We Worship them only that they May Bring us Near to Allaah
March 14, 2007 by Aboo Uthmaan
Written by Aboo Uthmaan
Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says:
“And I (Allaah) created not the jinn’s and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” [Adh-Dhariyat 51:56]
So why do we (when we were created to worship Allaah) see many Muslims worshiping other than Allaah and / or promoting the worship of other than Allaah?
When you ask them why they worship other than Allaah or why they call on dead people in graves and make du’aa to them they give them same excuse that the polytheists at the time of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) gave:
“We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allaah.” [Az-Zumar 39:3]
But Allaah never made calling on other’s as a means of drawing closer to Him, and how strange it is that many Muslims call upon other than Allaah yet (a minimum of) 17 times a day say in their prayer:
“You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).” [Al-Fatihah 1:5]
Those who make du’aa to other than Allaah then say: “But we do not worship them…,” but when we turn to the Book of Allaah we find:
“And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmir (the thin membrane over the date stone). If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call, and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them.” [Fatir 35:13-14]
So not only does Allaah say that the dead cannot hear the living and the du’aa some Muslims unfortunately make to them, He also calls the act of calling on them, making du’aa to them and invoking them an act of worship, and to add the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Du’aa (invoking or calling upon) is worship.” (Reported by Ahmad, Aboo Daawood and others)
So, despite what anyone one says or may claim, making du’aa to, calling upon, invoking or supplicating to other than Allaah is worship, and when a person worships other than Allaah he has committed Shirk - May Allah save us from that and make us of those who die upon Tawheed!
Wallaahu ta’aala ‘aalam!
Subahanaka Allaahuma wa bihamdika ashadu a laa illa illah anta astagfirouka wa at-tabu ilaik.
Aboo Uthmaan
25th Safar 1428 A.H
(Corresponding to Wednesday 14th March 2007 C.E)
Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barkatuhu
I would like to have a clarification on the visiting of graves and what should be done there standing at the grave of the person and what is the right amal. Please answer my comment and may Allah subhana wa taala bless us all with deen, ameen.
Walaikum salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh
May Allaah reward you!
Dr. Muhammad al-Jibaly in his book ‘Funerals, Regulations & Exortations’ wrote:
The ruling with regards to visiting the graves is one of recommendation. The purpose of the visit is a) to remember death and the things that happen in the grave and in the hereafter (i.e. to receive admonition) and b) benefit the dead muslim by giving salaam, making du’aa for them, and asking forgiveness for them.
One may visit the grave of a kaafir only for the purpose of admonishment and remembering death. One may not give them salaams or supplicate for them rather they should be given the tidings of Hellfire.
Women may visit the graves but they should not frequent it.
One should enter the grave with quietness and serenity - in order to benefit from the visit and remember the hereafter. The du’aas to make are:
“As-Salaamu ‘alaa ahlid-diyaari minal-mu’mineena wal-muslimeen, wa-yarHamullahul-mustaqdimeena minnaa wal-musta’khireen, wa-innaa in shaa’a ‘Llaahu bikum lalaaHiqoon.” (Muslim, Ahmad & Others)
“As-Salaamu ‘alaykum daara qawmin mu’mineen, wa-innaa wa’iyyaakum wamaa too’adoona ghadan mu’ajjaloon, wa-innaa in shaa’a ‘Llaahu bikum laaHiqoon. Allaahumma ‘ghfir lahum.” (Muslim & Others)
“As-Salaamu ‘alaykum ahlid-diyaari min al-mu’mineena wal-muslimeen, wa-innaa in shaa’a ‘Llaahu bikum lalaaHiqoon, antum lanaa faraT, wanaHnu lakum taba’. As’al Ullaaha lanaa wa-lakum ul-‘aafiyah.” (Muslim & Others)
“As-Salaamu ‘alaykum daara qawmin mu’mineen, wa-innaa in shaa’a’Llaahu bikum laaHiqoon.” (Muslim & Others)
It is permissible to raise ones hands while supplicating for the dead at the graveyard. One must face the qibla when supplicating and not the graves.
It is not permissible to make salaah among the graves, even if one did not face them in prayer.
It is prohibited to build or establish masjids over graves. It is prohibited to make a grave a place of seasonal gathering visited for worship or other purposes. It is prohibited to sacrifice animals at graves even if it is for Allaah.
It is not permissible to travel for the purpose of visiting a grave as it is prohibited to visit any revered place, other than the Three Masjids, with the intention of pleasing Allaah by such a visit.
There is no basis in the Sunnah for reading Qur’aan over the graves. All four Imaams disliked it. All reports mentioning Soorah’s al-Ikhlaas and Ya Seen or other portions of the Qur’aan are weak.
Offering the blessings of one’s acts of worship (like prayer and Qur’aanic recitation) to the deceased is an innovation.
Juzeet khayran
لَهُ دَعْوَةُ الْحَقِّ وَالَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ لاَ يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَيْءٍ إِلاَّ كَبَاسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى الْمَاء لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَالِغِهِ وَمَا دُعَاء الْكَافِرِينَ إِلاَّ فِي ضَلاَلٍ
[al-Ra'd: 14]
Jazak’Allaahu khairan sister Fajr!
The verse that sister Fajr posted translates as:
“For Him (Alone) is the Word of Truth (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but He). And those whom they (polytheists and disbelievers) invoke, answer them no more than one who stretches forth his hand (at the edge of a deep well) for water to reach his mouth, but it reaches him not, and the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but an error (i.e. of no use).” (Ra’d 13:14)