بَرْكَاتُ اْلإمْدَاْد ِلأهْلِ اْلاِسْتِمْدَاد

BEACONS OF HOPE

The Blessings of Assistance from the

Solicitors of Divine Aid

By

Aarife-Billah Taajul-Ulama Mujaddid-e-Meh’ta Haadira Ala’Hadrat Imam Ahmad Rida Al-Qaadiri Barkaati Muhaqqiq Bareilwit

                                                                                 Translated by

Durwesh Abu-Muhammad Abdul-Haadi Al-Qaadiri

 

Published by

Imam Ahmed Raza Academy

(Durban. South Africa)

 

A Barkaatur-Raza Publication

 COPYRIGHT

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

 

Name of Original Kitaab: Barkaatul-Imdaad Li-Ahlil-Istimdaad

Author: Aarife-Billah Taajul-Ulama Mujaddid-e-Meh’ta Haadira Ala'Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Al-Qaadiri Barkaati Muhaddith Barellwi

Translator: Durwesh Abu-Muhammad Abdul-Haadi Al-Qaadiri

 

First edition: Muharram 1421 - April 2000

No. of copies: 3 000

Publishers: Barkaatur-Raza Publications

Design and Typsetting: Raza Graphics

 

Available from:

Imam Ahmed Raza Academy

Imam Ahmed Raza Building

3rd Floor, 20-22 Lorne Street

Durban, 4 001, South Africa

Postal Address:

P.O. Box 5325

Durban, 4 000, South Africa

Tel: (0027-31) 3093642

Fax: (0027-31) 3093707

 

Website: http://www.raza.co.za

E-mail: raza786@mweb.co.za

Dedication

This

book is

dedicated to my

Master, the Beacon of

Salvation, the Divinely appointed

Supreme commander in the Kingdom of

Allah, the Axis of all Mankind, the Minaret of

Sharee’ah, the Manifestation of Haqiqah, the Cup-bearer

of Maarifah, the Imam of Tareeqah, the King of the Awlia,

the Dynamo of Love, the Lamp of the People of Devotion,

Torch of the Spiritual Path,  the Sign of Recognition,

the Chief of the Pious,   the King of Kings, the

Solicitor of Hope, the Leader of the Abdaals,

the Adviser of the Afraad, the Helper of

the Agh’yaath, the  Sayyid of the

Sadaat,   the Fountain of

Sublime Inspiration,

the Grand Ghous,

the Murshid,

the Sheikh,

Sayyid

Muhiyyudeen Sheikh Abdul-Qaadir Hasani Al-Husaini Jilaani Ghousal A’zam Dastageer

 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A

ll Praises are due to ALLAH, the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful, and Choicest Salaams and Salutation upon His Beloved Rasool, the Habeeb, the Mustafa, Sayyiduna Muhammad e, his illustrious Ahle-Bay’t, the noble Sahaba, the dignified Awliya and eminent Ulama of his beloved Ummah. May the Gracious ALLAH sanctify their Souls. Aameen.

 

O Allah I! I sincerely thank You for granting this weak and insignificant servant the honor of serving the Deen.

الحمدلله وشكر لله

 

I am grateful to my beloved wife, Faatima, for her strenuous and dedicated effort in the typing and layout of this valuable document. Above all, I thank her for her patience and co-operation with me in my endeavor to complete this book.

 

To brother Nazir Ahmed for his valuable contribution of effort in the technical side of hardware and software for the computers. To brothers Hafiz Abu-Bakr Walibhai, Sayyid Abdul Azeez and Junaid Yaseen Raza for proofreading of this book.

 

May Almighty ALLAH spare you all for the service of the Maslak of Imam Ahmad Raza(Radi ALLAH Anho) and grant you courage to uphold the banner of the Ahle-Sunnah-wa-Jamaah. Aameen.

 

TRANSLATOR’S NOTE

 

T

hough great precautions have been taken in translating this book from the original Urdu text, which is generally a very difficult task, it is hoped that the present translation is free of errors. If there are any, then it is certainly not the errors of the original works of the Great Mujaddid(Radi ALLAH Anho) as his research is flawless. Please inform us of any errors.

 

The English medium cannot fully express the richness of the Arabic, Persian and Urdu languages. In trying to do justice with this translation, we tried to do our very best in preserving the richness of the Urdu language and communicating the teachings of the Great Imam(Radi ALLAH Anho). The concise and systematic arguments as found in the original book were fully covered to the best of our ability.

 

We humbly request the reader to adopt an unbiased approach and to read this book sincerely and accept the Truth of Islam. We trust that the guidance of the Holy Quran, Sunnah and comments of the illustrious Imams remove all clouds of doubts and illuminate your hearts with the Light of Truth. More than a hundred years have passed since the Great Imam and Aarif compiled this book and to this day no one has come forward to refute its contents. Truth shall always remain outstanding and dominant and falsehood shall always perish.

                                                                                   

و قل جاء الحق و زهق الباطل إن الباطل كان زهوقا

(القرآن الكريم)

 

INTRODUCTION

 

T

he distinguished Prophets and illustrious Awliya enjoy a very special proximity with ALLAH and are therefore, Divinely blessed to assist fellow creation. This assistance can be of a spiritual or physical nature and can be rendered while they are alive and even after their death. These Elite Servants of ALLAH offer their help only by the Command of Almighty ALLAH. They do not do anything without the Consent of their Sublime Lord and are always obedient to Him.

 

The Gracious ALLAH always Showers His Choicest Blessings on His special servants. He addresses them as “His Friends” and no one can imagine or understand this Divinely blessed relation between them. ALLAH States in a Hadith-al-Qudsi:

اوليائي تحت قبائي لا يعرفهم غيري *

My Awliya are hidden in My Divine Garb and no one

knows them besides Me.

There are numerous Ayahs of the Holy Quran and other Ahadith that speaks about the excellence and powers of the Ambiya and the Awliya. They are Divinely appointed representatives and commissioned by ALLAH to perform special duties in His Kingdom. Since they are the distributors of the Bounties of ALLAH, therefore to seek help from them is actually and in reality seeking the Help of ALLAH. This is so because they are not the enemies of ALLAH but the Friends of ALLAH.

 

Unfortunately, the Wahabies and Deobandies ignorantly oppose this help as Shirk and regard it as an erroneous belief. This problem did not exist in the long past and peaceful history of Islam. Ibne Abdul Wahab of Najd introduced it a few hundred years ago. It was then imported to the Indo/Pak sub-continent and propagated by the Deobandi/Tableeghi cult. This caused a great deal of confusion in the Ummah and also divided the Muslim community. The Wahabi/Deobandi scholars have written extensively and vehemently condemned the seeking of help from anyone other than ALLAH as Shirk. They claim with baseless proof that such help seeking is Shirk. To this day, many Muslims are still confused on this subject and some have adopted this Wahabi/Deobandi belief in sheer ignorance.

 

Many Ahle-Sunnah scholars have refuted this corrupt belief in their respected capacities. Similarly, a question was posed in 1311 Hijri (1893) to the Great Mujaddid and Aarif of Allah, Ala’Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Al-Qaadiri Barkaati Muhaddith Barellwi(Radi ALLAH Anho) in this regards. It was the noble nature of the multi-faceted Imam to answer all inquires in the language addressed to him. This question was posed in the Urdu language, and hence, the Imam replied in Urdu. Since he was a Mujaddid (Revivalist) and an extraordinary genius of this era, he compiled a very scholastic answer in light of the Holy Quran, Hadith and proofs from the illustrious Jurists of Islam. No intellectual or scholar can dare to reject or refute it. 

 

There were three unique qualities about the books of Imam Ahmad Raza(Radi ALLAH Anho). Firstly, the contents are encyclopedic. They are set out in a sequence of collaborated facts that finds a unique place in the library of Religious Sciences as well as it will be an armory of the faithful layman. Secondly, the title name of each book clearly speaks of the subject matter and contents. Thirdly, the name of every book can give the reader an indication of the year it was written. Each book was named on the principles of the numerical key “Abjad Hawwaz etc.” that is, all the title names are “Ismut-Taaree’kh” or based on Numerology. Hence the numerical value of the title will total to the year in which it was written. For example, in this case, the great Mujaddid named this book بركلت الامداد لاهل الاستمداد which means, Good fortune Help from the Solicitors of Divine Support. The title informs us of the contents and subject matter of the book. If the numerical value of each alphabet is taken, it will total to 1311, the year of compilation, which is 1311 A.H.  

 

Ala’Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Al-Qaadiri(Radi ALLAH Anho) has fulfilled the obligation entrusted to his Holiness. Evidence and recognition of the Noble Imam being a Mujaddid is conclusive in his unfaltering stance against falsehood. The treatise before the reader is only a glimpse of the Imam’s literary contribution to the Ummah in disseminating his oceanic spectrum of Divinely Blessed Knowledge (Ilme-Ladunni). His insight in matters will always shine forth over the descendents of generations still to come.  

 

The Imam Ahmad Raza Academy proudly presents the Beacons of Hope in English as a service to A’la Hadrat(Radi ALLAH Anho) and for the benefit of the Muslim public. Read along and strengthen your Emaan and we are certain that many misled souls will be saved from the deceit of the venomous Wahabi/Deobandi spell. This treatise demolishes another spoke in the wheel of deception of the Wahabi/Deobandi who constantly direct a conspiracy against the innocent Muslim. The concept of Tawassul and Isti’aanat is gifted to the reader. 

 

We pray that Almighty ALLAH leads us on the righteous Sunni Path and save us from the deception of the Wahabies and Deobandies. Aameen.

 

Durwesh Abu-Muhammad Abdul-Haadi

Al-Qaadiri Radawi

 P

إفتاء

ISLAMIC INQUIRY

 

T

his inquiry came to the great Mujaddid Imam Ahmed Raza Al-Qaadiri(Radi ALLAH Anho) from Ahmad Nabi Khan of Mohalla Shabaazpura Saheswan on the 14th Shabaan Al- Mo'azzam 1311 Hijri.

 

QUESTION

 

What is the ruling of the Ulama of Deen regarding the Ayah

 إياك نستعين A person interprets this Ayah saying that it is Shirk (Polytheism) to seek assistance from anyone other than ALLAH. He quotes the following:

Look at the Hasr (restrictions) of the pure Deen, that it is not permissible to seek assistance from other than ALLAH.

 

He also quotes the beliefs of the illustrious Sufiyya as follows:

 

Sheikh Maslihudeen Saadi Shiraazi(Radi ALLAH Anho) held the same belief. Hence, he states:

There is none besides You that can assist me and it is You

Who  forgives the sins of the servants.

 

Hadrat Moulana Nizaami Ganjawi(Radi ALLAH Anho) also says the same in his Du’a:

O Master! Oh Bestower of excellence! It is only You Who

can help me and save me. 

 

He also quotes an interesting and thought-provoking incident of Sheikh Sufyaan Thouri(Radi ALLAH Anho) recorded in Toh'fatul-Aashikeen. One day, while performing Salaah, Sheikh Sufyaan Thouri(Radi ALLAH Anho) fell unconscious while reciting the Ayah إياك نستعين. When he gained consciousness he said: “I must be the most disrespectful person to ask assistance from other than ALLAH while the Sublime Lord U states, إياك نستعين

 

He then quotes a similar incident of Sayyiduna Nabi Ibraheem u concerning the Ayah إني وجهت وجهي للذي.  He says that there are numerous other Ayahs, Ahadith and sayings of the Ulama and Sufiyya that reject seeking assistance from creation.

 

I hereby request of your august self of a refutation of this belief. Your answer must be based according to the quotations presented, Quran with Quran, Hadith with Hadith and sayings of Sufiyya with sayings of Sufiyya. Your answers should have literal meanings.     بينوا و توجزوا

Solicitor of Hope

(Sultaanul-Awlia Sheikh Abdul-Qaadir Jilaani t)

الجواب

P

الحمد لله وبه نستعين والصلوة والسلام على اعظم غوث و اكرم معين

سيدنا محمد وآله و صحبه أجمعين *

A

lhamdulillah, every Muslim believes in the Ayahs of the Holy Quran. The statements of Hadrat Moulana Saadi(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Moulana Nizaami(Radi ALLAH Anho) are all correct and true but the misled and corrupt try to deduce erroneous beliefs from them.  This will never happen, as truth will always prevail.

 

The Ayah إني وجهت وجهي has no relevance in the matter concerned. This Ayah speaks of concentration in worship, that is: “I turn (concentrate) to Him Who Created the skies and earth”. It does not refer to absolute concentration that includes seeking assistance from the Prophets and Awliya. Jalalain Shareef commentates on this Ayah as follows:

قالوا له ما تعبد قال إني وجهت وجهي قصدت بعبادتي  الخ *

The Kuffaar asked Sayyiduna Ibraheem u, “Whom do you worship?” He replied, “I turn to Him with my worship that

created the skies and earth”.

If we take the meaning of “absolute concentration” in this Ayah then it will be Shirk to face and talk to anyone. The Qibla (direction) is also not ALLAH but the Quran Orders:

و حيثما كنتم فولّوا وجوهكم شطره *

Wherever you are, turn your face to the direction of the Qibla.

ALLAH forbid! This will be a command of Shirk according to the Wahabies.

The Ayah إياك نستعين and the Du’as of assistance of Saadi(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Nizaami(Radi ALLAH Anho) are directed to Almighty ALLAH and do not reject the seeking of assistance absolutely. There is no doubt about the reality these and every excellence. In fact, the mere existence is all from the Unique Creator of the Universe.

 

The reality of assistance is that ALLAH must be regarded as the All- Powerful, the Sovereign, the Absolute, the Non-dependent and Infinite Affluent. He has the Power to independently do as He pleases. It is the belief of every Muslim that to attribute these unique qualities to anyone other than ALLAH is Shirk. Surely, no Muslim will attribute this to anyone, other than ALLAH. In fact, he regards certain creations as a medium or Waseela to achieve blessings and fulfillment of desires. This is certainly correct and in order. ALLAH Himself Orders in the Holy Quran:

وابتغوا إليه الوسيلة *

Seek the Waseela towards ALLAH.

 

By this we understand that إياك نستعين does not reject the seeking of assistance from other than ALLAH. Similarly, in the reality of existence, it is only ALLAH Who exists without assistance and birth. Then how can it be Shirk if we believe in our existence by His Divine Grace?

حقائق الأشياء ثابتة

The reality of things is established.

 

This is a basic and fundamental article of faith in Islam. Likewise, is the state of the reality of knowledge. Only ALLAH Possesses Absolute and Personal Knowledge and none of His creation possesses the same. All of creation seek from Him and are dependent on ALLAH to inspire them with knowledge. So, if we call a knowledgeable person an Aalim or seek knowledge from an Aalim, is it Shirk? This is not so unless both ALLAH and an Aalim be regarded as the same in status. ALLAH Himself Addresses His servants in the Holy Quran as Aleem and Ulama. Almighty ALLAH refers to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) in this Ayah:

يعلمهم الكتاب و الحكمة *

The Nabi(Peace Be Upon Him) teaches them the Kitaab and wisdom.

The same is the situation of seeking assistance (استعانت) because the intention is to use a beloved of ALLAH as a Waseela to beg for His Mercy and Bounties. There is no prohibition in this act because only the creation can be a Waseela and not ALLAH. A Waseela is used to reach someone higher. Who is higher than Allah U, that his Waseela is to be used? Who is above Him to fulfill desires and ambitions? ALLAH is pure from being used as a Waseela because nothing is higher than He is. Therefore, it is stated in the Hadith Shareef that a Bedouin came before the Holy Prophet(Peace Be Upon Him) and said, "Ya Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)! We make you a Shafee (intercessor) in the Court of ALLAH and present ALLAH to you as a Shafee (intercessor)". The Beloved Prophet(Peace Be Upon Him) was very displeased with this and repeated سبحان الله سبحان الله  for a long time and replied:

ويحك! انه لايستفشع بالله على أحد شأن الله اعظم من ذالك  *

رواه ابوداؤد عن جبير بن مطعم رضى الله عنه

O fool! You do not present ALLAH to anyone as an intercessor. The Integrity of ALLAH is way superior to this.

 

A Muslim seeks that assistance from the Ambiya and Awliya that if the same is sought from ALLAH it will earn the displeasure of ALLAH and His Rasool(Peace Be Upon Him). It is an insult to the Divine Integrity of ALLAH to seek this form of assistance. The truth is that if anyone has faith and Imaan in such forms of assistance from ALLAH (to regard ALLAH as a Shafee), he will become a Kaafir. What can be said about the stupidity and ignorance of the idiots who have no respect for Allah U, no fear of Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) and no regard for Imaan? They ignorantly include this assistance with إياك

 نستعين. They include this with that which is impossible for ALLAH and make it exclusive to Him. One idiot said:

What is that you cannot get from ALLAH that you ask

from Awliya

 

I (Imam Ahmed Raza) reply to this:

One cannot use the Tawassul (intercession) of ALLAH

and that is what we seek from the Awliya.

We present the Tawassul of Awliya in the Divine Court of ALLAH for our needs so that it may not be rejected. In the Holy Quran, ALLAH answers this idiotic question and rejection as follows:

و لو انهم إذ ظلموا أنفسهم جاءوك فاستغفروا الله واستغفر لهم

 الرسول لوجدوا الله توابا الرحيما

And when they impose on their lives (sin), they must come to

your (the Nabi's r) presence, then seek repentance from ALLAH and the Rasool(Peace Be Upon Him) also asks for their forgiveness. Then, they

will indeed find ALLAH Most Forgiving and Compassionate.

 

Can ALLAH Himself not forgive? Why then does ALLAH say, "O Prophet(Peace Be Upon Him)! They must come to your presence and you seek forgiveness for them from ALLAH. Then only will they achieve the gift of forgiveness from ALLAH. This is actually our motive but these people do not have the mentality to understand.

For ALLAH'S Sake, have justice! Does the Ayah إياك نستعين refer to seeking absolute assistance from ALLAH only, and is seeking assistance only from only Prophets and Awliya regarded as Shirk? Are the Prophets and Awliya only not Allah U? So according to the Wahabies, besides the Prophets and the Awliya, the rest of the creation are Allah U, or the is the Ayah as it takes the name of these two groups that it is Shirk to seek any aid from them and permissible (to seek assistance) from the rest?

 

It is not so! If seeking assistance is limited absolutely only to ALLAH and forbidden from His creation, then whatever form of aid is sort from anyone other than ALLAH will always be Shirk. Whether it be from human beings or animals, dead or alive, person or attribute, action or condition, they are all other than ALLAH. Now, what is your answer to the Ayah-e-Kareema where Almighty ALLAH States:

واستعينوا بالصبر و الصلوة *

Seek help from Sabr (patience) and Salaah.

Is Sabr (regarded as) ALLAH that you are ordered to seek assistance from it or is Salaah (regarded as) ALLAH that we are ordered to seek aid from it?

 

ALLAH States in another Ayah:

و تعاونوا على البرّ و التقوى *

Assist one another in good deeds and piety.

 

Excuse me sir! If it is absolutely impossible to receive any help from other than Allah U, then what is the meaning of this Command of Allah U? If it is possible to get assistance from them, then why does the stomach pain?

 

There are countless Ahadith that clearly command the seeking of assistance from things other than ALLAH. I will list a few here:

Are all these things the “Lord” of the Wahabies, that it is commanded to seek assistance from them? If you cannot remember these Ahadith, then listen to them from me.

 

Hadith no.1

البخارى و النسائى عن ابوهريرة رضى الله تعالى عنه عن النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه

 و سلّم استعينوا بالغداوة والروحة و شيئ من الدلجة *    

Sayyiduna Abu-Hurayra(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Sayyiduna

Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) “Seek Assistance from the morning,

evening and close to the morning (Tahajjud) prayers”.

(Bukhari and Nisaa'ee)

 

Hadith no. 2 and 3

الترمدى عن ابوهريره  و عن ابن عبّاس رضى الله تعالى عنهم عن النبى صلى الله

تعالى عليه و سلّم استعن بيمينك على حفظك *

Sayyiduna Ibne Abbas(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)  “Assist your memory by making notations”. (Tirmidi)

 

Hadith no. 4

ابن ماجه والحاكم والطبرانى في الكبير والبيهقى في شعب الايمان عن ابن عبّاس رضى الله تعالى عنه عن النبى صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم استعينوا الطعام السحر على صيام النهار و بالقيلولة على قيام الليل *

Ibne Maaja(Radi ALLAH Anho), Haakim(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho) state in Al-Kabeer and Bayhaqi(Radi ALLAH Anho) states in Shou'bul-Imaan, that Sayyiduna

Ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him),

“Seek assistance from Sehri for the days fast and from

siesta for the nights Ibadah”. (Ibne-Maaja)

 

Hadith no. 5

الديلمى في مسند الفردوس عن  عبد الله ابن عمررضى الله تعالى عنهما عن النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم استعينوا على الرزق بالصدقة *

Imam Daylami(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Musnadul-Firdous directly narrates from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Omar(Radi ALLAH Anho) who reports from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) that, “Assist your Rizq by giving charity”. (Daylami)

 

Hadith no. 6

ابن عدى في الكامل عن انس ابن مالك رضى الله تعالى عنه عن النبي صلى الله تعالى

 عليه وسلّم استعينوا على النساء بالعرى فانّ إحداهن إذا كثرت ثيابها و أحسنت زينتها أعجبها الخروج *

Imam Ibne-Adi(Radi ALLAH Anho) records in Al-Kaamil that Sayyiduna Anas ibne Maalik(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) “Assist yourself by not giving your women excessive clothing when she sits at home. If women get many clothes then she would like

 to dress up and leave her home to display her garb”.

 

Hadith no. 7, 8, 9 and 10

الطبرانى في الكبير والعقيلى وابن عدى و أبو نعيم في الحلية والبيهقى في الشعب الإيمان عن معاذ ابن جبل و الخطيب عن ابن عبّاس و الخلعى في فوائده عن أمير المؤمنين علىن المرتضى و الخرائطى في اعتلال القلوب عن أمير المؤمنين عمر الفاروق رضى الله تعالى عنهم عن النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه  و سلّم  استعينوا على إنجاح الحوائج بالكتمان *

Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Al-Kabeer, Aqeeli(Radi ALLAH Anho), Ibne-Adi(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Abu-Na’eem(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Hilya, Imam Bayhaqi(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Shou'bul-Imaan narrates from Sayyiduna Mu'aaz ibne Jabal(Radi ALLAH Anho). Khateeb(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Khal'ee(Radi ALLAH Anho) in his Fawaa'id narrates from Ameeril Moh'mineen Sayyiduna Ali Al-Murtudah(Radi ALLAH Anho). Khara'itee(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Ah'tadaalul-Quloob

directly narrates from Ameeril Moh'mineen Sayyiduna

Omar Al-Farooq(Radi ALLAH Anho) the Beloved Nabi(Peace Be Upon Him) said, “Success

of intentions are in keeping them a secret. So assist

yourself from not exposing those secrets”.

 

These 10 Ahadith refer to seeking help from actions (أفعال). Now, I will quote 20 Ahadith relating to seeking help from persons so that the total will be 30 Ahadith.  

 

Hadith no. 11

 

Imam Ahmad(Radi ALLAH Anho), Imam Abu-Da'ood(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Imam Ibne Maaja(Radi ALLAH Anho) with a Sanad-e-Sahih narrates from Ummul-Moh'mineen Sayyidah Ayesha Siddiqah رضى الله تعالى عنها that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) said:

أنا لا نستعين بمشرك *

We do not seek any help from the Mushrik.

 

If Isti'aanat (seeking help) was also forbidden from a Muslim, then why does the Hadith specify the Mushrik? Sayyiduna Omar Al-Farooq(Radi ALLAH Anho) had a Christian slave Watheeq, who was very trustworthy regarding worldly matters. Ameeril-Moh'mineen(Radi ALLAH Anho) once said to him:

اسلم استعن بك على أمانة المسلمين *

Become a Muslim so that I may seek your assistance with

the Amana (entrusted monies) of the Muslim.

He refused and Sayyiduna Omar(Radi ALLAH Anho) said, “We will not seek any help from a Kaafir”.

 

Hadith no. 12

 

Imam Bukhari(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Taaree'kh narrates from Sayyiduna Habeeb bin Yasaaf(Radi ALLAH Anho) that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) said:

أنا لا نستعين بالمشركين على المشركين * ورواه الأمام احمد أيضا

We do not seek assistance from the Mushrik in

matters regarding the Mushrik.

 

Hadith no. 13

 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and Sunan-e-Nisaa'ee that a few Arab tribes came for some assistance from the Prophet of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him), who assisted them.

عن انس رضى الله تعالى عنه انّ النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم اتاه رعل و ذكوان و عصية و بنو لحيان فزعموا انهم قد اسلموا واستمدوه على قومهم فامدّهم النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم *  الحديث

Sayyiduna Anas(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)

that the clans of Ri'al, Zakwaan, Asiyyah and Banu Lahyaan came to him. They professed of their Islam and sought assistance for their families from the Prophet of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him),

and he assisted them.

 

Hadith no. 14

 

Sahih Muslim, Abu-Da'ood, Ibne Maaja and Tabraani in Muh’jam-e-Kabeer narrate from Sayyiduna Rabee'ah bin Kaab Aslami(Radi ALLAH Anho) that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) once said to him (Kaab Aslami): “Ask what you desire and I will give it to you”. I said, “I ask of you that I be in your company in Jannah”. The Beloved Nabi(Peace Be Upon Him) replied, Is there anything else you desire?” I said, That is all I desire”. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) said, “Assist me by making excessive Sojood”.

قال كنت أبيت مع رسول الله صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم فأتيته بوضوئه و حاجته  ،

 فقال لي سل و لفظ الطبراني فقال يوما يا ربيعه! سلني فاعطيك ، رجعنا الى لفظ مسلم ، قال فقلت ، اسئالك مرافقتك في الجنة ، قال أوغير ذاك؟ قلت هو ذالك  قال فاعنّي على نفسك بكثرت السجود *

Sayyiduna Rabee'ah(Radi ALLAH Anho) says that “I always spent the nights

with the Prophet of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him). One night, I presented water to

him for Istinja and Wudu. He(Peace Be Upon Him) said to me, ‘Ask!’

and the words of Tabraani are,

‘O Rabee'ah! Ask me what you desire and I will grant you’.

We revert back to the words of Sahih Muslim,

‘Then I (Rabee'ah) asked, ‘I seek your company in Jannah’.

 The Prophet of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him) asked, ‘Is there any other request?’

 I replied, ‘That is all I desire’ The Beloved(Peace Be Upon Him) then replied,

‘Then you assist me by making excessive Sojood’”.

 

Alhamdulillah! Every word of this Sahih Hadith Shareef refutes the false Wahabi belief. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) said اعنّى, “assist me” and this is called Isti'aanat.

 

Another important fact is that the Beloved Prophet of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him) said سل  “ask what you desire”. This command has no restrictions or limitations. It is a general option to ask for anything. It is explicitly clear from this Sahih Hadith that Almighty ALLAH has blessed Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) with the authority to grant the desire of this world and the Akhirah.

 

Why would the Nabi(Peace Be Upon Him) say Sal "Ask" unconditionally if he did not possess the authority to grant desires? Surely a Prophet of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him) will not declare or claim any quality that is exclusive to ALLAH. This will be Shirk on his part. Is a Prophet sent by ALLAH to abolish Shirk or to establish it? It is so unfortunate that the Wahabies cannot understand a clear and simple Sahih Hadith.

Sheikh-e-Muhaqqiq Allama Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlawi(Radi ALLAH Anho) states in his commentary of Mishkaat Shareef under the above Hadith Shareef:

“Sal” (ask) is an unconditional question. There are no limitations or restrictions attached to it. This is to

understand that it is within the power and authority

of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) to grant the desire. Whatever

and whomever the Nabi(Peace Be Upon Him) desires, he can grant it, by

the Permission of Allah U

 

Imam Sharfudeen Boseeri(Radi ALLAH Anho), in his famous Qasidah Burdah, states:

فانّ من جودك الدّنيا و ضرّتها                      و من علومك علم اللوح و القلم

This world and the Akhirah, comprises of his(Peace Be Upon Him) generosity. And the knowledge of the Lauh and Qalam is from his(Peace Be Upon Him) knowledge.