Seeking Assistance from the Dead

[Abbas.Abu.Yahya]

Part 1 Seeking Assistance from the Dead

The difference between the ‘Aqeedah of the Salaf as-Salih and the ‘Aqeedah of the grave worshipping Soofis


Compiled by
Abbas Raheem

Translated by
Abbas Abu Yahya

The grave worshipping Soofis promote matters of Shirk and innovation by way of the media, and from those matters is Isteegatha (seeking closeness to Allaah) from the dead of the Prophets, and the righteous people. This is a refutation against their falsehood and their trickery of the worshippers by mentioning what is ambiguous from the texts of Islaam, and using weak hadeeth and narrations, and their own understanding of the authentic hadeeth other than the understanding of the Salaf as-Salih. This refutation also contains the position of the Salaf as-Salih regarding this issue, according to the ‘Aqeedah of the Salaf as-Salih, and all capability is from Allaah.

Isteegatha linguistically means requesting aid and victory.

The Sharia’ definition: There is no difference with the linguistic meaning, since it means requesting help and relief from distress.

And Isteegatha is a type of Dua’(supplication), and Dua’ is worship, as has been mentioned in the hadeeth of an-Numaan bin Basheer who said that the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said : ‘Dua’ is worship.’ Narrated by Ahmad and Tirmidhee and he said the hadeeth was hasan saheeh.

From the principles of the Sharia’ is that all worship, whether apparent or internal, is prohibited until there is an evidence from the Sharia’ that makes the action permissible.

Once this is understood, then know – may Allaah have mercy upon you, and may He direct you to His obedience - that making Isteegatha from the people is divided into two sections according to the Salaf:

The first : The Isteegatha which is permissible : and that is seeking assistance in the time of need from a living person, with that which he has the ability to help with, without having to lower oneself to that person, or with humiliation in any form, or having submission in the same way that you ask from Allaah Ta’ala.

From amongst the evidences that show the permissibility of this type of Isteegatha is:

a) The saying of Allaah Ta’ala regarding the story of Musa – alayhi as-sallam - : <<The man from his (own) party asked him for help against his foe>>

b) The saying of Allaah Ta’ala: <<Help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and transgression.>>