“Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya said, ‘There are numerous
kinds of polytheism: It is polytheism to ask the dead for what one needs and
for help, too. The dead cannot do any work. Since the dead cannot get what they
need or redeem themselves from harm, they cannot help anybody else, either. It
is also polytheism to ask the dead to intercede with Allah for oneself. The
dead can intercede if Allah permits. One’s entreating the dead cannot be a
reason for Allah to give permission. Such a polytheist will have asked for
intercession by a means which prevents permission.’ ”
In reality, what is forbidden is to ask for
intercession from the things which are declared by Allâhu ta’âlâ to be unable
to intercede, namely idols, the things which are worshipped or considered as
partners to Allâhu ta’âlâ. Prophets (’alaihimu ’s-salawâtu wa ’t-taslîmât), awliyâ’ and
’ulamâ’ (rahimahum-Allâhu ta’âlâ) were declared to be able to intercede.
Entreating them to intercede shows one’s belief in the Qur’ân al-karîm and Hadîth
ash-sharîf. It is true that intercession
will be possible by Allâhu ta’âlâ’s permission; but the Qur’ân al-karîm and Hadîth
ash-sharîf show those whom He will
permit. And whom He will permit will intercede for those whom they wish and
with whom they are pleased. This is pointed out in His declaration in Sûrat
al-Wadduhâ, “Your Rabb will
give you whatever you wish till you say that you are pleased.” Al-Imâm al-a’zam Abu Hanîfa (rahimahum-Allâhu ta’âlâ)
wrote in the fourteenth chapter of his book Fiqh-i akbar, “Prophets,
’ulamâ’ and sulahâ’ will intercede
for those who have grave sins and will redeem them
from Hell.” There is detailed information on this subject in the commentary Al-qawl al-fasl of Fiqh-i akbar.
Muslims implore awliyâ’ not so that Allâhu ta’âlâ shall give them permission but for their intercession when they are given permission. The Wahhâbîs deviate since they can not understand this subtlety, and they put the stamp of ‘disbeliever’ on millions of Muslims who ask for shafâ’a (intercession). Their book, too, writes that Rasûlullâh declared that he will intercede for the Believers, but not for polytheists. The Wahhâbî himself has made up the allegation that it is polytheism to ask the dead for intercession. By saying that the Qur’ân al-karîm declares that polytheists will not be interceded for, he tries to misuse Allâhu ta’âlâ’s Book as a false-witness for himself.