The rule on those who seek help in other than Allah
Publisher's Note
The basis of Islam is Monotheism. Allah sent all the Prophets and Messengers to invite mankind towards the worship of the All-Mighty Allah Alone. The Prophets and Messengers had also warned the human beings against ascribing partners to Allah, which is called polytheism.
Polytheism ruins the good deeds of man, leaving him to be exposed to the Hell-fire in the Hereafter. To be successful in this world and in the Hereafter, it is necessary that one should always keep himself away from the acts of polytheism, which has many aspects.
His Eminence, Sheikh `Abdul `Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz has written three short essays to caution us against the various manifestations of polytheism. We are publishing these essays for the benefit of Muslims so that awareness about polytheism may increase and people may stable their beliefs, deeds and actions according to pure Faith in Allah and in accordance with the Noble Qur'ân and the Sunna (traditions of the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم).
May Allah grant us the supreme success - Amîn.
Abdul Malik Mujahid
General Manager
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
INTRODUCTION
Praise is to Allah and peace and blessings be on the Prophet of Allah; on his family members; and on all those who proceed on his path.
Since the principle of Oneness of Allah formed the basis of the mission of Muhammad bin Abdullah صلى الله عليه وسلم and since this mission is in fact a continuation of the missions of the Prophets who preceded him as stated by Allah in the Noble Qur'ân:
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اُعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ
"And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): `Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities etc.)". (V.16: 36),
And since opposition to heresy and falsehood in its various manifestations, formed the core of this Faith, it is a duty on every Muslim to be well informed about his religion and to worship Allah as ordained by the Islâmic Shari'a.
The Muslims of the previous generations had a clear concept regarding their religion because all their beliefs, actions and dealings were in accordance with the Noble Qur'ân and the Pure Traditions (Sunna - words and deeds of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم).
Later on, most of the Muslims deviated from this Straight Path - the path of the Book and the Tradition - and fell apart into factions and groups in all matters pertaining to religion as well as politics and the laws regulating their daily lives. As a result, there came into existence heretical innovations, falsehoods, magic and witchcraft. All these things served as easy loopholes for the enemies of Islâm to attack Islâm and its followers.
The `Ulamaâ' (learned scholars) of Islâm have, in all periods of history, past and present, cautioned us through their writings against these innovations. This booklet entitled "Establishing the proofs regarding the rule on those who seek help in other than Allah or those who believe in soothsayers and fortune-tellers, by His Eminence, Sheikh `Abdul-' Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, consists of three essays:
- The Regulation governing the seeking of help from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- The Regulation governing the seeking of help from jinns and Satan and making vows to them.
- The Regulation regarding worship through certain innovations which are derived from heretical and polytheistic beliefs.
The Presidency of the Directorates of Islâmic Research, Ifta, Da `wah and Guidance has the pleasure to place before the reader this booklet as a contribution towards the enlightenment of the English speaking Muslims against heresy and superstition - so that the general appreciation and understanding of Islâm may increase.
May Allah the All-Mighty make this booklet of use to all Muslims; verily Allah Alone grants success. And may peace be upon Muhammad, his Family and his Companions.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
THE FIRST ESSAY
The Regulation governing the seeking of help from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
Praise is to Allah and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet of Allah, the members of his Family and his Companions and on all those who proceed on his path.
The weekly magazine, Al-Mujtama' of Kuwait, had in its issue No. 15 dated 19-4-1390 A.H., published a poem containing invocations to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and appeals to him to help the Ummah (Islâmic community) and to salvage it from mutual disaccord and disagreements. The poem signed by someone called Amina, ran as follows:
"0 Prophet of Allah, come to the rescue of a world caught in the flames of a war, O Prophet of Allah, come to the rescue of the Ummah, plunged in the darkness of doubts since long, O Prophet of Allah, come to the rescue of the Ummah which has lost sight of its vision in the wilderness of grief... etc. etc."
And the poem concludes with the following lines:
"O Prophet of Allah, come to the rescue of the Ummah, plunged in the darkness of doubt since long. Pray you! Bring speedy victory as you did at the battle of Badr when you called out to the All-Mighty, And lo! Defeat was turned to a Glorious Victory. Verily Allah has soldiers you do not see."
Thus the person who wrote this poem cries out to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم beseeching him to rescue the Ummah by achieving speedy victory; she forgets or ignores the fact that victory is granted by Allah the All-Mighty Alone and that it is not in the hands of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم nor in the hands of any other creation. Allah the All-Mighty says in the Noble Qur'ân:
وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
"...And there is no victory except from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (V.3: 126).
إِنْ يَنْصُرْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ وَإِنْ يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَنْصُرُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ
"If Allah helps you, none can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you?.." (V.3: 160).
It has been established by the verses of the Noble Qur'ân and by the consensus of the Ummah that Allah the All-Mighty created all human beings so that they may worship Him. He sent the Messengers and revealed the Books to expound the manner of worship and the path of the mission. In this regard, Allah the All-Mighty states in the Noble Qur'ân:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
"And I (Allah) created not the jinns and men except they should worship Me (Alone)." (V.51: 56)
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اُعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ
"And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): `Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût...' "(V.16: 36).
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ
"And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) but We inspired him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)". (V.21: 25)
الر كِتَابٌ أُحْكِمَتْ آيَاتُهُ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِنْ لَدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ . أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ إِنَّنِي لَكُمْ مِنْهُ نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ
"Alif-Lâm-Râ'. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'ân and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. (This is) a Book, the Verses whereof are perfected (in every sphere of knowledge, etc.), and then explained in detail from One (Allah), Who is All-Wise and Well-Acquainted (with all things). (Saying) worship none but Allah. Verily, I (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) am unto you from Him a warner and a bringer of glad tidings." (V.11: 1, 2)
It is clear from the above verses that Allah the All-Mighty has created human beings and jinns but for one purpose only: to worship Him Alone and not to attribute any partner to Him. And He has said clearly that the Messengers عليهم الصلاة والسلام were sent to call for this worship and to forbid what is contrary to it. The verses of the Noble Qur'ân are clear and categorical in stating that Allah and Allah Alone is to be worshipped. This worship implies Faith in the Oneness of Allah, obedience to Him, compliance of His Commands and abstention from all that has been forbidden by Him. Allah has ordained these tenets in numerous verses:
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ
"And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)..." (V.98: 5)
وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ
"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him..." (V.17: 23)
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ. أَلَا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ
"Verily, We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)in truth: So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only, and not to show off and not to set up rivals with Him in worship. Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only..." (V.39: 2, 3)
The verses dealing on this concept are abundant in the Noble Qur'ân. They all point to the necessity of sincerity in worshipping Allah Alone and to give up worshipping of all others including the Prophets. There is no doubt that Du'â (invocation) is a vital and comprehensive form of worship; it is to be addressed in all sincerity to Allah Alone as Allah the All-Mighty says in the Noble Qur'ân:
فَادْعُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ
"So, call you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and the believers) upon (or invoke) Allah making (your) worship pure for Him (Alone) (by worshipping none but Him and by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only and not to show off and not to set up rivals with Him in worship). However much the disbelievers ( in the Oneness of Allah) may hate (it)." (V.40: 14)
وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَدًا
"And the mosques are for Allah (Alone); so invoke not anyone along with Allah." (V.72: 18).
This applies to all the creations including the Prophets عليهم السلام because the word Ahad in Arabic is indefinite noun used in the context of total negation. Therefore, it applies to all except Allah the All-Mighty.
Allah the All-Mighty says:
وَلَا تَدْعُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَلَا يَضُرُّكَ
"And invoke not besides Allah, any that will neither profit you, nor hurt you..." (V.10: 106)
This verse is addressed to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم Needless to say, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم enjoys Divine protection from polytheistic beliefs; the purpose of this verse is to caution others. The All-Mighty says:
فَإِنْ فَعَلْتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذًا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
.".. if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)." (V.10: 106).
Thus, the foremost among the mankind, namely the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has himself been cautioned that if he invokes anyone other than Allah, he shall be deemed as one who does wrong. What to say of other human beings?
It must be noted that the word Zulm (wrongdoing) is used in the sense of major Shirk that is polytheism. Allah the All-Mighty says:
وَالْكَافِرُونَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
"...And it is the disbelievers who are the Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.)." (V.2: 254)
إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ
"... Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zûlm (wrong) indeed." (V.31: 13).
It is evident from all these verses that invocation to anyone other than Allah, whether they be from the dead or trees or idols, etc., is an act of joining others with Allah in worship; it contradicts the purpose of worship for which Allah has created the human beings and the jinns and had sent Prophets عليهم السلام and had revealed the Divine Messages so that they convey the Messages to the people and call them to act upon it. This is the meaning of the phrase `there is no god except Allah', this statement affirms that there is nothing to be worshipped except Allah the All-Mighty. It is stated in the Noble Qur'ân:
ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ الْبَاطِلُ
That is because Allah, He is the Truth, and that which they invoke besides Him is Al-Bâtil (the falsehood, Satan and all other false deities)..." (V.31: 30)
This is the essence of religion, and the basic principle of our Faith; no worship will be true unless this principle is truly accepted. Allah the All-Mighty says in the Noble Qur'ân:
وَلَقَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
"And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, as it was to those (Allah's Messengers) before you: `If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.' "(V.39: 65)
and وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُوا لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
"...But if they had joined in worship others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them." (V.6: 88).
The religion of Islâm is based on two great principles:
- That Allah Alone is to be worshipped.
- That the worship should be according to the path shown by the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم.
This is the meaning of the Shahâdah i.e. the Statement of Faith: "There is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Therefore, it will be a contradiction of this principle if anyone invokes the dead including the Prophets or others or invokes idols, trees and stones, etc. and seeks their help or seeks to gain favour from them by offering sacrifices of animals or vows or praise for them or prostrates to them.. It will be an act of associating others as Lords of the creation besides Allah the All-Mighty; it will also amount to setting up of rivals to Allah the All-Mighty. In other words, it will be a negation of this basic tenet. It must also be mentioned that anyone who introduces into religion something which has not been permitted by Allah the All-Mighty will be failing to abide by the meaning of the Shahâdah that "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Allah the All-Mighty says:
وَقَدِمْنَا إِلَى مَا عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَاءً مَنْثُورًا
"And We shall turn to whatever deeds they (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners etc.) did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust." (V.25: 23).
The deeds referred to here, are the deeds of those who spent their lives in polytheistic beliefs.
In this category of deeds are also included all contrived actions which have not been permitted by Allah; these actions will, on the Day of Judgement, be like floating dust scattered about because it was not in accordance with the Divine Guidance. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم has said in an authentic Hadîth (tradition):
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد
"He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it will have it rejected."
The above referred lady writer has addressed an invocation to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and calls for his help. She has turned away from the Lord of the creations in Whose Hand there is victory as well as defeat, Who Alone bestows help or loss or benefit; none other can benefit nor bestow any such thing. No doubt such an action is a serious violation and it is a Shirk (polytheism), the consequences of which will be very grave. Allah the All-Mighty has commanded us to invoke Him and to seek His help; He has promised to respond and He has also threatened with dire consequences to all those who are haughty. He says:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
"And your Lord said: `Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islâmic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation! '"(V.40: 60)
This verse points out that invocation is a form of prayer and whoever is haughty, his ultimate place of abode will be Hell. If such is the case with regard to one who has had the audacity to avoid praying to Allah, what will be the condition of a person who invokes other than Allah while Allah the All-Mighty is Omnipotent and Omnipresent? The Noble Qur'ân says:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
"And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم ) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright."(V.2: 186).
It is narrated in an authentic Hadith (tradition of the Prophet) that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم advised his cousin Abdullah bin Abbâs رضي الله عنه as follows:
"احفظ الله يحفظك احفظ الله تجده تجاهك إذا سألت فاسأل الله وإذا استعنت فاستعن بالله"
"Remember Allah and He will remember you; remember Allah and you shall find Him in your path; If you ask, ask from Allah; and if you seek help, seek from Allah."
And he also said:
"من مات وهو يدعو لله ندا دخل النار"
"He, who dies while praying to someone as rival to Allah, the reward for such a person shall be the Fire of Hell." (Narrated by Imâm Bukhâri).
In another Hadîth (tradition), the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said in an answer to a query as to which is the greatest sin:
"أن تجعل لله ندا وهو خلقك"
"To make someone as rival to Allah, Who has created you."
So, anyone who prays to other than Allah, seeks his help or gives offering to him or slaughters an animal or offers a prayer to him will be adopting someone as rival to Allah, whether he be a Prophet or a devout person or a king or jinn or an idol or anything else. As regards, invocation to a person who is alive and present before you, it is not an act of Shirk (polytheism) because it is quite normal to seek the help of those around you in matters pertaining to the material life to the possible extent; it is a normal and sanctioned practice among Muslims. Allah the All-Mighty says in the Noble Qur'ân in the story pertaining to Moses:
فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِي مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ
"...The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe..." (V.28: 15).
and in another verse pertaining also to the story of Moses (Musa عليه السلام) Allah the All-Mighty says:
فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ
"So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear..." (V.28: 21).
Man therefore seeks the help of his fellow human beings at times of war or at times of difficulties that occur to him and which require the help of others. Allah ordered his Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to convey to the people that he (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) does not possess for anyone any good nor any harm. The Noble Qur'ân states:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَدْعُو رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ أَحَدًا. قُلْ إِنِّي لَا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا رَشَدًا
"Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): `I invoke only my Lord (Allah Alone), and I associate none as partners along with Him.' Say: `It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to the Right Path.'" (V.72: 20, 21)
قُلْ لَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
"Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): I possess no power of benefit or hurt to myself except as Allah will. If I had the knowledge of the Ghaib (unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings unto people who believe." (V.7: 188).
The Qur'ânic verses on this concept are many in number. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم never invoked anyone other than Allah and he never sought help from anyone other than Him; he beseeched Allah the All-Mighty during the battle of Badr and asked Him for victory against the enemy; he persistently prayed to Him saying, "O Lord, fulfill for me Your Promise." He kept repeating these words to the extent that his friend and companion Abû Bakr رضي الله عنه said: "May it suffice you, O Prophet of Allah; verily Allah will fulfill His Promise to you. In this context, Allah revealed the following verse of the Noble Qur'ân:
إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُمْ بِأَلْفٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ. وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَى وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
"(Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): `I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession.' Allah made it only as glad tidings, and that your hearts be at rest therewith. And there is no victory except by the help of Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise." (V.8:9, 10).
Thus Allah the All-Mighty reminds them of their call for help and how He responded to them by sending reinforcements of angels to them and that victory is not from the angels, but the angels were sent only to convey the good news of victory and contentment. Allah says:
وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
"...And there is no victory except from Allah." (V.3: 126)
وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنْتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
"And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained) that you may be grateful." (V.3: 123).
Thus Allah granted help at the battle of Badr; the weapons, the power to fight and the angels were all the factors that brought victory and glad tidings. They were only the means by which the Divine victory was granted; victory is therefore from Allah only. So how could the lady writer referred to above or anyone else seek help and victory from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and turn away from the Lord of all creations Who is Omnipresent and Omnipotent?
No doubt, this attitude only betrays ignorance in its worst forms and indeed it is a major act of Shirk (polytheism).
It is therefore a duty on the writer to repent to Allah in all sincerity and to never repeat such a mistake. Sincere repentance requires total conviction and compliance to what has been ordained by Allah. And if the repentance is with regard to the rights of any fellow human beings, such rights should be returned to whom they belong or he (the repentant) should obtain an acquittal thereof. Allah has ordered His worshippers to repent and He has promised acceptance of their repentance. He says in the Noble Qur'ân:
وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
"....And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful." (V.24: 31)
and Allah says with regard to the Christians:
أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
"Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful" (V.5: 74)
and Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا. يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا. إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
"And those who invoke not any other Ilâh (god) along with Allah, nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual inter-course - and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (V.25: 68- 70)
and Allah says:
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ
"And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins, and He knows what you do." (V.42: 25).
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has said:
الإسلام يهدم ما كان قبله والتوبة تجب ما كان قبلها
"Islâm obliterates all that has preceded it; and repentance erases all the earlier (wrong) actions."
In this brief essay, I have sought to explain the magnitude and danger of the sin of Shirk (polytheism) because it is one of the major sins. It is my earnest desire that the readers should understand the issue in its right perspective and should not be misled by such writers.
In conclusion, I pray to Allah the All-Mighty to make these few words of use to Muslims and may He reform us all and make us proceed always on the right path and fortify us with the knowledge of religion and steadfastness in adhering to it. May Allah protect us from the evils of ourselves and from our bad actions. Verily He is the Protector and Sustainer. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His slave and Messenger Muhammad and the members of his Family and his Companions.
The rule on those who seek help in other than Allah
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
THE SECOND ESSAY
The Regulation governing the seeking of help from jinns and Satan and making vows to them.
From `Abdul `Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz to those Muslims - may Allah bless them and me - who adhere to the religion of Allah and remain committed to it. Amin.
May peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you all.
Some friends sought to know from me about the actions of some uninformed brethren of our religion. They stated that these people, at times of calamities, invoke certain forces and seek their help; they invoke for instance, the jinns and give offerings and sacrifices of animals to them; some of them cry out saying, "O you Seven take him!", meaning thereby seven chiefs of the jinns. They might also say, "O you Seven inflict on him such and such things ... break his bones, drink his blood, mutilate his body." Some of them may say, "O the jinn of noon time, O the jinn of Asr (evening) time, take him". Such practices are prevalent in some of the southern areas. In addition to those, there is also the invoking of the dead, including the Prophets, the noble souls and angels and others. They are invoked and their help is sought, unfortunately, by many who profess the Faith of Islâm. They do so due to ignorance and due to the desire to imitate and follow what was practised by their forefathers; some of them may justify their actions by saying, "This is something in vogue, we do not mean anything by it nor do we have any faith in it." Some friends also sought my opinion on having relationships of marriage with people known for such actions and on accepting their offerings; offering prayers for them, praying behind them and about belief in magicians and soothsayers who, I was told, claim knowledge of the sickness of a person and the reasons of the sickness by merely casting a look at anything on the body of the patient such as a turban, pyjamas, veil, etc.
In answer to the above, I wish to state the following:- Praise is to Allah, the One and Only Allah and blessings and peace upon the Prophet of Allah, who was the last of all Prophets; peace and blessings also upon his Family, his Companions and on all those who will abide by the path of right guidance until the Day of Judgement.
Verily Allah the All-Mighty has created the human beings and the jinns in order to worship Him Alone and to abstain from worshipping, invoking, seeking the help and giving offerings and sacrifices and to offer all other worships to none other than Him. Allah has sent the Messengers to guide the people to this task and He revealed the Heavenly Books, the greatest of which is the Noble Qur'ân. It was revealed in order to convey this Message and to preach and to work for it besides cautioning the people against Shirk (polytheism) with Allah and against the worshipping of anyone other than Him. This is the purport of the Statement of Faith: "There is no god except Allah"; it clearly sets out the principle that there is no one else to be worshipped except Allah; thus it negates the concept of Godliness to anyone other than Allah; it affirms that Allah Alone and none other than Allah is to be worshipped. There are ample evidences on this in the Noble Qur'ân and in the Ahâdith (traditions) of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم Allah says in the Noble Qur'ân:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
"And I (Allah) created not the jinns and men except they should worship Me (Alone)." (V.51: 56)
وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ
"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him..." (V.17: 23)
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ
"And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)..."(V.98: 5)
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
"And your Lord said: Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!" (V.40: 60)
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ
"And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor)..." (V.2: 186)
It is clear from the above verses that the human beings and jinns have been created by Allah in order to worship Him and He has ordained that none other than He be worshipped. The Divine Commandment has been conveyed in the Noble Qur'ân and through the Prophets عليهم السلام that people should worship the One and Only Allah and that invocation to Allah is an important form of worship; whoever is too arrogant to offer this worship shall be doomed to the Fire of Hell. Allah also says in the Noble Qur'ân that:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ
"And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor)..." (V.2: 186)
Hence, it is a duty on all the worshippers to invoke Allah, the One and Only God because such invocation is a form of worship for which they have been created and commanded to act upon. The Noble Qur'ân says:
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
"Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the `Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims." (V.6: 162, 163).
Allah has ordered His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to inform the people that his prayer and service of sacrifice and life and death are all for Allah, the Lord of all creations, Who has no partner. The word `sacrifice' here refers to the offering of animal as sacrifice; so if anyone offers a sacrifice to other than Allah, he then commits an act of Shirk, that is associating someone else with Allah.
It would be like praying to someone else other than Allah because prayer and sacrifice have equal importance in the Divine estimation and they are to be for Allah, the One and Only God. If anyone offers a sacrifice to other than Allah such as the jinns, the angels, and the dead and others in an attempt to seek nearness to them, then he is like a person who prays to other than Allah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has, as per an authentic Hadith (tradition) said:
"لعن الله من ذبح لغير الله "
"Curse of Allah be upon those who offer sacrifice to other than Allah."
Imâm Ahmad has, on the authority of Tariq bin Shihab, narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had said:
"مر رجلان على قوم لهم صنم لا يجوزه أحد حتى يقرب له شيئا فقالوا لأحدهما قرب قال ليس عندي شيء أقرب قالوا قرب ولو ذبابا فقرب ذبابا فخلوا سبيله فدخل النار وقالوا للآخر قرب قال ما كنت لأقرب لأحد شيئا دون الله عز وجل فضربوا عنقه فدخل الجنة"
"Two men passed by a people who had an idol to which an offering had to be made by whoever passed by that idol. The people asked one of the two persons to give some offering, he said, that he had nothing to offer; they told him that he may offer anything, even a small fly; so the man gave a fly as an offering and he was allowed to pass. But his doom was the Fire of Hell. The second person was also asked to do accordingly but that person refused by affirming that he will not give as offering to anyone other than Allah. On his refusal, those people beheaded and killed him, but his ultimate abode was Paradise."
It can be noted from this narration that whoever gives an offering to an idol, though it might be only a fly, will be associating someone else as partner to Allah and therefore deserves punishment in Hell. So what to say of those who invoke the jinns, the angels and the pious people, seeking their help, offering vows to them and trying to gain proximity with them by giving sacrifices of animals to them. The purpose for which one does this is to protect his wealth or cure his illness or the safety of his cattle and his fields; he may also do that out of fear of the jinns. Such people become more deserving of torture in the Hell than that person who killed a fly as an offering to the idol. The Noble Qur'ân says:
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ. أَلَا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ
"Verily, We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) in truth: So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only, and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship. Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take `Auliyâ' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): `We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah.' Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever." (V.39: 2, 3).
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَؤُلَاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ قُلْ أَتُنَبِّئُونَ اللَّهَ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
"And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: `These are our intercessors with Allah.' Say: `Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?' Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him!" (V.10: 18).
We learn from the above two verses that the polytheists had taken in lieu of Allah, some creations as their friends and protectors; they worshipped them and invoked them in awe and reverence and offered sacrifice and vows under the assumption that those friends and protectors act as intercessors and take them nearer to Allah. Allah the All-Mighty has proved their falsehood and has described them as liars, infidels, and polytheists; and Allah has pre-eminently transcended above the cult of polytheism. The Noble Qur'ân states:
سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
"...Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him!" (V.10: 18).
It is thus clear that whoever takes a king or a Prophet or a jinn or a stone or a tree for the purpose of invocation along with Allah and seeks their help or tries to gain nearness to them by offering vows and sacrifices in the hope that they may intercede with Allah on his behalf, or in the hope of getting cured from some illness, or of safeguarding of wealth or safety for a person who is away or for any other purpose, commits the major crime of Shirk (polytheism) regarding which Allah states:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَى إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
"Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin." (V.4: 48)
إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ
"Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers." (V.5: 72)
On the Day of Judgement intercession will be granted only to the people who believe in the Oneness of Allah and abide by it sincerely; it will not be granted to the polytheists as stated by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when he was asked about the people who will be fortunate to enjoy his intercession, he said:
"من قال لا إله إلا اله خالصا من قلبه "
"Whoever says with all sincerity of his heart that there is no god but Allah only."
The Prophet also said:
" لكل نبي دعوة مستجابة فتعجل كل نبي دعوته وأنا اختبأت دعوتي شفاعة لأمتي يوم القيامة فهي نائلة إن شاء الله من مات من أمتي لا يشرك بالله شيئا "
"Every Prophet has an invocation that will be answered; and every Prophet hastened in his invocation, but I withheld my invocation so that I may intercede for my people on the Day of Judgement. Allah willing, my invocation will also include those of my nation who died without setting up partners to Allah."
The polytheists of the early period believed in Allah as their Lord, Creator, and Sustainer but they relied on Prophets and friends and protectors, angels, trees and stones, etc. in the hope of gaining their intercession with Allah and nearness to Him as Allah said in the verses quoted above. Allah did not pardon them nor the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم Indeed Allah has renounced them and has described them as infidels and polytheists. Allah has also disproved their claim that those gods will intercede for them with Allah and take them nearer to Him, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has fought battles against them in order to make them worship Allah, the One and Only Allah.
In doing so, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم acted according to the Divine Wish stated in the Noble Qur'ân:
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلَّهِ
"And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone (in the whole of the world). (V. 8: 39).
And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has said:
" أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتى يشهدوا أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله ويقيموا الصلاة ويؤتوا الزكاة فإذا فعلوا ذلك عصموا مني دماءهم وأموالهم إلا بحق الإسلام وحسابهم على الله "
"I have been ordered to fight people until they witness that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah and perform the prayers, and give the Zakât (poor tax); if they do so, they shall enjoy safety from me in their lives and wealth except in what is due to Islâm and they shall be answerable to Allah."
The meaning of the phrase `until they witness that there is no god except Allah' in this saying of the Prophet is that they should worship Allah Only and exclusively. The polytheists were afraid of the jinns and took refuge in them. In this context, Allah says in the Noble Qur'ân:
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِنَ الْإِنْسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادُوهُمْ رَهَقًا
"True, there were people among mankind who took shelter with the persons among the jinns, but they increased them in folly." (V.72: 6).
The commentators of the Noble Qur'ân have interpreted the words `increased them in folly' as their being struck with fear and panic because the jinns feel high and mighty when they see human beings seeking refuge in them and so they make themselves (that is the jinns) a greater source of fear and panic so that these human beings may increasingly worship them and seek refuge in them. But Allah has guided the Muslims to seek refuge in Him and in His Complete Words. Allah says:
وَإِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
"And if an evil whisper comes to you from Satan then seek refuge with Allah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower." (V.7: 200).
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
"Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the day-break." (V.113: 1)
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
"Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind." (V.114: 1)
It is narrated in an authentic Hadîth that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has said:
"من نزل منزلا فقال أعوذ بكلمات الله التامات من شر ما خلق لم يضره شيء حتى يرتحل من منزله ذلك "
"Whoever alights at a place and says, `I seek refuge in the Complete Words of Allah from the evil that He has created' will not be affected by any harm until his departure from that place."
The person seeking safety and protection of his religion and who wishes to be away from Shirk (polytheism) in its major and minor forms will understand from the above quoted verses from the Noble Qur'ân and sayings of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that devotion to the dead and angels, jinns, etc. and invocation to them is an act of imitation of the pagans and polytheists and it is the worst form of Shirk. It is therefore a bounden duty that they keep away from such actions and also advise their brethren regarding it. Relationships of marriage are not admissible with those people who are known to indulge in polytheistic actions; it is also not permissible to eat from their offerings nor to pray for them or behind them until they repent to Allah the All-Mighty and invoke and worship Allah only. Invocation (Du'â) is worship; it is indeed the essence of worship. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has said:
"الدعاء هو العبادة"
"Du'â is worship"
and according to another version:
"الدعاء مخ العبادة "
"Du'â is the core and essence of worship."
Allah the All-Mighty says:
وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّ وَلَأَمَةٌ مُؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ وَلَا تُنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنُوا وَلَعَبْدٌ مُؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ أُولَئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَالْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيُبَيِّنُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
"And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses etc.) till they believe (worship Allah Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress etc.), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikûn till they believe (in Allah Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater etc.), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikân) invite you to the Fire, but Allah invites (you) to Paradise and Forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember." (V.2: 221).
Allah has forbidden Muslims from marrying disbelieving women; such women who worship idols, jinns and angels etc.; marriage is permissible with them only if they sincerely believe in and worship Allah, the One and Only Allah and accept the Message conveyed by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and proceed on the path shown by him. Allah has also forbidden the marriage of Muslim women to disbelievers until they sincerely believe in Allah and worship Him only and accept the Message conveyed by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم The Noble Qur'ân states that:
وَلَأَمَةٌ مُؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ
"A slave woman who believes is better than a disbelieving woman, even though she allures you.(V.2: 221)
and that a man slave who believes is better than a disbeliever, even though he allures you, with his eloquence of speech, courage and chivalry, etc. Allah has then explained the causes for this preference over them by saying that they beckon you to the Fire because they belong to the Fire through their words, actions, manners, conduct and character. As regards the believers - men and women - they are the ones who beckon you to the Paradise through their character, conduct, words and deeds. So, how could the former be equal to the latter? And with regard to the hypocrites Allah the All-Mighty says:
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ مَاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
"And never (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم ) pray (funeral prayer) for any of them (hypocrites) who dies, nor stand at his grave. Certainly they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and died while they were Fâsiqûn (rebellious - disobedient to Allah and His Messenger)." (V.9: 84)
In the above verse, Allah the All-Mighty has stated that one should not offer prayers to the hypocrite and the disbeliever because of their disbelief in Allah and in His Prophet. One should also not pray behind them nor make them as the Imâm of Muslims due to their disbelief and untrustworthiness and also due to the great animosity between them and the Muslims; yet another reason is that they are not from the people who pray and worship Allah; heresy and polytheism obliterate all actions. May Allah guard us from such actions. Allah the All-Mighty says in the context of forbidding Muslims from eating the offerings of the disbelievers and dead animals:
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِسْقٌ وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَى أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ لِيُجَادِلُوكُمْ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ
"Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allah's Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal), for sure it is Fisq (a sin and disobedience of Allah). And certainly, the devils do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them [by making Al-Maytata (a dead animal) legal by eating it], then you would indeed be Mushrikûn (polytheists): [because they (devils and their friends) made lawful to you to eat that which Allah has made unlawful to eat and you obeyed them by considering it lawful to eat, and by doing so you worshipped them, and to worship others besides Allah is polytheism]." (V.6: 121).
Allah the All-Mighty has forbidden the Muslims from eating dead animals and the animals sacrificed by the disbelievers because the sacrifices given by them are in the category of dead animals, although the Name of Allah may be mentioned; but such mentioning will have no effect for the reason that it is an invocation marred by belief in polytheism; so it cannot be accepted until the polytheist repents to Allah. Allah has permitted the consumption of food offered by the people of the Book (Scripture):
وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ
"The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals, etc.) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them." (V.5: 5).
It is lawful because the people of the Book (Scripture) belong to a heavenly religion and claim to be the followers of Moses and Jesus, although this is a false claim. Allah has abrogated their religion and annulled by sending Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم as Messenger to all the peoples. However, Allah the All-Mighty has permitted us to accept the food of the people of the Book and to marry their women. The Divine sanction in this regard is due to certain considerations that have been explained by the Scholars. But such a sanction has not been granted with regard to the disbelievers and the polytheists who worship idos, dead people, Prophets, friends and protectors and others because whatever faith they profess is not based on any principle. In fact, all their professions of faith are total falsehoods; therefore, the animals slaughtered by them are dead animals and eating of it is not permissible.
As regards phrases used by people at times of anger such as `May the jinn strike you'; `May the jinn take you'; and `May the jinn fly away with you' are phrases of abuse that are not permissible for the Muslims like all other phrases of abuse and curse, etc. This is not connected with polytheism. However, if the person uttering such words believes that the jinns have a sway over the affairs of the people without the permission of Allah and His will, he will be a disbeliever because Allah the All-Mighty is the Supreme Possessor and Disposer of everything; it is He Who bestows good or causes harm; nothing exists without His permission, His will and His pre-destined plan; Allah has ordered His Prophet to convey to the people:
قُلْ لَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
"Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): I possess no power of benefit or hurt to myself except as Allah wills. If I had the knowledge of the Ghaib (unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings unto people who believe." (V.7: 188).
If the leader of all mankind and the best of them, our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم does not possess any good nor any harm for himself except what is willed by Allah, how could any other human being do so? There are numerous verses in the Noble Qur'ân in this context.
As regards consulting the soothsayers, magicians, astrologers and others of their tribe who try to predict the unknown, it is a reprehensible act; to believe in them is more reprehensible and objectionable and it is a form of blasphemy because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has said:
" من أتى عرافا فسأله عن شيء لم تقبل منه صلاة أربعين يوما "
"The prayers of a person who consults a soothsayer about anything, will not be accepted for forty days".
(Narrated in the Sahih of Muslim).
It is also narrated on the authority of Mu'awiyah bin Al-Hakam As-Salami that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prohibited consultation with soothsayers. It is narrated as transmitted by the compilers of As-Sunan - that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
" من أتى كاهنا فصدقه بما يقول فقد كفر بما أنزل على محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم "
"He who believes in what a soothsayer says becomes a disbeliever in what has been revealed to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم".
There are several sayings of the Prophet in this context. Muslims therefore, should be on their guard against soothsayers, sorcerers and witchdoctors who claim knowledge of the unseen and deceive Muslims on the pretext of medical treatment or any other excuse. Muslims should beware of such people as forbidden and cautioned by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. In this category, is also included the claims of some people of knowledge of the unseen in the name of medicine; they claim knowledge of the condition of a sick person by smelling his turban or the veil in case of a woman and so on. In fact, such people seek only to deceive and confuse the minds of the innocent people so that they describe him as a person well-informed in medicine and in treating of illnesses; such a person may dispense some medicine which may perhaps cure the sick person; the cure is by the Will of Allah - but the sick person believes that he was cured because of that medicine. It is quite possible that the illness is caused by some of the jinns and evil spirits which are in the employ of that person who claims himself the knowledge of medicine, and they provide him with knowledge of the unseen which they are able to perceive. On the basis of that knowledge the impostor performs certain worships in order to please the jinns and the evil spirits so that they may withdraw from the sick persons. But they invariably leave behind certain harmful effects. This is something well-known about the jinns and evil spirits and those who employ them.
It is therefore, the duty of the Muslims to be on their guard against the above and they should advise each other to abstain from such beliefs and practices and to rely and depend on Allah only on all matters. However, it is not objectionable to use Ruqya (recitation of some Divine verses as a treatment for a disease) and the permissible medicines and treatme