Almighty says:
[وَ لَقَدۡ جِئۡتُمُوۡنَا فُرَادٰی کَمَا خَلَقۡنٰکُمۡ اَوَّلَ مَرَّۃٍ وَّ تَرَکۡتُمۡ مَّا خَوَّلۡنٰکُمۡ وَرَآءَ ظُہُوۡرِکُمۡ ۚ وَ مَا نَرٰی مَعَکُمۡ شُفَعَآءَکُمُ الَّذِیۡنَ زَعَمۡتُمۡ اَنَّہُمۡ فِیۡکُمۡ شُرَکٰٓؤُا]
You have certainly come to Me alone, as I created you the first time, and whatever We gave you has been left behind your backs, and We do not see with you those intercessors whom you claimed were partners with Allah concerning you.
Reference: (Al-An'am:94)
Regarding ordinary humans, let alone, Allah the Exalted says about the angels:
[وَ کَمۡ مِّنۡ مَّلَکٍ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ لَا تُغۡنِیۡ شَفَاعَتُہُمۡ شَیۡئًا اِلَّا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ اَنۡ یَّاۡذَنَ اللّٰہُ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ وَ یَرۡضٰی]
And how many angels are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail them at all except after Allah permits whom He wills and is pleased with.
Reference: (An-Najm:26)
In one place, the command of the Exalted is: [یَوۡمَئِذٍ لَّا تَنۡفَعُ الشَّفَاعَۃُ اِلَّا مَنۡ اَذِنَ لَہُ الرَّحۡمٰنُ وَ رَضِیَ لَہٗ قَوۡلًا]
The Day when no intercession will benefit except for one whom the Most Merciful permits and approves of.
Reference: (Taha:109)
What evidence does Haji Sahib have regarding his Pir Noor Muhammad Sahib that Allah will grant him permission and be pleased with him? Haji Sahib is saying: O Shah Noor Muhammad! It is time for help, and Allah's command is: [قُلِ ادۡعُوا الَّذِیۡنَ زَعَمۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِہٖ فَلَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ کَشۡفَ الضُّرِّ عَنۡکُمۡ وَ لَا تَحۡوِیۡلًا]
O Prophet! Say to those whom you call besides Allah, they do not possess the power to remove any harm or benefit.
Reference: (Bani Isra'il:56)
And Haji Imdad Allah Sahib says: You are the helper, the helper, so why fear? And in the Quran, the Messenger ﷺ says:
[قُلۡ لَّاۤ اَمۡلِکُ لِنَفۡسِیۡ نَفۡعًا وَّ لَا ضَرًّا اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ اللّٰہُ]
I do not possess for myself any benefit or harm except what Allah wills.
Reference: (Al-A'raf:188)
Similarly, Allah commanded His Prophet ﷺ to say: [قُلۡ اِنِّیۡ لَاۤ اَمۡلِکُ لَکُمۡ ضَرًّا وَّ لَا رَشَدًا]
O Prophet! Say, I do not possess for you any harm or benefit.
Reference: (Al-Jinn:21)
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was wounded in the Battle of Uhud and supplicated:
[كيف يفلح قوم شجوا نبيهم] How will that nation prosper which has wounded its Prophet?
Reference: Muslim, Book of Jihad, Chapter Uhud:1791
So Allah Almighty revealed these verses: [لَیۡسَ لَکَ مِنَ الۡاَمۡرِ شَیۡءٌ]O Prophet! You have no control over destiny.
Reference: (Al Imran:128)
The Prophet ﷺ gathered his relatives and said: [لا أغني عنكم من الله شيئا]I cannot save you from the grasp of Allah.
Reference: Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter on His Saying: And warn your closest kindred:206
You act, because: [فَاَمَّا مَنۡ ثَقُلَتۡ مَوَازِیۡنُہٗ]،[فَہُوَ فِیۡ عِیۡشَۃٍ رَّاضِیَۃٍ][But the one whose scales are heavy], [he will be in a life of happiness].
Reference: (Al-Qari'ah:7,6)
Becoming fearless relying on a human being is not a sign of wisdom; every word of Haji Sahib is drowned in polytheism. He writes:
Support in this world is only because of your own self
And what do the Muslims say:
[قَالُوۡا حَسۡبُنَا اللّٰہُ وَ نِعۡمَ الۡوَکِیۡلُ]They said, Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.
Reference: (Al Imran:173)
__ARABIC_15The best friend and the best helper.
Reference: (Al-Hajj:78)
And:
ARABIC_16__Whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him.
Reference: (At-Talaq:3)
In one place Allah says: [وَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ وَّلِیٍّ وَّ لَا نَصِیۡرٍ]You have no friend or helper besides Allah.
Reference: (At-Tawbah:116)
In another place Allah says:
[وَ تَوَکَّلۡ عَلَی الۡحَیِّ الَّذِیۡ لَا یَمُوۡتُ]And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die.
Reference: (Al-Furqan:58)
Meaning, support can only be from Allah,
Haji Sahib even makes supplications to others besides Allah. He writes:
You have no supplication to anyone other than others
And Allah says:
[اَمَّنۡ یُّجِیۡبُ الۡمُضۡطَرَّ اِذَا دَعَاہُ وَ یَکۡشِفُ السُّوۡٓءَ]Who is it that responds to the distressed one when he calls upon Him and relieves him from distress?
Reference: (An-Naml:62)
A Muslim prays this in every prayer:
[وَاِیَّاکَ نَسۡتَعِیۡنُ]And You alone we ask for help.
Reference: (Al-Fatiha:4)
Allah forbids supplicating to anyone other than Him, as He said: [وَ لَا تَدۡعُ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مَا لَا یَنۡفَعُکَ وَ لَا یَضُرُّکَ ۚ فَاِنۡ فَعَلۡتَ فَاِنَّکَ اِذًا مِّنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ]
Do not invoke besides Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be among the wrongdoers.
Reference: (Yunus:106)
And here the supplications are to others besides Allah. However, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said: [وَ اَعۡتَزِلُکُمۡ وَ مَا تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ وَ اَدۡعُوۡا رَبِّیۡ]
I disassociate myself from you and from those you invoke besides Allah, and I call upon my Lord.
Reference: (Maryam:48)
Similarly, when Zakariya (peace be upon him) asked for offspring, he supplicated before his Lord like this: [قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ وَہَنَ الۡعَظۡمُ مِنِّیۡ وَ اشۡتَعَلَ الرَّاۡسُ شَیۡبًا وَّ لَمۡ اَکُنۡۢ بِدُعَآئِکَ رَبِّ شَقِیًّا]
O my Lord! Indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white hair from old age, and I have never been in despair of my Lord’s mercy.
Reference: (Maryam:4)
Supplication and asking should be done only to Allah, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: [سلوا الله من فضله فإن الله عز وجل يحب أن يسأل]
Ask Allah for His grace, indeed Allah likes the one who asks.
Reference: Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications, Chapter on Awaiting Relief and Others:3571
Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ said to his cousin: [إذا سألت فاسأل الله وإذا استعنت فاستعن بالله]
When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek help, seek help from Allah.
Reference: Tirmidhi, Book on the Description of the Resurrection, Chapter (Hadith of Hanzala):2516
Similarly, your respected wife, Lady Aisha رضي الله عنها, narrates:
[سلوا الله كل شئ حتى الشسع] Ask everything from Allah, even the strap when it breaks.
Reference: Musnad Abi Ya'la:4560
Will you still believe in the doctrine that you have no recourse except to others?
Whereas Ibn Kathir says: [الإستعاذة هي الإلتجاء إلى الله] Seeking refuge is actually seeking recourse from Allah.
Reference: Taysir al-Aziz al-Hamid:1/78
And Sheikh al-Islam, may Allah have mercy on him, says: [أو قد نص الأئمة كأحمد وغيره على أنه لا يجوز الإستعاذة بمخلوق] According to Imam Ahmad and other Imams, it is not permissible to seek recourse from creation.
Reference: Taysir al-Aziz al-Hamid:1/78
The ruling for Muslims is: [اُدۡعُوۡا رَبَّکُمۡ تَضَرُّعًا وَّ خُفۡیَۃً] Call upon your Lord humbly and quietly.
Reference: (Al-A'raf:55)
And to say this is also a great audacity.
Rather, even on the Day of Judgment when God is the Judge
I will hold your garment and say this openly
O Shah Noor Muhammad! It is time for help
The day about which Allah says:
[اَفَمَنۡ حَقَّ عَلَیۡہِ کَلِمَۃُ الۡعَذَابِ ؕ اَفَاَنۡتَ تُنۡقِذُ مَنۡ فِی النَّارِ]What is the matter with those upon whom the punishment of Allah has come? Then you (O Prophet!) can save them who are in the Fire?
Reference: (Az-Zumar:19)
Where the Prophet can do nothing, what can Noor Muhammad Sahib do? And for Haji Sahib to seek help from Noor Muhammad is clear polytheism, because help without means can only come from Allah: [وَمَا النَّصۡرُ اِلَّا مِنۡ عِنۡدِ اللّٰہِ]Help is only from Allah.
Reference: (Al-Anfal:10)
And supplication for help can only be made to Allah because supplication for help:
[ھی طلب الغوث هو إزالة الشدة كالإستنصار طلب النصر والإستعانة طلب العون الإستغاثة هي الإستعانة]Istiana and Istighatha mean seeking help and having difficulties resolved, both are synonymous.
Reference: (Taysir Al-Aziz Al-Hamid:180)
And Muslims seek help from Allah as it is in the Quran:
[اِذۡ تَسۡتَغِیۡثُوۡنَ رَبَّکُمۡ فَاسۡتَجَابَ لَکُمۡ]When you were seeking help from your Lord, He accepted it.
Reference: (Al-Anfal:9)
Now, is it not polytheism to associate a Pir with the Lord in matters of help? When the Pir Sahib and Haji are themselves crying out for help from someone other than Allah, what can the poor disciple do? They say:
O Muhammad Mustafa! It is a cry
O Beloved Kabir! It is a cry
I am caught in great difficulty these days
O my Reliever of difficulties, this is my plea
Reference: (Nala-e-Imdad-e-Ghareeb:22)
Maulana Qasim Nanotvi says:
Help me, O Merciful Ahmadi, for besides You
Qasim has no supporter or helper
Reference: (Qasaid Qasmi:6)
Although every prophet has prayed to the Lord for help rather than pleading to creation, as in the case of Sayyid Yunus (peace be upon him), when Yunus (peace be upon him) was imprisoned in the belly of the fish, he too supplicated to Allah alone, not to anyone else, as mentioned in the Quran:
[فَنَادٰی فِی الظُّلُمٰتِ اَنۡ لَّاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡتَ سُبۡحٰنَکَ اِنِّیۡ کُنۡتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ] Yunus (peace be upon him) called out in the darkness, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You."
Reference: (Al-Anbiya:87)
One cannot plead to creation because they are helpless humans; the only One in control is Allah Almighty, as Allah says:
[اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ عِبَادٌ اَمۡثَالُکُمۡ] Those whom you call upon besides Allah are but human beings like you.
Reference: (Al-A'raf:194)
What greater foolishness can there be than to ask or plead to such a human, to rely on them in this world, who owns nothing, as Allah Almighty says: [قُلِ ادۡعُوا الَّذِیۡنَ زَعَمۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ۚ لَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّۃٍ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ لَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ]
O Prophet! Say to those whom you call upon besides Allah, call them to see if they possess even an atom's weight in the heavens or the earth.
Reference: (Saba:22)
Only Allah is worthy of being called upon in supplication, as mentioned in the Quran regarding you ﷺ and your companions: [اِذۡ تَسۡتَغِیۡثُوۡنَ رَبَّکُمۡ فَاسۡتَجَابَ لَکُمۡ] (Remember) when you were asking help from your Lord, so He accepted your prayer.
Reference: (Al-Anfal:9)
That is, due to the absence of apparent means, help is sought only from Allah. Similarly, you pray:
[اللهم إني أنشدك عهدك ووعدك] O Allah! I plead by Your covenant and Your promise.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:2915
At the time of the Battle of Badr, the Prophet ﷺ prayed thus:
[اللهم إنك إن تهلك هذه العصابة من أهل الإسلام ، فلا تعبد في الأرض أبدا، قال: فما زال يستغيث ربه عز وجل، ويدعوه]
O Allah! If You destroy this group of Muslims, then on earth Your worship will never be established. The narrator says that the Prophet ﷺ continuously prayed and called upon his Lord in this manner.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad:208
Similarly, while mentioning the trial of the Dajjal, you ﷺ said:
[إن من فتنته أن معه جنة ونارا, فناره جنة وجنته نار, فمن ابتلي بناره فليستغث بالله وليقرأ فواتح الكهف, فتكون عليه بردا وسلاما, كما كانت النار على إبراهيم]
Among its trials is that with it there will be both Paradise and Hell, its Hell will actually be Paradise, and its Paradise will actually be Hell. So whoever is tested by its fire should seek help from Allah and recite the opening verses of Surah Al-Kahf, then that fire will become cool and safe for him, just as it was for Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
Reference: Ibn Majah, Chapters of Trials, Chapter on the Trial of the Dajjal and the Coming of Jesus son of Mary and the Coming of Gog and Magog: 4077
From all these evidences, it becomes clear that supplications should be made only to Allah in this world and the Hereafter.
