Explaining what is Shirk and is Istighatha Shirk ?
The word Shirk means that you associate someone with Allah (SWT) or you are giving the attributes of Allah to the creation.
When A Muslim recites the Shahada he purifies himself from the spiritual Impurity and Then He is away from Shirk and becomes someone who accepts that Only Allah (SWT) has all the power and no one else can do anything or bless anyone with anything unless he wants anything to happen.
And If a Man Accepts that no one has any power or is equal to Allah then he is free from shirk.
And Shirk has Two Types Shirk Akbar, Shirk asghar:
The Major Shirk is to believe and associate someone with Allah (SWT) and giving someone the power which is only for Allah and its shirk akbar.
The Shirk-Al-Asghar which is also called Minor shirk is not the unforgiveable Shirk its small and one can repent after it.
It usually happens when people think that they are wearing a stone as amulets and think they will bring good luck and doing something to show off infront of everyone and doing things for someone other than Allah count in the form of Shirk Asghar (minor Shirk)
This Shirk usually happens and people don't even realize and it is also related to ones intention aswell and if it becomes corrupt then it happens the most.
Rasool Allah ﷺ said: “The thing that I fear most for you is minor shirk.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, what is minor shirk?” He said: “Showing off, for Allah will say on the Day when people are recompensed for their actions: ‘Go to those for whom you were showing off with your deeds in the world, and see what reward you find with them.’
(Musnad Ahmad)
And The First thing about Istighatha is that you cannot ask anyone directly its clearly against the Adab and its not permissible to ask anyone to grant you anything as Dua is only for Allah and if someone directs it to anyone else then its Shirk because Dua is Worship.
This is taken from the Siyar of Imam Dahabi (rh) and there is one thing which is very important and you must understand this,
If one does these things then its not shirk but its important to acknowledge that only Allah has the power and they can only pray for you.
And this is one of the major proofs which you have to use for such things because our beloved Prophet (SAW) asked Jibril to intercede for him but people call such things as Shirk Akbar which is wrong
(Recorded by Al Tabarani and also In Majma Zawd)
And The Believer has more Power granted by Allah (SWT)
(Musnad Ahmad)
And The Prophets are alive with in their graves and Our Prophet (ﷺ )is more alive than we are. And Also for the righetous servants they are also in a very awake state in their grave.
Last pic was from Kitab Ruh and this one is from it aswell.
And Imam Ibn Qayyim (rh) says this about Istighatha that a man directly asked Ibn Taymiyyah rh for guidance and he came in his dream and guided him regarding the religious matter"those who deny it are the most ignorant".
The Companions of Our Prophet (SAW) used the Slogan "Ya Muhammad Madad" during the Battle of Yamama.
(Al Bidayah of Ibn Kathir check hijri 11 musaylimah the liar section).
"Abu Hudhayfah said: ‘O people of the Qur’an, adorn the Qur’an with your deeds.’ He carried on until he was far away and his medicine was affected. Khalid ibn al-Walid carried on until he passed them, heading towards Musaylimah, hoping to reach him and kill him. Then he returned and stood between the two lines, calling for single combat, saying: ‘I am the son of al-Walid, the old one, I am the son of ‘Amir and Zayd.’ Then he called out the Muslims’ slogan - which was ‘O Muhammad’ - and no one came forward to him without being killed, and nothing approached him without being eaten."
"The Sahaba went to the Grave of the Prophet (SAW) and asked him for Rain because there was a drought and Bilal RA was present there and then they asked him for rain and also said intercede for us with your lord and bless us with rain." What the Companions did is permissible but i don't recommend it to anyone because if it doesn't happens when you ask someone then you will lose love and respect for that person.
He Further added: "Whoever Denies seeking help from the Prophet (SAW) which benefits his rank is either a deviant or a disbeliever."
And The Definiton of Gawth is seeking help and Istighatha means seeking help and seeking help through intercession or through the Dua of the Righetous is actually what Really Istighatha is if you ask them to pray for you then its Istighatha.
This is What Shaykh Ibn Tayimiyyah said Regarding Istighatha and Tawassul (In arabic seeking help is called Istighata and seeking intercession or blessings is tawassul)
(majmu fatawi 101)
"Asking the Creation which is in its Power is permissible and seeking their Help is to seek their intercession with Allah (SWT). And anyone who asks the Creation and considers they will give other than Allah that person is an infidel."
(majmu fatawi vol 1 p,104)
Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah (rh) has a book which is a response to Al Bakri and the thing about this is that the Edition of Majmu fatawi the Saudi edition in it there is a note that his response to Al Bakri is not an authentic one and it has been manipulated from its first copy.
And Asking for anything else which is not in the Power of the Creation its Shikr Akbar and the worst sin to commit.
And Shaykh writes in Majmu Fatawi (109-110)
"Whoever denies seeking intercession through the Prophet (SAW) is an infidel and the Muslims are agreed on this."
And The Shaykh has written again and Again that Tawassul is indeed permissible and there is no issue about that but regarding Istighata he has written again and again that We only Seek help from Allah and no one else and when we seek Help through the creation its not asking.
Them to bless us nor we consider them to bless us if anyone thinks they can bless us with something which is only for Allah then he can be declared as an Infidel."
This is about giving them Divine Power if you are giving it to them then its shirk akbar.
(Majmu fatawi)
All disciples of Ibn Taymiyyah (rh) had a view on Istighata which was positive and the first fatwa of Ibn Taymiyyah which i shared is the reason why Imam Ibn Qayyim (rh) thought that it was fine to seek guidance from him after his death.
"Only the most ignorant will deny this"
And In Masa'il Ahmad its recorded that Imam Ahmad rh directly called an angel and people call it shirk Akbar which i don't think is correct because he Said "O Servants of Allah guide me to the way" and if he said that it was because of a Hadith about it. And Imam Ahmad was right.
And I have clearly explained that the Dead is not like the one who is ended or in pain or helpless he is in a good way and He can Go anywhere on Earth
Salman Farsi (RA) said: "The Souls are on Earth."
Imam Malik rh said: "I have been told that the souls are on Earth and can go anywhere on Earth."
(Kitab Ruh check pages till 60 for it)
And There is nothing new for the Dead he is just losing his Body and this is also a benefit for him as he can go anywhere as a Soul even where he couldn't go with his Body.
Another Hadith on This and Allah will say "Call for your special one" you can understand the meaning quite well i think. (Hadith from Imam Ibn Al Mubarak' works authentic aswell)
And Thus Its proved that Istighatha is Permissible in light of such proofs available.
I hope this will clear any type of Confusion about Istighata its just that seeking intercession of the Righetous or ask them to make dua to Allah for you, And seeking help from the Creation in which it's able to help is permissible but one thing that making dua to others is shirk.
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