this piece was forwarded to me by Brother Sal Barry. It is a monumental work by the late Ibn Baas may Allah be please with him.
   
  Sh. Ibn baz wrote 3 essays related to this topic. All 3 essays can be found below. Apologies for the lengthy articles.
Source: http://www.bin-baz.org.sa
 
Cheers,
Salieu
 
 
The rule on those who seek help in other than Allah

  Publisher's Note  The basis of Islam is Monotheism. Allah sent all the Prophets and Messengers to invite mankind towards the worship of the All-Mighty Allah Alone. The Prophets and Messengers had also warned the human beings against ascribing partners to Allah, which is called polytheism.
Polytheism ruins the good deeds of man, leaving him to be exposed to the Hell-fire in the Hereafter. To be successful in this world and in the Hereafter, it is necessary that one should always keep himself away from the acts of polytheism, which has many aspects.
His Eminence, Sheikh `Abdul `Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz has written three short essays to caution us against the various manifestations of polytheism. We are publishing these essays for the benefit of Muslims so that awareness about polytheism may increase and people may stable their beliefs, deeds and actions according to pure Faith in Allah and in accordance with the Noble Qur'ân and the Sunna (traditions of the Noble Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã).
May Allah grant us the supreme success - Amîn.
Abdul Malik Mujahid
General Manager
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

  INTRODUCTION  Praise is to Allah and peace and blessings be on the Prophet of Allah; on his family members; and on all those who proceed on his path.
Since the principle of Oneness of Allah formed the basis of the mission of Muhammad bin Abdullah Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã and since this mission is in fact a continuation of the missions of the Prophets who preceded him as stated by Allah in the Noble Qur'ân:

  æóáóÞóÏú ÈóÚóËúäóÇ Ýöí ßõáøö ÃõãøóÉò ÑóÓõæáðÇ Ãóäö ÇõÚúÈõÏõæÇ Çááøóåó æóÇÌúÊóäöÈõæÇ ÇáØøóÇÛõæÊó 
  "And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): `Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities etc.)". (V.16: 36),
And since opposition to heresy and falsehood in its various manifestations, formed the core of this Faith, it is a duty on every Muslim to be well informed about his religion and to worship Allah as ordained by the Islâmic Shari'a.
The Muslims of the previous generations had a clear concept regarding their religion because all their beliefs, actions and dealings were in accordance with the Noble Qur'ân and the Pure Traditions (Sunna - words and deeds of the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã).
Later on, most of the Muslims deviated from this Straight Path - the path of the Book and the Tradition - and fell apart into factions and groups in all matters pertaining to religion as well as politics and the laws regulating their daily lives. As a result, there came into existence heretical innovations, falsehoods, magic and witchcraft. All these things served as easy loopholes for the enemies of Islâm to attack Islâm and its followers.
The `Ulamaâ' (learned scholars) of Islâm have, in all periods of history, past and present, cautioned us through their writings against these innovations. This booklet entitled "Establishing the proofs regarding the rule on those who seek help in other than Allah or those who believe in soothsayers and fortune-tellers, by His Eminence, Sheikh `Abdul-' Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, consists of three essays:

    
   The Regulation governing the seeking of help from the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã.   
   The Regulation governing the seeking of help from jinns and Satan and making vows to them.   
   The Regulation regarding worship through certain innovations which are derived from heretical and polytheistic beliefs. 
  The Presidency of the Directorates of Islâmic Research, Ifta, Da `wah and Guidance has the pleasure to place before the reader this booklet as a contribution towards the enlightenment of the English speaking Muslims against heresy and superstition - so that the general appreciation and understanding of Islâm may increase.
May Allah the All-Mighty make this booklet of use to all Muslims; verily Allah Alone grants success. And may peace be upon Muhammad, his Family and his Companions.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

  THE FIRST ESSAY
The Regulation governing the seeking of help from the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã  Praise is to Allah and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet of Allah, the members of his Family and his Companions and on all those who proceed on his path.
The weekly magazine, Al-Mujtama' of Kuwait, had in its issue No. 15 dated 19-4-1390 A.H., published a poem containing invocations to the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã and appeals to him to help the Ummah (Islâmic community) and to salvage it from mutual disaccord and disagreements. The poem signed by someone called Amina, ran as follows:
"0 Prophet of Allah, come to the rescue of a world caught in the flames of a war, O Prophet of Allah, come to the rescue of the Ummah, plunged in the darkness of doubts since long, O Prophet of Allah, come to the rescue of the Ummah which has lost sight of its vision in the wilderness of grief... etc. etc."
And the poem concludes with the following lines:
"O Prophet of Allah, come to the rescue of the Ummah, plunged in the darkness of doubt since long. Pray you! Bring speedy victory as you did at the battle of Badr when you called out to the All-Mighty, And lo! Defeat was turned to a Glorious Victory. Verily Allah has soldiers you do not see."
Thus the person who wrote this poem cries out to the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã beseeching him to rescue the Ummah by achieving speedy victory; she forgets or ignores the fact that victory is granted by Allah the All-Mighty Alone and that it is not in the hands of the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã nor in the hands of any other creation. Allah the All-Mighty says in the Noble Qur'ân:

  æóãóÇ ÇáäøóÕúÑõ ÅöáøóÇ ãöäú ÚöäúÏö Çááøóåö ÇáúÚóÒöíÒö ÇáúÍóßöíãö 
  "...And there is no victory except from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (V.3: 126).

  þÅöäú íóäúÕõÑúßõãõ Çááøóåõ ÝóáóÇ ÛóÇáöÈó áóßõãú æóÅöäú íóÎúÐõáúßõãú Ýóãóäú ÐóÇ ÇáøóÐöí íóäúÕõÑõßõãú ãöäú ÈóÚúÏöåö 
  "If Allah helps you, none can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you?.." (V.3: 160).
It has been established by the verses of the Noble Qur'ân and by the consensus of the Ummah that Allah the All-Mighty created all human beings so that they may worship Him. He sent the Messengers and revealed the Books to expound the manner of worship and the path of the mission. In this regard, Allah the All-Mighty states in the Noble Qur'ân: 

  æóãóÇ ÎóáóÞúÊõ ÇáúÌöäøó æóÇáúÅöäúÓó ÅöáøóÇ áöíóÚúÈõÏõæäö 
  "And I (Allah) created not the jinns and men except they should worship Me (Alone)." (V.51: 56)

  þæóáóÞóÏú ÈóÚóËúäóÇ Ýöí ßõáøö ÃõãøóÉò ÑóÓõæáðÇ Ãóäö ÇõÚúÈõÏõæÇ Çááøóåó æóÇÌúÊóäöÈõæÇ ÇáØøóÇÛõæÊó 
  "And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): `Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût...' "(V.16: 36).

  þæóãóÇ ÃóÑúÓóáúäóÇ ãöäú ÞóÈúáößó ãöäú ÑóÓõæáò ÅöáøóÇ äõæÍöí Åöáóíúåö Ãóäøóåõ áóÇ Åöáóåó ÅöáøóÇ ÃóäóÇ ÝóÇÚúÈõÏõæäö 
  "And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã) but We inspired him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)". (V.21: 25)

  þÇáÑ ßöÊóÇÈñ ÃõÍúßöãóÊú ÂíóÇÊõåõ Ëõãøó ÝõÕøöáóÊú ãöäú áóÏõäú Íóßöíãò ÎóÈöíÑò þ . þÃóáøóÇ ÊóÚúÈõÏõæÇ ÅöáøóÇ Çááøóåó Åöäøóäöí áóßõãú ãöäúåõ äóÐöíÑñ æóÈóÔöíÑñ 
  "Alif-Lâm-Râ'. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'ân and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. (This is) a Book, the Verses whereof are perfected (in every sphere of knowledge, etc.), and then explained in detail from One (Allah), Who is All-Wise and Well-Acquainted (with all things). (Saying) worship none but Allah. Verily, I (Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã) am unto you from Him a warner and a bringer of glad tidings." (V.11: 1, 2)
It is clear from the above verses that Allah the All-Mighty has created human beings and jinns but for one purpose only: to worship Him Alone and not to attribute any partner to Him. And He has said clearly that the Messengers Úáíåã ÇáÕáÇÉ æÇáÓáÇã were sent to call for this worship and to forbid what is contrary to it. The verses of the Noble Qur'ân are clear and categorical in stating that Allah and Allah Alone is to be worshipped. This worship implies Faith in the Oneness of Allah, obedience to Him, compliance of His Commands and abstention from all that has been forbidden by Him. Allah has ordained these tenets in numerous verses:

  þæóãóÇ ÃõãöÑõæÇ ÅöáøóÇ áöíóÚúÈõÏõæÇ Çááøóåó ãõÎúáöÕöíäó áóåõ ÇáÏøöíäó 
  "And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)..." (V.98: 5)

  þæóÞóÖóì ÑóÈøõßó ÃóáøóÇ ÊóÚúÈõÏõæÇ ÅöáøóÇ ÅöíøóÇåõ 
  "And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him..." (V.17: 23)

  þÅöäøóÇ ÃóäúÒóáúäóÇ Åöáóíúßó ÇáúßöÊóÇÈó ÈöÇáúÍóÞøö ÝóÇÚúÈõÏö Çááøóåó ãõÎúáöÕðÇ áóåõ ÇáÏøöíäó. þÃóáóÇ áöáøóåö ÇáÏøöíäõ ÇáúÎóÇáöÕõ 
  "Verily, We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã)in truth: So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only, and not to show off and not to set up rivals with Him in worship. Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only..." (V.39: 2, 3)
The verses dealing on this concept are abundant in the Noble Qur'ân. They all point to the necessity of sincerity in worshipping Allah Alone and to give up worshipping of all others including the Prophets. There is no doubt that Du'â (invocation) is a vital and comprehensive form of worship; it is to be addressed in all sincerity to Allah Alone as Allah the All-Mighty says in the Noble Qur'ân:

  þÝóÇÏúÚõæÇ Çááøóåó ãõÎúáöÕöíäó áóåõ ÇáÏøöíäó æóáóæú ßóÑöåó ÇáúßóÇÝöÑõæäó 
  "So, call you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã and the believers) upon (or invoke) Allah making (your) worship pure for Him (Alone) (by worshipping none but Him and by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only and not to show off and not to set up rivals with Him in worship). However much the disbelievers ( in the Oneness of Allah) may hate (it)." (V.40: 14)

  þæóÃóäøó ÇáúãóÓóÇÌöÏó áöáøóåö ÝóáóÇ ÊóÏúÚõæÇ ãóÚó Çááøóåö ÃóÍóÏðÇ 
  "And the mosques are for Allah (Alone); so invoke not anyone along with Allah." (V.72: 18).
This applies to all the creations including the Prophets Úáíåã ÇáÓáÇã because the word Ahad in Arabic is indefinite noun used in the context of total negation. Therefore, it applies to all except Allah the All-Mighty.
Allah the All-Mighty says:

  þæóáóÇ ÊóÏúÚõ ãöäú Ïõæäö Çááøóåö ãóÇ áóÇ íóäúÝóÚõßó æóáóÇ íóÖõÑøõßó 
  "And invoke not besides Allah, any that will neither profit you, nor hurt you..." (V.10: 106)
This verse is addressed to the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã Needless to say, the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã enjoys Divine protection from polytheistic beliefs; the purpose of this verse is to caution others. The All-Mighty says:

  ÝóÅöäú ÝóÚóáúÊó ÝóÅöäøóßó ÅöÐðÇ ãöäó ÇáÙøóÇáöãöíäó 
  .".. if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)." (V.10: 106).
Thus, the foremost among the mankind, namely the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has himself been cautioned that if he invokes anyone other than Allah, he shall be deemed as one who does wrong. What to say of other human beings?
It must be noted that the word Zulm (wrongdoing) is used in the sense of major Shirk that is polytheism. Allah the All-Mighty says:

  æóÇáúßóÇÝöÑõæäó åõãõ ÇáÙøóÇáöãõæäó 
  "...And it is the disbelievers who are the Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.)." (V.2: 254)

  Åöäøó ÇáÔøöÑúßó áóÙõáúãñ ÚóÙöíãñ 
  "... Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zûlm (wrong) indeed." (V.31: 13).
It is evident from all these verses that invocation to anyone other than Allah, whether they be from the dead or trees or idols, etc., is an act of joining others with Allah in worship; it contradicts the purpose of worship for which Allah has created the human beings and the jinns and had sent Prophets Úáíåã ÇáÓáÇã and had revealed the Divine Messages so that they convey the Messages to the people and call them to act upon it. This is the meaning of the phrase `there is no god except Allah', this statement affirms that there is nothing to be worshipped except Allah the All-Mighty. It is stated in the Noble Qur'ân:

  þÐóáößó ÈöÃóäøó Çááøóåó åõæó ÇáúÍóÞøõ æóÃóäøó ãóÇ íóÏúÚõæäó ãöäú Ïõæäöåö ÇáúÈóÇØöáõ 
  That is because Allah, He is the Truth, and that which they invoke besides Him is Al-Bâtil (the falsehood, Satan and all other false deities)..." (V.31: 30)
This is the essence of religion, and the basic principle of our Faith; no worship will be true unless this principle is truly accepted. Allah the All-Mighty says in the Noble Qur'ân:

  þæóáóÞóÏú ÃõæÍöíó Åöáóíúßó æóÅöáóì ÇáøóÐöíäó ãöäú ÞóÈúáößó áóÆöäú ÃóÔúÑóßúÊó áóíóÍúÈóØóäøó Úóãóáõßó æóáóÊóßõæäóäøó ãöäó ÇáúÎóÇÓöÑöíäó 
  "And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã, as it was to those (Allah's Messengers) before you: `If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.' "(V.39: 65)

  and æóáóæú ÃóÔúÑóßõæÇ áóÍóÈöØó Úóäúåõãú ãóÇ ßóÇäõæÇ íóÚúãóáõæäó 
  "...But if they had joined in worship others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them." (V.6: 88).

  The religion of Islâm is based on two great principles: 
    
   That Allah Alone is to be worshipped.   
   That the worship should be according to the path shown by the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã. 
  This is the meaning of the Shahâdah i.e. the Statement of Faith: "There is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Therefore, it will be a contradiction of this principle if anyone invokes the dead including the Prophets or others or invokes idols, trees and stones, etc. and seeks their help or seeks to gain favour from them by offering sacrifices of animals or vows or praise for them or prostrates to them.. It will be an act of associating others as Lords of the creation besides Allah the All-Mighty; it will also amount to setting up of rivals to Allah the All-Mighty. In other words, it will be a negation of this basic tenet. It must also be mentioned that anyone who introduces into religion something which has not been permitted by Allah the All-Mighty will be failing to abide by the meaning of the Shahâdah that "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Allah the All-Mighty says:

  þæóÞóÏöãúäóÇ Åöáóì ãóÇ ÚóãöáõæÇ ãöäú Úóãóáò ÝóÌóÚóáúäóÇåõ åóÈóÇÁð ãóäúËõæÑðÇ 
  "And We shall turn to whatever deeds they (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners etc.) did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust." (V.25: 23).
The deeds referred to here, are the deeds of those who spent their lives in polytheistic beliefs.
In this category of deeds are also included all contrived actions which have not been permitted by Allah; these actions will, on the Day of Judgement, be like floating dust scattered about because it was not in accordance with the Divine Guidance. Prophet Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has said in an authentic Hadîth (tradition):

  ãä ÃÍÏË Ýí ÃãÑäÇ åÐÇ ãÇ áíÓ ãäå Ýåæ ÑÏ 
  "He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it will have it rejected."
The above referred lady writer has addressed an invocation to the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã and calls for his help. She has turned away from the Lord of the creations in Whose Hand there is victory as well as defeat, Who Alone bestows help or loss or benefit; none other can benefit nor bestow any such thing. No doubt such an action is a serious violation and it is a Shirk (polytheism), the consequences of which will be very grave. Allah the All-Mighty has commanded us to invoke Him and to seek His help; He has promised to respond and He has also threatened with dire consequences to all those who are haughty. He says:

  þæóÞóÇáó ÑóÈøõßõãõ ÇÏúÚõæäöí ÃóÓúÊóÌöÈú áóßõãú Åöäøó ÇáøóÐöíäó íóÓúÊóßúÈöÑõæäó Úóäú ÚöÈóÇÏóÊöí ÓóíóÏúÎõáõæäó Ìóåóäøóãó ÏóÇÎöÑöíäó 
  "And your Lord said: `Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islâmic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation! '"(V.40: 60)
This verse points out that invocation is a form of prayer and whoever is haughty, his ultimate place of abode will be Hell. If such is the case with regard to one who has had the audacity to avoid praying to Allah, what will be the condition of a person who invokes other than Allah while Allah the All-Mighty is Omnipotent and Omnipresent? The Noble Qur'ân says:

  þæóÅöÐóÇ ÓóÃóáóßó ÚöÈóÇÏöí Úóäøöí ÝóÅöäøöí ÞóÑöíÈñ ÃõÌöíÈõ ÏóÚúæóÉó ÇáÏøóÇÚö ÅöÐóÇ ÏóÚóÇäö ÝóáúíóÓúÊóÌöíÈõæÇ áöí æóáúíõÄúãöäõæÇ Èöí áóÚóáøóåõãú íóÑúÔõÏõæäó 
  "And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã ) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright."(V.2: 186).

  It is narrated in an authentic Hadith (tradition of the Prophet) that the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã advised his cousin Abdullah bin Abbâs ÑÖí Çááå Úäå as follows: 
  "ÇÍÝÙ Çááå íÍÝÙß ÇÍÝÙ Çááå ÊÌÏå ÊÌÇåß ÅÐÇ ÓÃáÊ ÝÇÓÃá Çááå æÅÐÇ ÇÓÊÚäÊ ÝÇÓÊÚä ÈÇááå"
"Remember Allah and He will remember you; remember Allah and you shall find Him in your path; If you ask, ask from Allah; and if you seek help, seek from Allah."

  And he also said: 
  "ãä ãÇÊ æåæ íÏÚæ ááå äÏÇ ÏÎá ÇáäÇÑ"
"He, who dies while praying to someone as rival to Allah, the reward for such a person shall be the Fire of Hell." (Narrated by Imâm Bukhâri).
In another Hadîth (tradition), the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã said in an answer to a query as to which is the greatest sin:
"Ãä ÊÌÚá ááå äÏÇ æåæ ÎáÞß"
"To make someone as rival to Allah, Who has created you."
So, anyone who prays to other than Allah, seeks his help or gives offering to him or slaughters an animal or offers a prayer to him will be adopting someone as rival to Allah, whether he be a Prophet or a devout person or a king or jinn or an idol or anything else. As regards, invocation to a person who is alive and present before you, it is not an act of Shirk (polytheism) because it is quite normal to seek the help of those around you in matters pertaining to the material life to the possible extent; it is a normal and sanctioned practice among Muslims. Allah the All-Mighty says in the Noble Qur'ân in the story pertaining to Moses:

  ÝóÇÓúÊóÛóÇËóåõ ÇáøóÐöí ãöäú ÔöíÚóÊöåö Úóáóì ÇáøóÐöí ãöäú ÚóÏõæøöåö 
  "...The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe..." (V.28: 15).
and in another verse pertaining also to the story of Moses (Musa Úáíå ÇáÓáÇã) Allah the All-Mighty says:

  þÝóÎóÑóÌó ãöäúåóÇ ÎóÇÆöÝðÇ íóÊóÑóÞøóÈõ 
  "So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear..." (V.28: 21).
Man therefore seeks the help of his fellow human beings at times of war or at times of difficulties that occur to him and which require the help of others. Allah ordered his Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã to convey to the people that he (the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã) does not possess for anyone any good nor any harm. The Noble Qur'ân states:

  þÞõáú ÅöäøóãóÇ ÃóÏúÚõæ ÑóÈøöí æóáóÇ ÃõÔúÑößõ Èöåö ÃóÍóÏðÇ. þÞõáú Åöäøöí áóÇ Ãóãúáößõ áóßõãú ÖóÑøðÇ æóáóÇ ÑóÔóÏðÇ 
  "Say (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã): `I invoke only my Lord (Allah Alone), and I associate none as partners along with Him.' Say: `It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to the Right Path.'" (V.72: 20, 21)

  þÞõáú áóÇ Ãóãúáößõ áöäóÝúÓöí äóÝúÚðÇ æóáóÇ ÖóÑøðÇ ÅöáøóÇ ãóÇ ÔóÇÁó Çááøóåõ æóáóæú ßõäúÊõ ÃóÚúáóãõ ÇáúÛóíúÈó áóÇÓúÊóßúËóÑúÊõ ãöäó ÇáúÎóíúÑö æóãóÇ ãóÓøóäöíó ÇáÓøõæÁõ Åöäú ÃóäóÇ ÅöáøóÇ äóÐöíÑñ æóÈóÔöíÑñ áöÞóæúãò íõÄúãöäõæäó 
  "Say (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã): I possess no power of benefit or hurt to myself except as Allah will. If I had the knowledge of the Ghaib (unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings unto people who believe." (V.7: 188).
The Qur'ânic verses on this concept are many in number. The Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã never invoked anyone other than Allah and he never sought help from anyone other than Him; he beseeched Allah the All-Mighty during the battle of Badr and asked Him for victory against the enemy; he persistently prayed to Him saying, "O Lord, fulfill for me Your Promise." He kept repeating these words to the extent that his friend and companion Abû Bakr ÑÖí Çááå Úäå said: "May it suffice you, O Prophet of Allah; verily Allah will fulfill His Promise to you. In this context, Allah revealed the following verse of the Noble Qur'ân:

  þÅöÐú ÊóÓúÊóÛöíËõæäó ÑóÈøóßõãú ÝóÇÓúÊóÌóÇÈó áóßõãú Ãóäøöí ãõãöÏøõßõãú ÈöÃóáúÝò ãöäó ÇáúãóáóÇÆößóÉö ãõÑúÏöÝöíäó. þæóãóÇ ÌóÚóáóåõ Çááøóåõ ÅöáøóÇ ÈõÔúÑóì æóáöÊóØúãóÆöäøó Èöåö ÞõáõæÈõßõãú æóãóÇ ÇáäøóÕúÑõ ÅöáøóÇ ãöäú ÚöäúÏö Çááøóåö Åöäøó Çááøóåó ÚóÒöíÒñ Íóßöíãñ 
  "(Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): `I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession.' Allah made it only as glad tidings, and that your hearts be at rest therewith. And there is no victory except by the help of Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise." (V.8:9, 10).
Thus Allah the All-Mighty reminds them of their call for help and how He responded to them by sending reinforcements of angels to them and that victory is not from the angels, but the angels were sent only to convey the good news of victory and contentment. Allah says:

  æóãóÇ ÇáäøóÕúÑõ ÅöáøóÇ ãöäú ÚöäúÏö Çááøóåö ÇáúÚóÒöíÒö ÇáúÍóßöíãö 
  "...And there is no victory except from Allah." (V.3: 126)

  þæóáóÞóÏú äóÕóÑóßõãõ Çááøóåõ ÈöÈóÏúÑò æóÃóäúÊõãú ÃóÐöáøóÉñ ÝóÇÊøóÞõæÇ Çááøóåó áóÚóáøóßõãú ÊóÔúßõÑõæäó 
  "And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained) that you may be grateful." (V.3: 123).
Thus Allah granted help at the battle of Badr; the weapons, the power to fight and the angels were all the factors that brought victory and glad tidings. They were only the means by which the Divine victory was granted; victory is therefore from Allah only. So how could the lady writer referred to above or anyone else seek help and victory from the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã and turn away from the Lord of all creations Who is Omnipresent and Omnipotent?
No doubt, this attitude only betrays ignorance in its worst forms and indeed it is a major act of Shirk (polytheism).
It is therefore a duty on the writer to repent to Allah in all sincerity and to never repeat such a mistake. Sincere repentance requires total conviction and compliance to what has been ordained by Allah. And if the repentance is with regard to the rights of any fellow human beings, such rights should be returned to whom they belong or he (the repentant) should obtain an acquittal thereof. Allah has ordered His worshippers to repent and He has promised acceptance of their repentance. He says in the Noble Qur'ân:

  æóÊõæÈõæÇ Åöáóì Çááøóåö ÌóãöíÚðÇ ÃóíøõåóÇ ÇáúãõÄúãöäõæäó áóÚóáøóßõãú ÊõÝúáöÍõæäó 
  "....And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful." (V.24: 31)
and Allah says with regard to the Christians:

  þÃóÝóáóÇ íóÊõæÈõæäó Åöáóì Çááøóåö æóíóÓúÊóÛúÝöÑõæäóåõ æóÇááøóåõ ÛóÝõæÑñ ÑóÍöíãñ 
  "Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful" (V.5: 74)
and Allah says:

  þæóÇáøóÐöíäó áóÇ íóÏúÚõæäó ãóÚó Çááøóåö ÅöáóåðÇ ÂÎóÑó æóáóÇ íóÞúÊõáõæäó ÇáäøóÝúÓó ÇáøóÊöí ÍóÑøóãó Çááøóåõ ÅöáøóÇ ÈöÇáúÍóÞøö æóáóÇ íóÒúäõæäó æóãóäú íóÝúÚóáú Ðóáößó íóáúÞó ÃóËóÇãðÇ. þíõÖóÇÚóÝú áóåõ ÇáúÚóÐóÇÈõ íóæúãó ÇáúÞöíóÇãóÉö æóíóÎúáõÏú Ýöíåö ãõåóÇäðÇ. þÅöáøóÇ ãóäú ÊóÇÈó æóÂãóäó æóÚóãöáó ÚóãóáðÇ ÕóÇáöÍðÇ ÝóÃõæáóÆößó íõÈóÏøöáõ Çááøóåõ ÓóíøöÆóÇÊöåöãú ÍóÓóäóÇÊò æóßóÇäó Çááøóåõ ÛóÝõæÑðÇ ÑóÍöíãðÇ 
  "And those who invoke not any other Ilâh (god) along with Allah, nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual inter-course - and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (V.25: 68- 70)
and Allah says:

  þæóåõæó ÇáøóÐöí íóÞúÈóáõ ÇáÊøóæúÈóÉó Úóäú ÚöÈóÇÏöåö æóíóÚúÝõæ Úóäö ÇáÓøóíøöÆóÇÊö æóíóÚúáóãõ ãóÇ ÊóÝúÚóáõæäó 
  "And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins, and He knows what you do." (V.42: 25).

  The Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has said: 
  ÇáÅÓáÇã íåÏã ãÇ ßÇä ÞÈáå æÇáÊæÈÉ ÊÌÈ ãÇ ßÇä ÞÈáåÇ
"Islâm obliterates all that has preceded it; and repentance erases all the earlier (wrong) actions."
In this brief essay, I have sought to explain the magnitude and danger of the sin of Shirk (polytheism) because it is one of the major sins. It is my earnest desire that the readers should understand the issue in its right perspective and should not be misled by such writers.
In conclusion, I pray to Allah the All-Mighty to make these few words of use to Muslims and may He reform us all and make us proceed always on the right path and fortify us with the knowledge of religion and steadfastness in adhering to it. May Allah protect us from the evils of ourselves and from our bad actions. Verily He is the Protector and Sustainer. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His slave and Messenger Muhammad and the members of his Family and his Companions. 
 

  The rule on those who seek help in other than Allah  In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

  THE SECOND ESSAY
The Regulation governing the seeking of help from jinns and Satan and making vows to them.  From `Abdul `Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz to those Muslims - may Allah bless them and me - who adhere to the religion of Allah and remain committed to it. Amin.
May peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you all.
Some friends sought to know from me about the actions of some uninformed brethren of our religion. They stated that these people, at times of calamities, invoke certain forces and seek their help; they invoke for instance, the jinns and give offerings and sacrifices of animals to them; some of them cry out saying, "O you Seven take him!", meaning thereby seven chiefs of the jinns. They might also say, "O you Seven inflict on him such and such things ... break his bones, drink his blood, mutilate his body." Some of them may say, "O the jinn of noon time, O the jinn of Asr (evening) time, take him". Such practices are prevalent in some of the southern areas. In addition to those, there is also the invoking of the dead, including the Prophets, the noble souls and angels and others. They are invoked and their help is sought, unfortunately, by many who profess the Faith of Islâm. They do so due to ignorance and due to the desire to imitate and follow what was practised by their
 forefathers; some of them may justify their actions by saying, "This is something in vogue, we do not mean anything by it nor do we have any faith in it." Some friends also sought my opinion on having relationships of marriage with people known for such actions and on accepting their offerings; offering prayers for them, praying behind them and about belief in magicians and soothsayers who, I was told, claim knowledge of the sickness of a person and the reasons of the sickness by merely casting a look at anything on the body of the patient such as a turban, pyjamas, veil, etc.
In answer to the above, I wish to state the following:- Praise is to Allah, the One and Only Allah and blessings and peace upon the Prophet of Allah, who was the last of all Prophets; peace and blessings also upon his Family, his Companions and on all those who will abide by the path of right guidance until the Day of Judgement.
Verily Allah the All-Mighty has created the human beings and the jinns in order to worship Him Alone and to abstain from worshipping, invoking, seeking the help and giving offerings and sacrifices and to offer all other worships to none other than Him. Allah has sent the Messengers to guide the people to this task and He revealed the Heavenly Books, the greatest of which is the Noble Qur'ân. It was revealed in order to convey this Message and to preach and to work for it besides cautioning the people against Shirk (polytheism) with Allah and against the worshipping of anyone other than Him. This is the purport of the Statement of Faith: "There is no god except Allah"; it clearly sets out the principle that there is no one else to be worshipped except Allah; thus it negates the concept of Godliness to anyone other than Allah; it affirms that Allah Alone and none other than Allah is to be worshipped. There are ample evidences on this in the Noble Qur'ân and in the Ahâdith
 (traditions) of the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã Allah says in the Noble Qur'ân:

  þæóãóÇ ÎóáóÞúÊõ ÇáúÌöäøó æóÇáúÅöäúÓó ÅöáøóÇ áöíóÚúÈõÏõæäö 
  "And I (Allah) created not the jinns and men except they should worship Me (Alone)." (V.51: 56)

  þæóÞóÖóì ÑóÈøõßó ÃóáøóÇ ÊóÚúÈõÏõæÇ ÅöáøóÇ ÅöíøóÇåõ 
  "And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him..." (V.17: 23)

  þæóãóÇ ÃõãöÑõæÇ ÅöáøóÇ áöíóÚúÈõÏõæÇ Çááøóåó ãõÎúáöÕöíäó áóåõ ÇáÏøöíäó 
  "And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)..."(V.98: 5)

  þæóÞóÇáó ÑóÈøõßõãõ ÇÏúÚõæäöí ÃóÓúÊóÌöÈú áóßõãú Åöäøó ÇáøóÐöíäó íóÓúÊóßúÈöÑõæäó Úóäú ÚöÈóÇÏóÊöí ÓóíóÏúÎõáõæäó Ìóåóäøóãó ÏóÇÎöÑöíäó 
  "And your Lord said: Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!" (V.40: 60)

  þæóÅöÐóÇ ÓóÃóáóßó ÚöÈóÇÏöí Úóäøöí ÝóÅöäøöí ÞóÑöíÈñ ÃõÌöíÈõ ÏóÚúæóÉó ÇáÏøóÇÚö ÅöÐóÇ ÏóÚóÇäö 
  "And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor)..." (V.2: 186)
It is clear from the above verses that the human beings and jinns have been created by Allah in order to worship Him and He has ordained that none other than He be worshipped. The Divine Commandment has been conveyed in the Noble Qur'ân and through the Prophets Úáíåã ÇáÓáÇã that people should worship the One and Only Allah and that invocation to Allah is an important form of worship; whoever is too arrogant to offer this worship shall be doomed to the Fire of Hell. Allah also says in the Noble Qur'ân that:

  þæóÅöÐóÇ ÓóÃóáóßó ÚöÈóÇÏöí Úóäøöí ÝóÅöäøöí ÞóÑöíÈñ ÃõÌöíÈõ ÏóÚúæóÉó ÇáÏøóÇÚö ÅöÐóÇ ÏóÚóÇäö 
  "And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor)..." (V.2: 186)
Hence, it is a duty on all the worshippers to invoke Allah, the One and Only God because such invocation is a form of worship for which they have been created and commanded to act upon. The Noble Qur'ân says:

  þÞõáú Åöäøó ÕóáóÇÊöí æóäõÓõßöí æóãóÍúíóÇíó æóãóãóÇÊöí áöáøóåö ÑóÈøö ÇáúÚóÇáóãöíäó 
  "Say (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã) Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the `Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims." (V.6: 162, 163).
Allah has ordered His Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã to inform the people that his prayer and service of sacrifice and life and death are all for Allah, the Lord of all creations, Who has no partner. The word `sacrifice' here refers to the offering of animal as sacrifice; so if anyone offers a sacrifice to other than Allah, he then commits an act of Shirk, that is associating someone else with Allah.
It would be like praying to someone else other than Allah because prayer and sacrifice have equal importance in the Divine estimation and they are to be for Allah, the One and Only God. If anyone offers a sacrifice to other than Allah such as the jinns, the angels, and the dead and others in an attempt to seek nearness to them, then he is like a person who prays to other than Allah. The Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has, as per an authentic Hadith (tradition) said:
"áÚä Çááå ãä ÐÈÍ áÛíÑ Çááå "
"Curse of Allah be upon those who offer sacrifice to other than Allah."
Imâm Ahmad has, on the authority of Tariq bin Shihab, narrated that the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã had said:
"ãÑ ÑÌáÇä Úáì Þæã áåã Õäã áÇ íÌæÒå ÃÍÏ ÍÊì íÞÑÈ áå ÔíÆÇ ÝÞÇáæÇ áÃÍÏåãÇ ÞÑÈ ÞÇá áíÓ ÚäÏí ÔíÁ ÃÞÑÈ ÞÇáæÇ ÞÑÈ æáæ ÐÈÇÈÇ ÝÞÑÈ ÐÈÇÈÇ ÝÎáæÇ ÓÈíáå ÝÏÎá ÇáäÇÑ æÞÇáæÇ ááÂÎÑ ÞÑÈ ÞÇá ãÇ ßäÊ áÃÞÑÈ áÃÍÏ ÔíÆÇ Ïæä Çááå ÚÒ æÌá ÝÖÑÈæÇ ÚäÞå ÝÏÎá ÇáÌäÉ"
"Two men passed by a people who had an idol to which an offering had to be made by whoever passed by that idol. The people asked one of the two persons to give some offering, he said, that he had nothing to offer; they told him that he may offer anything, even a small fly; so the man gave a fly as an offering and he was allowed to pass. But his doom was the Fire of Hell. The second person was also asked to do accordingly but that person refused by affirming that he will not give as offering to anyone other than Allah. On his refusal, those people beheaded and killed him, but his ultimate abode was Paradise."
It can be noted from this narration that whoever gives an offering to an idol, though it might be only a fly, will be associating someone else as partner to Allah and therefore deserves punishment in Hell. So what to say of those who invoke the jinns, the angels and the pious people, seeking their help, offering vows to them and trying to gain proximity with them by giving sacrifices of animals to them. The purpose for which one does this is to protect his wealth or cure his illness or the safety of his cattle and his fields; he may also do that out of fear of the jinns. Such people become more deserving of torture in the Hell than that person who killed a fly as an offering to the idol. The Noble Qur'ân says:

  ÅöäøóÇ ÃóäúÒóáúäóÇ Åöáóíúßó ÇáúßöÊóÇÈó ÈöÇáúÍóÞøö ÝóÇÚúÈõÏö Çááøóåó ãõÎúáöÕðÇ áóåõ ÇáÏøöíäó. þÃóáóÇ áöáøóåö ÇáÏøöíäõ ÇáúÎóÇáöÕõ æóÇáøóÐöíäó ÇÊøóÎóÐõæÇ ãöäú Ïõæäöåö ÃóæúáöíóÇÁó ãóÇ äóÚúÈõÏõåõãú ÅöáøóÇ áöíõÞóÑøöÈõæäóÇ Åöáóì Çááøóåö ÒõáúÝóì Åöäøó Çááøóåó íóÍúßõãõ Èóíúäóåõãú Ýöí ãóÇ åõãú Ýöíåö íóÎúÊóáöÝõæäó Åöäøó Çááøóåó áóÇ íóåúÏöí ãóäú åõæó ßóÇÐöÈñ ßóÝøóÇÑñ 
  "Verily, We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã) in truth: So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only, and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship. Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take `Auliyâ' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): `We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah.' Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever." (V.39: 2, 3).

  þæóíóÚúÈõÏõæäó ãöäú Ïõæäö Çááøóåö ãóÇ áóÇ íóÖõÑøõåõãú æóáóÇ íóäúÝóÚõåõãú æóíóÞõæáõæäó åóÄõáóÇÁö ÔõÝóÚóÇÄõäóÇ ÚöäúÏó Çááøóåö Þõáú ÃóÊõäóÈøöÆõæäó Çááøóåó ÈöãóÇ áóÇ íóÚúáóãõ Ýöí ÇáÓøóãóÇæóÇÊö æóáóÇ Ýöí ÇáúÃóÑúÖö ÓõÈúÍóÇäóåõ æóÊóÚóÇáóì ÚóãøóÇ íõÔúÑößõæäó 
  "And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: `These are our intercessors with Allah.' Say: `Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?' Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him!" (V.10: 18).
We learn from the above two verses that the polytheists had taken in lieu of Allah, some creations as their friends and protectors; they worshipped them and invoked them in awe and reverence and offered sacrifice and vows under the assumption that those friends and protectors act as intercessors and take them nearer to Allah. Allah the All-Mighty has proved their falsehood and has described them as liars, infidels, and polytheists; and Allah has pre-eminently transcended above the cult of polytheism. The Noble Qur'ân states:

  ÓõÈúÍóÇäóåõ æóÊóÚóÇáóì ÚóãøóÇ íõÔúÑößõæäó 
  "...Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him!" (V.10: 18).
It is thus clear that whoever takes a king or a Prophet or a jinn or a stone or a tree for the purpose of invocation along with Allah and seeks their help or tries to gain nearness to them by offering vows and sacrifices in the hope that they may intercede with Allah on his behalf, or in the hope of getting cured from some illness, or of safeguarding of wealth or safety for a person who is away or for any other purpose, commits the major crime of Shirk (polytheism) regarding which Allah states:

  þÅöäøó Çááøóåó áóÇ íóÛúÝöÑõ Ãóäú íõÔúÑóßó Èöåö æóíóÛúÝöÑõ ãóÇ Ïõæäó Ðóáößó áöãóäú íóÔóÇÁõ æóãóäú íõÔúÑößú ÈöÇááøóåö ÝóÞóÏö ÇÝúÊóÑóì ÅöËúãðÇ ÚóÙöíãðÇ 
  "Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin." (V.4: 48)

  Åöäøóåõ ãóäú íõÔúÑößú ÈöÇááøóåö ÝóÞóÏú ÍóÑøóãó Çááøóåõ Úóáóíúåö ÇáúÌóäøóÉó æóãóÃúæóÇåõ ÇáäøóÇÑõ æóãóÇ áöáÙøóÇáöãöíäó þãöäú ÃóäúÕóÇÑò 
  "Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers." (V.5: 72)
On the Day of Judgement intercession will be granted only to the people who believe in the Oneness of Allah and abide by it sincerely; it will not be granted to the polytheists as stated by the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã when he was asked about the people who will be fortunate to enjoy his intercession, he said:
"ãä ÞÇá áÇ Åáå ÅáÇ Çáå ÎÇáÕÇ ãä ÞáÈå "
"Whoever says with all sincerity of his heart that there is no god but Allah only."
The Prophet also said:
" áßá äÈí ÏÚæÉ ãÓÊÌÇÈÉ ÝÊÚÌá ßá äÈí ÏÚæÊå æÃäÇ ÇÎÊÈÃÊ ÏÚæÊí ÔÝÇÚÉ áÃãÊí íæã ÇáÞíÇãÉ Ýåí äÇÆáÉ Åä ÔÇÁ Çááå ãä ãÇÊ ãä ÃãÊí áÇ íÔÑß ÈÇááå ÔíÆÇ "
"Every Prophet has an invocation that will be answered; and every Prophet hastened in his invocation, but I withheld my invocation so that I may intercede for my people on the Day of Judgement. Allah willing, my invocation will also include those of my nation who died without setting up partners to Allah."
The polytheists of the early period believed in Allah as their Lord, Creator, and Sustainer but they relied on Prophets and friends and protectors, angels, trees and stones, etc. in the hope of gaining their intercession with Allah and nearness to Him as Allah said in the verses quoted above. Allah did not pardon them nor the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã Indeed Allah has renounced them and has described them as infidels and polytheists. Allah has also disproved their claim that those gods will intercede for them with Allah and take them nearer to Him, the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has fought battles against them in order to make them worship Allah, the One and Only Allah.
In doing so, the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã acted according to the Divine Wish stated in the Noble Qur'ân:

  þæóÞóÇÊöáõæåõãú ÍóÊøóì áóÇ Êóßõæäó ÝöÊúäóÉñ æóíóßõæäó ÇáÏøöíäõ ßõáøõåõ áöáøóåö 
  "And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone (in the whole of the world). (V. 8: 39).
And the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has said:
" ÃãÑÊ Ãä ÃÞÇÊá ÇáäÇÓ ÍÊì íÔåÏæÇ Ãä áÇ Åáå ÅáÇ Çááå æÃä ãÍãÏÇ ÑÓæá Çááå æíÞíãæÇ ÇáÕáÇÉ æíÄÊæÇ ÇáÒßÇÉ ÝÅÐÇ ÝÚáæÇ Ðáß ÚÕãæÇ ãäí ÏãÇÁåã æÃãæÇáåã ÅáÇ ÈÍÞ ÇáÅÓáÇã æÍÓÇÈåã Úáì Çááå "
"I have been ordered to fight people until they witness that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah and perform the prayers, and give the Zakât (poor tax); if they do so, they shall enjoy safety from me in their lives and wealth except in what is due to Islâm and they shall be answerable to Allah."
The meaning of the phrase `until they witness that there is no god except Allah' in this saying of the Prophet is that they should worship Allah Only and exclusively. The polytheists were afraid of the jinns and took refuge in them. In this context, Allah says in the Noble Qur'ân:

  þæóÃóäøóåõ ßóÇäó ÑöÌóÇáñ ãöäó ÇáúÅöäúÓö íóÚõæÐõæäó ÈöÑöÌóÇáò ãöäó ÇáúÌöäøö ÝóÒóÇÏõæåõãú ÑóåóÞðÇ 
  "True, there were people among mankind who took shelter with the persons among the jinns, but they increased them in folly." (V.72: 6).
The commentators of the Noble Qur'ân have interpreted the words `increased them in folly' as their being struck with fear and panic because the jinns feel high and mighty when they see human beings seeking refuge in them and so they make themselves (that is the jinns) a greater source of fear and panic so that these human beings may increasingly worship them and seek refuge in them. But Allah has guided the Muslims to seek refuge in Him and in His Complete Words. Allah says:

  þæóÅöãøóÇ íóäúÒóÛóäøóßó ãöäó ÇáÔøóíúØóÇäö äóÒúÛñ ÝóÇÓúÊóÚöÐú ÈöÇááøóåö Åöäøóåõ ÓóãöíÚñ Úóáöíãñ 
  "And if an evil whisper comes to you from Satan then seek refuge with Allah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower." (V.7: 200).

  þÞõáú ÃóÚõæÐõ ÈöÑóÈøö ÇáúÝóáóÞö 
  "Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the day-break." (V.113: 1)

  Þõáú ÃóÚõæÐõ ÈöÑóÈøö ÇáäøóÇÓö 
  "Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind." (V.114: 1)

  It is narrated in an authentic Hadîth that the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has said: 
  "ãä äÒá ãäÒáÇ ÝÞÇá ÃÚæÐ ÈßáãÇÊ Çááå ÇáÊÇãÇÊ ãä ÔÑ ãÇ ÎáÞ áã íÖÑå ÔíÁ ÍÊì íÑÊÍá ãä ãäÒáå Ðáß "
"Whoever alights at a place and says, `I seek refuge in the Complete Words of Allah from the evil that He has created' will not be affected by any harm until his departure from that place."
The person seeking safety and protection of his religion and who wishes to be away from Shirk (polytheism) in its major and minor forms will understand from the above quoted verses from the Noble Qur'ân and sayings of the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã that devotion to the dead and angels, jinns, etc. and invocation to them is an act of imitation of the pagans and polytheists and it is the worst form of Shirk. It is therefore a bounden duty that they keep away from such actions and also advise their brethren regarding it. Relationships of marriage are not admissible with those people who are known to indulge in polytheistic actions; it is also not permissible to eat from their offerings nor to pray for them or behind them until they repent to Allah the All-Mighty and invoke and worship Allah only. Invocation (Du'â) is worship; it is indeed the essence of worship. The Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has said:
"ÇáÏÚÇÁ åæ ÇáÚÈÇÏÉ"
"Du'â is worship"
and according to another version:
"ÇáÏÚÇÁ ãÎ ÇáÚÈÇÏÉ " 
"Du'â is the core and essence of worship."
Allah the All-Mighty says:

  æóáóÇ ÊóäúßöÍõæÇ ÇáúãõÔúÑößóÇÊö ÍóÊøóì íõÄúãöäøó æóáóÃóãóÉñ ãõÄúãöäóÉñ ÎóíúÑñ ãöäú ãõÔúÑößóÉò æóáóæú ÃóÚúÌóÈóÊúßõãú æóáóÇ ÊõäúßöÍõæÇ ÇáúãõÔúÑößöíäó ÍóÊøóì íõÄúãöäõæÇ æóáóÚóÈúÏñ ãõÄúãöäñ ÎóíúÑñ ãöäú ãõÔúÑößò æóáóæú ÃóÚúÌóÈóßõãú ÃõæáóÆößó íóÏúÚõæäó Åöáóì ÇáäøóÇÑö æóÇááøóåõ íóÏúÚõæ Åöáóì ÇáúÌóäøóÉö æóÇáúãóÛúÝöÑóÉö ÈöÅöÐúäöåö æóíõÈóíøöäõ ÂíóÇÊöåö áöáäøóÇÓö áóÚóáøóåõãú íóÊóÐóßøóÑõæäó 
  "And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses etc.) till they believe (worship Allah Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress etc.), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikûn till they believe (in Allah Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater etc.), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikân) invite you to the Fire, but Allah invites (you) to Paradise and Forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember." (V.2: 221).
Allah has forbidden Muslims from marrying disbelieving women; such women who worship idols, jinns and angels etc.; marriage is permissible with them only if they sincerely believe in and worship Allah, the One and Only Allah and accept the Message conveyed by the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã and proceed on the path shown by him. Allah has also forbidden the marriage of Muslim women to disbelievers until they sincerely believe in Allah and worship Him only and accept the Message conveyed by the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã The Noble Qur'ân states that:

  æóáóÃóãóÉñ ãõÄúãöäóÉñ ÎóíúÑñ ãöäú ãõÔúÑößóÉò æóáóæú ÃóÚúÌóÈóÊúßõãú 
  "A slave woman who believes is better than a disbelieving woman, even though she allures you.(V.2: 221)
and that a man slave who believes is better than a disbeliever, even though he allures you, with his eloquence of speech, courage and chivalry, etc. Allah has then explained the causes for this preference over them by saying that they beckon you to the Fire because they belong to the Fire through their words, actions, manners, conduct and character. As regards the believers - men and women - they are the ones who beckon you to the Paradise through their character, conduct, words and deeds. So, how could the former be equal to the latter? And with regard to the hypocrites Allah the All-Mighty says:

  æóáóÇ ÊõÕóáøö Úóáóì ÃóÍóÏò ãöäúåõãú ãóÇÊó ÃóÈóÏðÇ æóáóÇ ÊóÞõãú Úóáóì ÞóÈúÑöåö Åöäøóåõãú ßóÝóÑõæÇ ÈöÇááøóåö æóÑóÓõæáöåö æóãóÇÊõæÇ æóåõãú ÝóÇÓöÞõæäó 
  "And never (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã ) pray (funeral prayer) for any of them (hypocrites) who dies, nor stand at his grave. Certainly they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and died while they were Fâsiqûn (rebellious - disobedient to Allah and His Messenger)." (V.9: 84)
In the above verse, Allah the All-Mighty has stated that one should not offer prayers to the hypocrite and the disbeliever because of their disbelief in Allah and in His Prophet. One should also not pray behind them nor make them as the Imâm of Muslims due to their disbelief and untrustworthiness and also due to the great animosity between them and the Muslims; yet another reason is that they are not from the people who pray and worship Allah; heresy and polytheism obliterate all actions. May Allah guard us from such actions. Allah the All-Mighty says in the context of forbidding Muslims from eating the offerings of the disbelievers and dead animals:

  æóáóÇ ÊóÃúßõáõæÇ ãöãøóÇ áóãú íõÐúßóÑö ÇÓúãõ Çááøóåö Úóáóíúåö æóÅöäøóåõ áóÝöÓúÞñ æóÅöäøó ÇáÔøóíóÇØöíäó áóíõæÍõæäó Åöáóì ÃóæúáöíóÇÆöåöãú áöíõÌóÇÏöáõæßõãú æóÅöäú ÃóØóÚúÊõãõæåõãú Åöäøóßõãú áóãõÔúÑößõæäó 
  "Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allah's Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal), for sure it is Fisq (a sin and disobedience of Allah). And certainly, the devils do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them [by making Al-Maytata (a dead animal) legal by eating it], then you would indeed be Mushrikûn (polytheists): [because they (devils and their friends) made lawful to you to eat that which Allah has made unlawful to eat and you obeyed them by considering it lawful to eat, and by doing so you worshipped them, and to worship others besides Allah is polytheism]." (V.6: 121).
Allah the All-Mighty has forbidden the Muslims from eating dead animals and the animals sacrificed by the disbelievers because the sacrifices given by them are in the category of dead animals, although the Name of Allah may be mentioned; but such mentioning will have no effect for the reason that it is an invocation marred by belief in polytheism; so it cannot be accepted until the polytheist repents to Allah. Allah has permitted the consumption of food offered by the people of the Book (Scripture):

  æóØóÚóÇãõ ÇáøóÐöíäó ÃõæÊõæÇ ÇáúßöÊóÇÈó Íöáøñ áóßõãú æóØóÚóÇãõßõãú Íöáøñ áóåõãú 
  "The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals, etc.) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them." (V.5: 5).
It is lawful because the people of the Book (Scripture) belong to a heavenly religion and claim to be the followers of Moses and Jesus, although this is a false claim. Allah has abrogated their religion and annulled by sending Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã as Messenger to all the peoples. However, Allah the All-Mighty has permitted us to accept the food of the people of the Book and to marry their women. The Divine sanction in this regard is due to certain considerations that have been explained by the Scholars. But such a sanction has not been granted with regard to the disbelievers and the polytheists who worship idos, dead people, Prophets, friends and protectors and others because whatever faith they profess is not based on any principle. In fact, all their professions of faith are total falsehoods; therefore, the animals slaughtered by them are dead animals and eating of it is not permissible.
As regards phrases used by people at times of anger such as `May the jinn strike you'; `May the jinn take you'; and `May the jinn fly away with you' are phrases of abuse that are not permissible for the Muslims like all other phrases of abuse and curse, etc. This is not connected with polytheism. However, if the person uttering such words believes that the jinns have a sway over the affairs of the people without the permission of Allah and His will, he will be a disbeliever because Allah the All-Mighty is the Supreme Possessor and Disposer of everything; it is He Who bestows good or causes harm; nothing exists without His permission, His will and His pre-destined plan; Allah has ordered His Prophet to convey to the people:

  þÞõáú áóÇ Ãóãúáößõ áöäóÝúÓöí äóÝúÚðÇ æóáóÇ ÖóÑøðÇ ÅöáøóÇ ãóÇ ÔóÇÁó Çááøóåõ æóáóæú ßõäúÊõ ÃóÚúáóãõ ÇáúÛóíúÈó áóÇÓúÊóßúËóÑúÊõ ãöäó ÇáúÎóíúÑö æóãóÇ ãóÓøóäöíó ÇáÓøõæÁõ Åöäú ÃóäóÇ ÅöáøóÇ äóÐöíÑñ æóÈóÔöíÑñ áöÞóæúãò íõÄúãöäõæäó 
  "Say (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã): I possess no power of benefit or hurt to myself except as Allah wills. If I had the knowledge of the Ghaib (unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings unto people who believe." (V.7: 188).
If the leader of all mankind and the best of them, our Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã does not possess any good nor any harm for himself except what is willed by Allah, how could any other human being do so? There are numerous verses in the Noble Qur'ân in this context.
As regards consulting the soothsayers, magicians, astrologers and others of their tribe who try to predict the unknown, it is a reprehensible act; to believe in them is more reprehensible and objectionable and it is a form of blasphemy because the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has said:
" ãä ÃÊì ÚÑÇÝÇ ÝÓÃáå Úä ÔíÁ áã ÊÞÈá ãäå ÕáÇÉ ÃÑÈÚíä íæãÇ "
"The prayers of a person who consults a soothsayer about anything, will not be accepted for forty days".
(Narrated in the Sahih of Muslim).
It is also narrated on the authority of Mu'awiyah bin Al-Hakam As-Salami that the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã prohibited consultation with soothsayers. It is narrated as transmitted by the compilers of As-Sunan - that the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã said:
" ãä ÃÊì ßÇåäÇ ÝÕÏÞå ÈãÇ íÞæá ÝÞÏ ßÝÑ ÈãÇ ÃäÒá Úáì ãÍãÏ Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã "
"He who believes in what a soothsayer says becomes a disbeliever in what has been revealed to Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã".
There are several sayings of the Prophet in this context. Muslims therefore, should be on their guard against soothsayers, sorcerers and witchdoctors who claim knowledge of the unseen and deceive Muslims on the pretext of medical treatment or any other excuse. Muslims should beware of such people as forbidden and cautioned by the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã. In this category, is also included the claims of some people of knowledge of the unseen in the name of medicine; they claim knowledge of the condition of a sick person by smelling his turban or the veil in case of a woman and so on. In fact, such people seek only to deceive and confuse the minds of the innocent people so that they describe him as a person well-informed in medicine and in treating of illnesses; such a person may dispense some medicine which may perhaps cure the sick person; the cure is by the Will of Allah - but the sick person believes that he was cured because of that medicine. It is quite possible that
 the illness is caused by some of the jinns and evil spirits which are in the employ of that person who claims himself the knowledge of medicine, and they provide him with knowledge of the unseen which they are able to perceive. On the basis of that knowledge the impostor performs certain worships in order to please the jinns and the evil spirits so that they may withdraw from the sick persons. But they invariably leave behind certain harmful effects. This is something well-known about the jinns and evil spirits and those who employ them.
It is therefore, the duty of the Muslims to be on their guard against the above and they should advise each other to abstain from such beliefs and practices and to rely and depend on Allah only on all matters. However, it is not objectionable to use Ruqya (recitation of some Divine verses as a treatment for a disease) and the permissible medicines and treatment given by doctors on the basis of physical examination and ascertainment of the physical and mental causes of the illness. The Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has said:
"ãÇ ÃäÒá Çááå ÏÇÁ ÅáÇ ÃäÒá áå ÔÝÇÁ Úáãå ãä Úáãå æÌåáå ãä Ìåáå "
"Allah has created no disease for which there is no treatment; those who have studied it, know it and those who have ignored it do not know it."
He has also said:
" áßá ÏÇÁ ÏæÇÁ ÝÅÐÇ ÃÕíÈ ÏæÇÁ ÇáÏÇÁ ÈÑÆ ÈÅÐä Çááå "
"Every disease has a medicine and if the right medicine is chosen for the disease, the sick person will be cured, Allah willing."

  and 
  "ÚÈÇÏ Çááå ÊÏÇææÇ æáÇ ÊÏÇææÇ ÈÍÑÇã "
"O servants of Allah, take medicines but do not take medicines that are forbidden."
There are many such sayings of the Prophet on this subject. We pray to Allah the All-Mighty to reform all of us Muslims and to cure our minds and bodies from all evils.
May He guide us all to the right path and protect us from evil temptations and from obedience to the Satan and its friends and protectors. Verily, Allah has supreme power over everything; there is no power nor any strength except with Allah, the All-Knowing; and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet of Allah and his members and Companions.

  The rule on those who seek help in other than Allah  In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

  THE THIRD ESSAY
The Regulation regarding worship through certain innovations which are derived from heretical and polytheistic beliefs  From 'Abdul 'Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz to Mr....
May Allah grant him success in everything good. Amin.
May peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
I am in receipt of your letter regarding certain worships at specified times of the day or night practised privately by Muslims of your country. These are prayers to which Allah has not granted any power; among these prayers are those that have been introduced as innovations and those that are polytheistic; they attribute such prayers to the Commander of the Faithful, `Ali bin Abi Tâlib ÑÖí Çááå Úäå and to others. They recite these prayers in congregations of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) or in the mosques after the Maghrib (sunset) prayers in the belief that such prayers will take them nearer to Allah. During these prayers, they utter phrases such as, 'O men of Allah, help us with the Help of Allah and be of succour to us.' They also say, `O you leaders of authority, O you masters, please respond to our prayers, O you, who possess all help; please intercede with Allah on behalf of this slave who is pleading to you at your door, seized by the fear of his failings; help us O
 Prophet of Allah; I do not have anyone else to whom I can plead; it is you through whom our wishes can be fulfilled; you are the best of the people of Allah like Hamza, the leader of all martyrs; no one other than you can help us; O Prophet of Allah, come to our help.' They also say, `O Allah, bless the one you have made as a means for revealing your mighty secrets and your Divine light; he became a true vicegerent and inheritor of all Your Truth.'
You had also desired to know in your letter regarding Bid'ah (innovation) and polytheism. You had wanted to know whether it will be correct to pray behind the Imâm who makes such invocations.
In this connection, I would like to state the following: -
Praise is to Allah Alone and peace and blessings on the Prophet - the last of all Prophets - and on the members of his Family, his Companions and all those who shall until the Day of Judgement, proceed on the right path shown by him.
Verily, Allah the All-Mighty created the mankind and sent the Messengers Úáíåã ÇáÓáÇã in order that He Alone be worshipped. Allah states in the Noble Qur'ân:

  þæóãóÇ ÎóáóÞúÊõ ÇáúÌöäøó æóÇáúÅöäúÓó ÅöáøóÇ áöíóÚúÈõÏõæäö 
  "And I (Allah) created not the jinns and men except they should worship Me (Alone)." (V.51:56)
To worship means to obey the All-Mighty and the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã by carrying out what Allah and His Prophet have ordered us to do and by abstaining from what they have forbidden us to do. We carry out these actions with faith, humility and sincere devotion to Allah and His Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã. The Noble Qur'ân states:

  þæóÞóÖóì ÑóÈøõßó ÃóáøóÇ ÊóÚúÈõÏõæÇ ÅöáøóÇ ÅöíøóÇåõ 
  "And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him..." (V.17:23)
In other words, He has ordained that He Alone be worshipped. Allah says in the Noble Qur'ân:

  þÇáúÍóãúÏõ áöáøóåö ÑóÈøö ÇáúÚóÇáóãöíäó. þÇáÑøóÍúãóäö ÇáÑøóÍöíãö. þãóÇáößö íóæúãö ÇáÏøöíäö. þÅöíøóÇßó äóÚúÈõÏõ æóÅöíøóÇßó äóÓúÊóÚöíäõ 
  "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists). The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)." (V.1:2-5).
These verses make it amply clear that Allah Alone is to be worshipped and His Help alone is to be sought. Allah also says:

  ÝóÇÚúÈõÏö Çááøóåó ãõÎúáöÕðÇ áóåõ ÇáÏøöíäó. þÃóáóÇ áöáøóåö ÇáÏøöíäõ ÇáúÎóÇáöÕõ 
  "... So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only, and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship. Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only..." (V.39:2,3)

  þÝóÇÏúÚõæÇ Çááøóåó ãõÎúáöÕöíäó áóåõ ÇáÏøöíäó æóáóæú ßóÑöåó ÇáúßóÇÝöÑõæäó 
  "So, call you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã and the believers) upon (or invoke) Allah making (your) worship pure for Him (Alone) (by worshipping none but Him and by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only and not to show off and not to set up rivals with Him in worship). However much the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allah) may hate (it)." (V.40:14).

  þæóÃóäøó ÇáúãóÓóÇÌöÏó áöáøóåö ÝóáóÇ ÊóÏúÚõæÇ ãóÚó Çááøóåö ÃóÍóÏðÇ 
  "And the mosques are for Allah (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allah." (V.72:18).
There are several verses in the Noble Qur'ân in this context pointing out the necessity and the duty to worship Allah Alone. Invocation, as you all know, is, in all its forms, a manner of worship; it is therefore not permissible for anybody to invoke anyone and to seek the help of anyone nor plead for assistance from anyone except Allah, as stated in the above verses. However, in matters pertaining to the daily routine of life and in connection with material things on which every human being has control, a person may seek the help of another person; this is not worship; a person may for example, seek the help of another in order to ward off some evil that may occur to his son or servant or to his dog etc.; one may for example ask for help from his colleague either directly or by correspondence to attend to the building of his house or repairing of his motor car. In this context, Allah the All- Mighty says while narrating the story of the Prophet Moses (Mûsa) Úáíå ÇáÓáÇã:

  ÝóÇÓúÊóÛóÇËóåõ ÇáøóÐöí ãöäú ÔöíÚóÊöåö Úóáóì ÇáøóÐöí ãöäú ÚóÏõæøöåö 
  "...The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe..." (V.28:15).
The help and aid which a man seeks from his fellow human beings at times of Jihâd (fighting the disbelievers) and conflict is like the above said help. But seeking help and aid from the dead, the jinns, the angels, the trees and the stones is an act of major polytheism; it is similar to the practices of the polytheists of the early ages with their gods such as Al-'Uzza and Al-Laat, etc. Similarly, it is an act of polytheism to believe that certain human beings enjoy or possess certain supernatural powers which belong only to Allah the All-Mighty. It is believed that such people can help in curing the sick, showing the path of right guidance to those who go astray, attaining the Paradise and salvation from the Hell. The verses quoted above and the sayings of the Prophet referred to, emphasize the need to guide all people to the path of Allah in all matters and to be sincere in worshipping Allah and Allah Only because all human beings have been created for that purpose and
 have been thus ordained as mentioned in the verses quoted above. Allah the All-Mighty also says:

  þæóÇÚúÈõÏõæÇ Çááøóåó æóáóÇ ÊõÔúÑößõæÇ Èöåö ÔóíúÆðÇ 
  "Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship..." (V.4:36).

  þæóãóÇ ÃõãöÑõæÇ ÅöáøóÇ áöíóÚúÈõÏõæÇ Çááøóåó ãõÎúáöÕöíäó áóåõ ÇáÏøöíäó 
  "And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)..." (V.98:5)
and the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has said as narrated by Mu'âdh ÑÖí Çááå Úäå:
"ÍÞ Çááå Úáì ÇáÚÈÇÏ Ãä íÚÈÏæå æáÇ íÔÑßæÇ Èå ÔíÆÇ"
"It is Allah's Right over the worshippers that they worship only Him and do not associate anyone with Him."
and the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has said in another tradition narrated by Mas'ûd:
"ãä ãÇÊ æåæ íÏÚæ ááå äÏÇ ÏÎá ÇáäÇÑ " 
"Whoever dies while invoking someone as rival to Allah, will be doomed to Hell."
This tradition has been narrated by Imâm AI-Bukhari. When the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã sent the Companion Mu'âdh ÑÖí Çááå Úäå to Yemen, he said to him:
" Åäß ÊÃÊí ÞæãÇ Ãåá ßÊÇÈ Ýáíßä Ãæá ãÇ ÊÏÚæåã Åáíå ÔåÇÏÉ Ãä áÇ Åáå ÅáÇ Çááå "
" ÝÇÏÚæåã Åáì Ãä íÔåÏæÇ Ãä áÇ Åáå ÅáÇ Çááå æÃäí ÑÓæá Çááå "
"You shall be meeting a people who profess faith in a Revealed Book; therefore, your plea to them should be to profess the Statement of Faith: `There is no god except Allah and that I (Muhammad) am the Messenger of Allah.'"
In the narration of Imâm Bukhari it is mentioned as:
" ÝÇÏÚåã Åáì Ãä íæÍÏæÇ Çááå "
"Plead to them until they accept the Oneness of Allah."
It is narrated in the Collection of Ahâdîth compiled by Imâm Muslim that according to a saying narrated by Tariq bin Ashyam M-Ashja'i that the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã said:
" ãä æÍÏ Çááå æßÝÑ ÈãÇ íõÚÈóÏ ãä Ïæä Çááå ÍõÑøöã ãÇáå æÏãå æÍÓÇÈå Úáì Çááå ÚÒ æÌá "
"Whoever accepts the Oneness of Allah and disbelieves whatever is worshipped other than Allah enjoys the protection of Allah in his wealth, blood and his reward is with Allah."
There are numerous Ahâdîth (traditions) on this subject.
The Faith in the Oneness of Allah is the sum and substance of the religion of Islam; It is the basic principle and the most important of all the duties. And it is for this purpose that the human beings and the jinns were created. It was for the same object that the Messengers of Allah Úáíåã ÇáÓáÇã were sent. We had earlier quoted several verses from the Noble Qur'ân affirming this fact. Among such verses are:

  þæóãóÇ ÎóáóÞúÊõ ÇáúÌöäøó æóÇáúÅöäúÓó ÅöáøóÇ áöíóÚúÈõÏõæäö 
  "And I (Allah) created not the jinns and men except they should worship Me (Alone)." (V.51:56)

  þæóáóÞóÏú ÈóÚóËúäóÇ Ýöí ßõáøö ÃõãøóÉò ÑóÓõæáðÇ Ãóäö ÇõÚúÈõÏõæÇ Çááøóåó æóÇÌúÊóäöÈõæÇ ÇáØøóÇÛõæÊó 
  "And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities etc. i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allah)." (V.16:36)

  þæóãóÇ ÃóÑúÓóáúäóÇ ãöäú ÞóÈúáößó ãöäú ÑóÓõæáò ÅöáøóÇ äõæÍöí Åöáóíúåö Ãóäøóåõ áóÇ Åöáóåó ÅöáøóÇ ÃóäóÇ ÝóÇÚúÈõÏõæäö 
  "And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã) but We inspired him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)), so worship Me (Alone and none else,)". (V.21:25)
Referring to the Prophets Noah, Hûd, Sâleh and Sho'aib Úáíåã ÇáÓáÇã, Allah the All-Mighty says that these Prophets advised their peoples:

  íóÇ Þóæúãö ÇÚúÈõÏõæÇ Çááøóåó ãóÇ áóßõãú ãöäú Åöáóåò ÛóíúÑõåõ 
  "...O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilâh (God) but Him. (Lâ ilâha ill-Allah: none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)...." (V.7:59)
This was the Message of all the Prophets. All those who oppose the Prophets have themselves confessed that the Prophets had commanded them to worship Allah Only and to give up the worship of all other gods. The Noble Qur'ân says in this context, referring to the story of `Ad that they told the Prophet Hûd Úáíå ÇáÓáÇã:

  þÞóÇáõæÇ ÃóÌöÆúÊóäóÇ áöäóÚúÈõÏó Çááøóåó æóÍúÏóåõ æóäóÐóÑó ãóÇ ßóÇäó íóÚúÈõÏõ ÂÈóÇÄõäóÇ 
  "They said: You have come to us that we should worship Allah Alone and forsake that which our fathers used to worship..." (V.7: 70)
And Allah the All-Mighty says about the people of the tribe of Quraish when they were called upon by our Prophet Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã, to worship Allah Only and to give up worshipping the angels, the friends and guides, idols and trees, etc.:

  þÃóÌóÚóáó ÇáúÂáöåóÉó ÅöáóåðÇ æóÇÍöÏðÇ Åöäøó åóÐóÇ áóÔóíúÁñ ÚõÌóÇÈñ 
  "Has he made the âlihâ (gods) (all) into One Ilâh (God - Allah). Verily, this is a curious thing!" (V.38:5)
And in the Sûrah (Chapter) As-Sâffât, Allah says:

  þÅöäøóåõãú ßóÇäõæÇ ÅöÐóÇ Þöíáó áóåõãú áóÇ Åöáóåó ÅöáøóÇ Çááøóåõ íóÓúÊóßúÈöÑõæäó. þæóíóÞõæáõæäó ÃóÆöäøóÇ áóÊóÇÑößõæ ÂáöåóÊöäóÇ áöÔóÇÚöÑò ãóÌúäõæäò 
  "Truly, when it was said to them: `Lâ ilâha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah),' they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it). And (they) said: `Are we going to abandon our âlihâ (gods) for the sake of a mad poet?' "(V.37:35,36)
There are many more verses in the Noble Qur'ân and sayings of the Noble Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã which expound this concept. May Allah grant success to us all in understanding our religion and in educating ourselves regarding the true path of Allah.
All the invocations and different expressions seeking help and succour are various forms of polytheism because they are addressed as worship to other than Allah; and they seek to achieve things through the dead and the departed whereas Allah Alone can grant those things.
Such invocations are more worse forms of polytheism when compared to the polytheism of the early ages because the people of the early ages indulged in polytheism only when they enjoyed material comfort, peace and luxury. But at times of crisis and hardships they worshipped Allah Alone because they know that Allah Alone can bring salvation to them from their hardships. The Noble Qur'ân refers to those polytheists and says:

  þÝóÅöÐóÇ ÑóßöÈõæÇ Ýöí ÇáúÝõáúßö ÏóÚóæõÇ Çááøóåó ãõÎúáöÕöíäó áóåõ ÇáÏøöíäó ÝóáóãøóÇ äóÌøóÇåõãú Åöáóì ÇáúÈóÑøö ÅöÐóÇ åõãú íõÔúÑößõæäó 
  "And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only, but when He brings them safely to land, behold, they give a share of their worship to others." (V.29:65)
and Allah says in another verse:

  æóÅöÐóÇ ãóÓøóßõãõ ÇáÖøõÑøõ Ýöí ÇáúÈóÍúÑö Öóáøó ãóäú ÊóÏúÚõæäó ÅöáøóÇ ÅöíøóÇåõ ÝóáóãøóÇ äóÌøóÇßõãú Åöáóì ÇáúÈóÑøö ÃóÚúÑóÖúÊõãú æóßóÇäó ÇáúÅöäúÓóÇäõ ßóÝõæÑðÇ 
  "And when harm touches you upon the sea, those that you call upon besides Him vanish from you except Him (Allah Alone). But when He brings you safely to land, you turn away (from Him). And man is ever ungrateful." (V.17:67)
If the latter-day polytheists were to say, "We do not mean that those whose help we seek can by themselves benefit us and cure the sick among us or be of use to us or hurt us; we only mean to seek their intercession with Allah for us, the answer to such an observation should be as follows:
Verily, the disbelievers of the early period also had the same purpose and desire; they too did not believe that their gods create or give livelihood or do good or harm.
Such a statement will negate what Allah has mentioned about them in the Noble Qur'ân. Those disbelievers also claimed that they only sought, through such worship, the intercession and good offices of those whom they worshipped so that they may take them nearer to Allah. Allah says in the Noble Qur'ân in the context of the story of the Prophet Yunus Úáíå æÇáÓáÇã:

  þæóíóÚúÈõÏõæäó ãöäú Ïõæäö Çááøóåö ãóÇ áóÇ íóÖõÑøõåõãú æóáóÇ íóäúÝóÚõåõãú æóíóÞõæáõæäó åóÄõáóÇÁö ÔõÝóÚóÇÄõäóÇ ÚöäúÏó Çááøóåö Þõáú ÃóÊõäóÈøöÆõæäó Çááøóåó ÈöãóÇ áóÇ íóÚúáóãõ Ýöí ÇáÓøóãóÇæóÇÊö æóáóÇ Ýöí ÇáúÃóÑúÖö ÓõÈúÍóÇäóåõ æóÊóÚóÇáóì ÚóãøóÇ íõÔúÑößõæäó 
  "And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: `These are our intercessors with Allah.' Say: `Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?' Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him!" (V.10:18)
Thus Allah states in unmistakable words that He has no knowledge of any intercessor from the heavens or from the earth as claimed by the disbelievers. So, the existence of anything not known to Allah does not in fact exist because nothing is hidden from His Knowledge. Allah says in the Noble Qur'ân:

  þÊóäúÒöíáõ ÇáúßöÊóÇÈö ãöäó Çááøóåö ÇáúÚóÒöíÒö ÇáúÍóßöíãö. þÅöäøóÇ ÃóäúÒóáúäóÇ Åöáóíúßó ÇáúßöÊóÇÈó ÈöÇáúÍóÞøö ÝóÇÚúÈõÏö Çááøóåó ãõÎúáöÕðÇ áóåõ ÇáÏøöíäó. þÃóáóÇ áöáøóåö ÇáÏøöíäõ ÇáúÎóÇáöÕõ 
  "The revelation of this Book (the Qur'ân) is from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. Verily, We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã) in Truth. So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only, and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship. Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only..." (V.39:1-3).
It is evident from these verses that Allah Alone is to be worshipped and such worship should be in all sincerity because Allah has commanded the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã to be sincere in worship. This command applies to all the believers. In the above quoted verse, the word Ad-Deen meaning religion in Arabic has been interpreted as worship; worship means obedience to Allah and His Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã as stated earlier; it includes invocation, seeking help, fear, hope, vows and sacrifices besides prayers and fasting and other duties as ordained by Allah and His Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã. Later on, Allah says in the Noble Qur'ân:

  æóÇáøóÐöíäó ÇÊøóÎóÐõæÇ ãöäú Ïõæäöåö ÃóæúáöíóÇÁó ãóÇ äóÚúÈõÏõåõãú ÅöáøóÇ áöíõÞóÑøöÈõæäóÇ Åöáóì Çááøóåö ÒõáúÝóì 
  "...And those who take 'Auliyâ' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah...." (V.39:3)
In other words, they sought to say that their only purpose was to achieve nearness to Allah. In answer to this, Allah says:

  Åöäøó Çááøóåó íóÍúßõãõ Èóíúäóåõãú Ýöí ãóÇ åõãú Ýöíåö íóÎúÊóáöÝõæäó Åöäøó Çááøóåó áóÇ íóåúÏöí ãóäú åõæó ßóÇÐöÈñ ßóÝøóÇÑñ 
  "...Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever." (V.39:3).
Thus the falsehood of their claim that their gods take them nearer to Allah has been exposed and the worship they perform has been described as blasphemy. It should therefore be clear to any person who has even a minimum of intelligence that the source of blasphemy and polytheism in the earlier ages was because Prophets, friends and advisors besides trees and stones and other creations were considered intercessors between the worshippers and Allah, and they believed that such intercessors achieve for them their hopes and aspirations, needs and ambitions without the Permission nor the Consent of Allah the All-Mighty. It was considered to be like the recommendation of the ministers to the kings and they (such worshippers) presumed Allah, the All-Mighty to be equal to kings and leaders and therefore, they uttered words which one may utter when making a petition to a king or a leader. This is the worst form of falsehood because Allah the All-Mighty has none similar to Him and
 He cannot be compared with His Own creations; no one intercedes with Him without His Permission; intercession is granted only to the believers in the Oneness of Allah; Allah is Omnipotent and Omniscient and He is Most Merciful; He does not fear anyone and neither can anyone frighten Him since He has power over all His servants and He Alone disposes their affairs as He wills. On the contrary, kings and leaders cannot have power over anything and they do not have knowledge about everything. So they need to have people to assist them in matters which they are unable to achieve or implement. Hence, they are always surrounded by an entourage of ministers, advisers and bodyguards, etc. They also need to be informed about those who are in want; this is yet another reason for their being surrounded by ministers and advisers. But Allah the All-Mighty is above all such needs and all such assistance. He is more merciful to them than their mothers; and He is the Just Ruler, Who as per
 His Supreme Knowledge, Wisdom and Ability assigns everything to its proper place; it is therefore not permissible to compare Him with His Own creations. It is for this reason that Allah the All-Mighty has stated in the Noble Qur'ân that He is the Creator and the Sustainer; it is He Who responds to the call of one who is in distress and exposes the evil, gives life and takes it away; and does so many other actions. The dispute between the polytheists and the Messengers of Allah is in fact about the sincerity in worshipping Allah Alone. The Noble Qur'ân says:

  þæóáóÆöäú ÓóÃóáúÊóåõãú ãóäú ÎóáóÞóåõãú áóíóÞõæáõäøó Çááøóåõ 
  "And if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: Allah..." (V.43:87).

  þÞõáú ãóäú íóÑúÒõÞõßõãú ãöäó ÇáÓøóãóÇÁö æóÇáúÃóÑúÖö Ãóãú ãóäú íóãúáößõ ÇáÓøóãúÚó æóÇáúÃóÈúÕóÇÑó æóãóäú íõÎúÑöÌõ ÇáúÍóíøó ãöäó ÇáúãóíøöÊö æóíõÎúÑöÌõ ÇáúãóíøöÊó ãöäó ÇáúÍóíøö æóãóäú íõÏóÈøöÑõ ÇáúÃóãúÑó ÝóÓóíóÞõæáõæäó Çááøóåõ ÝóÞõáú ÃóÝóáóÇ ÊóÊøóÞõæäó 
  "Say: `Who provides for you from the sky and from the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?' They will say: `Allah.' Say: `Will you not then be afraid of Allah's Punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allah)?' "(V.10:31).
There are several verses in this context in the Noble Qur'ân. We had earlier referred to the verses that point out that the dispute, between the Messengers of Allah and the nations, was regarding sincerity in worshipping alone. We may quote another verse:

  þæóáóÞóÏú ÈóÚóËúäóÇ Ýöí ßõáøö ÃõãøóÉò ÑóÓõæáðÇ Ãóäö ÇõÚúÈõÏõæÇ Çááøóåó æóÇÌúÊóäöÈõæÇ ÇáØøóÇÛõæÊó 
  "And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities etc. i.e. do not worship Tâghûts besides Allah).".. (V.16:36)
Regarding intercession, Allah the All-Mighty has mentioned in several places in the Noble Qur'ân, the real meaning of intercession. We may for example quote:

  ãóäú ÐóÇ ÇáøóÐöí íóÔúÝóÚõ ÚöäúÏóåõ ÅöáøóÇ ÈöÅöÐúäöåö 
  "... Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission?....." (V.2:255).
Allah will not accept from His worshippers blasphemy heathenism; He will accept only gratitude expressed by the belief in the Oneness of Allah and obedience to Him. It is stated in the Noble Qur'ân:

  þæóßóãú ãöäú ãóáóßò Ýöí ÇáÓøóãóÇæóÇÊö áóÇ ÊõÛúäöí ÔóÝóÇÚóÊõåõãú ÔóíúÆðÇ ÅöáøóÇ ãöäú ÈóÚúÏö Ãóäú íóÃúÐóäó Çááøóåõ áöãóäú íóÔóÇÁõ æóíóÑúÖóì 
  "And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and pleases". (V.53;26)

  æóáóÇ íóÔúÝóÚõæäó ÅöáøóÇ áöãóäö ÇÑúÊóÖóì æóåõãú ãöäú ÎóÔúíóÊöåö ãõÔúÝöÞõæäó 
  "... and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him." (V.21:28)

  þÅöäú ÊóßúÝõÑõæÇ ÝóÅöäøó Çááøóåó Ûóäöíøñ Úóäúßõãú æóáóÇ íóÑúÖóì áöÚöÈóÇÏöåö ÇáúßõÝúÑó æóÅöäú ÊóÔúßõÑõæÇ íóÑúÖóåõ áóßõãú 
  "If you disbelieve, then verily, Allah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you..." (V.39:7)
It is narrated in the Collections of Traditions (Ahâdîth) compiled by Imâm Bukhari that Abû Huraira ÑÖí Çááå Úäå said that when he asked the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã: 
"Who shall be the most happy people with your intercession, O Prophet of Allah?" The Prophet said:
" ãä ÞÇá áÇ Åáå ÅáÇ Çááå ÎÇáÕÇ ãä ÞáÈå "
"He who says that there is no god except Allah, and says so with all the sincerity of his heart (or of his self)."
It is narrated on the authority of Anas ÑÖí Çááå Úäå that the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã said:
" áßá äÈí ÏÚæÉ ãÓÊÌÇÈÉ ÝÊÚÌá ßá äÈí ÏÚæÊå æÃäí ÇÎÊÈÃÊ ÏÚæÊí ÔÝÇÚÉ áÃãÊí íæã ÇáÞíÇãÉ Ýåí äÇÆáÉ Åä ÔÇÁ Çááå ãä ãÇÊ ãä ÃãÊí áÇ íÔÑß ÈÇááå ÔíÆÇ "
"Every Prophet has a plea responded to; and every Prophet hastened to make his plea while I withheld mine, so that I may intercede for my Ummah (nation) on the Day of the Judgement; and by the Will of Allah my intercession will include all of my Ummah who have departed from this world without setting up partners to Allah in worship."
There are several verses in the Noble Qur'ân and several Ahâdîth (traditions) of the Prophet which emphasize the fact that worship is a right preserved for Allah Alone and it is not permissible to perform any worship to anyone other than Allah, whether they be the Prophets or any other person. They also emphasize the fact that intercession is with Allah the All-Mighty Alone as said in the Noble Qur'ân: 

  þÞõáú áöáøóåö ÇáÔøóÝóÇÚóÉõ ÌóãöíÚðÇ 
  "Say: To Allah belongs all intercession..." (V.39:44).
No one shall deserve the intercession except by His Permission. And He, the All-Mighty, will permit for intercession to persons who only believe in the Oneness of Allah as stated earlier. Therefore, the polytheists will not be granted intercession. The Noble Qur'ân says:

  þÝóãóÇ ÊóäúÝóÚõåõãú ÔóÝóÇÚóÉõ ÇáÔøóÇÝöÚöíäó 
  "So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them." (V.74:48)

  ãóÇ áöáÙøóÇáöãöíäó ãöäú Íóãöíãò æóáóÇ ÔóÝöíÚò íõØóÇÚõ 
  "... There will be no friend, nor an intercessor for the Zâlimûn (polytheists and the wrong-doers, etc.), who could be given heed to." (V.40:18)
The expression `Zâlimun (wrong-doers)' in this verse is interpreted as the polytheists; this is stated in another verse:

  æóÇáúßóÇÝöÑõæäó åõãõ ÇáÙøóÇáöãõæäó 
  "... And it is the disbelievers who are the Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.). (V.2:254)

  Åöäøó ÇáÔøöÑúßó áóÙõáúãñ ÚóÙöíãñ 
  ".. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed." (V.31:13)
With regard to your question concerning some of the Sufis (mystics) who utter in the mosques and in some other places phrases such as `O Lord, grant peace and blessings on the one whom you have ordained to be instrumental in the unfolding of Your Mighty Secrets and in opening the doors to the sublime lights of Your Mercy and who has thus become Your vicegerent and who has inherited Your Hidden Secrets... etc.' The answer to this would be:
All such utterances are nothing but pedantry and empty talk against which our Prophet Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã has warned us. It is narrated in the Collection of Traditions (Ahâdîth) by Imâm Muslim on the authority of `Abdullah bin Masûd ÑÖí Çááå Úäå that the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã said:
"åáß ÇáãÊäØÚæä"
"The pedants shall be doomed to destruction."
(The Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã repeated this remark three times).
Imâm Al-Khattabi ÑÍãå Çááå has defined a pedant as one who delves into problems and issues which are beyond his intellectual abilities, as was indulged by the scholastic theologians.
Abus-Sa'âdât Ibn-al-Athir has said that the pedants are those who show extravagance in their speech and try to speak too loudly. The Arabic word for this expression Mutanatti' is derived from Nat' meaning forepart of the palate. Later, the word was used for every extravagant either in speech or action.
Any person, even with a minimum of intelligence, will understand from the above that such utterances referred to, in praise of our Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã, is a form of affectation and pedantry forbidden in our religion. The correct approach for a Muslim in this context should be to learn the Traditional method of sending Salât (blessing) on the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã. Imâm Bukhari and Imâm Muslim have narrated in their Collections on the authority of Ka'b bin `Ujrah ÑÖí Çááå Úäå that the Companions of the Prophet ÑÖí Çááå Úäåã said to the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã: O Prophet of Allah, we have been ordered to send Salât (blessings) on you; how shall we send Salât (blessing) on you?" The Prophet said:
" Çááåã Õá Úáì ãÍãÏ æÚáì Âá ãÍãÏ ßãÇ ÕáíÊ Úáì ÅÈÑÇåíã æÚáì Âá ÅÈÑÇåíã Åäß ÍãíÏ ãÌíÏ æÈÇÑß Úáì ãÍãÏ æÚáì Âá ãÍãÏ ßãÇ ÈÇÑßÊ Úáì ÅÈÑÇåíã æÚáì Âá ÅÈÑÇåíã Åäß ÍãíÏ ãÌíÏ "
"Say: O Lord, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrâhîm and the family of Ibrâhîm; verily You are Praiseworthy and Glorious; and O Lord, grant Your benedictions to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You granted to Ibrâhîm and the family of Ibrâhîm; verily You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.".
It is also narrated in the Collections of Imâm Bukharî and Imâm Muslim on the authority of Abi Humaid As-Sa'idi ÑÖí Çááå Úäå that some people asked the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã:
"How shall we send Salât (blessings) on you, O Prophet of Allah?" The Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã said,
" ÞæáæÇ Çááåã Õá Úáì ãÍãÏ æÚáì ÃÒæÇÌå æÐÑíÊå ßãÇ ÕáíÊ Úáì Âá ÅÈÑÇåíã æÈÇÑß Úáì ãÍãÏ æÃÒæÇÌå æÐÑíÊå ßãÇ ÈÇÑßÊ Úáì Âá ÅÈÑÇåíã Åäß ÍãíÏ ãÌíÏ "
"Say: O Lord, bless Muhammad, his wives and his children as You blessed the family of Ibrâhîm and grant Your benedictions on Muhammad, his wives and his children as You granted to the family of Ibrâhîm. Verily You are Praiseworthy and Glorious."
It is narrated in the Collection of Imâm Muslim on the authority of Abi Mas'ud Al-Ansari ÑÖí Çááå Úäå that Basheer bin Sa'd ÑÖí Çááå Úäå said:
" ÞæáæÇ Çááåã Õá Úáì ãÍãÏ æÚáì Âá ãÍãÏ ßãÇ ÕáíÊ Úáì ÅÈÑÇåíã æÈÇÑß Úáì ãÍãÏ æÚáì Âá ãÍãÏ ßãÇ ÈÇÑßÊ Úáì ÅÈÑÇåíã Ýí ÇáÚÇáãíä Åäß ÍãíÏ ãÌíÏ æÇáÓáÇã ßãÇ ÚáãÊã "
"O Prophet of Allah, Allah has ordered us to send Salât (blessing) on you; so how shall we send Salât (blessing) on you?" The Prophet remained silent for a few moments and then said, "Say: O Lord, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrâhîm and bestow Your benediction on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You bestowed on Ibrahim in the two worlds; verily You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. This is the prayer taught to you."
All such utterances that are authentically attributed to the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã should be the only utterances used by a Muslim whenever he seeks to pray for the Prophet and ask for Allah's benediction for him. A Muslim should abide only by these authentic words because the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã knows best regarding the words that are to be used for him and he also knows best regarding the words that are to be used for his Lord. As regards, all the innovated and affected words and phrases besides the words which are loaded with the possibility of incorrect connotations such as the words mentioned in your query; such words should not be used because they are affected forms of speech and because they can be interpreted with false meanings and also for the reason they are different from the words selected by the Prophet of Allah Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã. He has instructed his Ummah (nation) and he is the best informed among all human beings and the most righteous; he is
 the least inclined to affectations. May the best of peace and blessings from our Lord be on him. I hope that the discussion I have presented in these pages, supported by adequate proofs, shall suffice in explaining the truth of the doctrine of the Oneness of Allah and in exposing polytheism besides explaining the differences between the polytheists of the early ages and those of the later ages in this regard.
A person who seeks to know the truth should be convinced by the explanation given regarding the permissible form of Salât (blessings) on the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã. But if a person has no desire to know the truth, he can indulge in his own fanciful thoughts. Allah has referred to them in the Noble Qur'ân and said:

  þÝóÅöäú áóãú íóÓúÊóÌöíÈõæÇ áóßó ÝóÇÚúáóãú ÃóäøóãóÇ íóÊøóÈöÚõæäó ÃóåúæóÇÁóåõãú æóãóäú ÃóÖóáøõ ãöãøóäó ÇÊøóÈóÚó åóæóÇåõ ÈöÛóíúÑö åõÏðì ãöäó Çááøóåö Åöäøó Çááøóåó áóÇ íóåúÏöí ÇáúÞóæúãó ÇáÙøóÇáöãöíäó 
  "But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zâlimûn (wrong- doers, disobedient to Allah, and polytheists)." (V.28:50)
In the above verse Allah the All-Mighty has classified the people in two groups with regard to their attitude to our Prophet Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã and his mission; One group responds to Allah and to His Messenger whereas the other group follows its own lusts and Allah says that those who follow their lusts are deprived of all guidance from Him.
We pray to Allah the All-Mighty, that we may be safe from becoming the followers of lusts and may Allah make you and all of us among those who always abide by the path of Allah and His Messenger Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã and by those who enlighten us about his Divine Law (Shari'a) and caution us against whatever is in violation of it, such as innovations and fanciful opinions. Verily, Allah is Magnanimous and Generous. Peace and blessings be on His slave and Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad and on his Family, his Companions and his followers until the Day of Judgement.
 
 

   
  


SUNTOU TOURAY <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
  The work of majority of our marabouts, seriegns, moro’s and chernos. 
As I stated earlier, the majority of the holy men or spiritual doctors are involving the contact of the jinn world.
The work they do is described in the Quran as SIHR. Sihr is describe by many scholars of the past as “uqad ( blowing on knots), Ruqha (incantations), and words uttered or written, or carried out in such a way as to affect the body of the target. To affect his heart or mind without him even coming into contact with the practitioner, here the moro, cherno,or sereign.

The practice is an art which has it own methodology and ways. It has nothing to do with the Islamic creed or system.
The reality of sihr according some scholars is that it can cause one to die, cause people to fall ill or acts as obstacle against a man having sexual relation with his wife. Other types can separate husband from wife that is divorce
Ibn Al-qayyim state that the effect of marabout work or sihr “consist of the effect of evil souls and the reaction of the resultant forces.’’. From our senegambia experience, many of us have seen this men, we held them highly and accord them respect because we tend to believe that they are Godly men but on the contrary. This men are mostly greedy men who mortgage their life for easy life and fame. Traditionally they have an understanding of the Islamic knowledge and aura. But they know, they cannot use the Quran to get money of people by doing the acts they do. Yes, God conscious people can pray for others but they don’t have any extra-ordinary powers to do things out of the ordinary.

How do the marabouts have the knowledge or power to do things they do? The man who sacrifices is life for the Satan, use the name of a certain jinn that are with people in that line of business. If you have the names of a jinn, you can upon them for several days or weeks and you do things that will please that particular jinni. The marabout and the jinn or satan form an agreement with the marabout. The jinn or satan command the marabout to do certain acts to proof himself. This may involve sacrifices and other acts against God. To an outsider, the marabout is on the path of God but to himself he knows what he is doing. 
It is claim that some of this people do filty things like, writing anagrammatized ( writing in reverse) the Quran. Some perform salat without wudu, they tell their clients to sacrifice animals on certain days. This animal is to please the jinn. The greater the power of the Jinn the higher the demand for sacrifice. The marabout also use the stars as a guide in their work.
Some big marabouts who obey the commands of jinn get their own family affected by the jinn. the following Quranic passages talks about the existence of jinns. Surah 36:29,6:130,62:1,45:33,62:6,5:91,24:21 .
There are many hadith that confirm the existence of jinns. 
Satan can transform into many things. We cannot see them.

People from our region go to this people to solve their problems and difficulties for them. But our people don’t examine the method this men use to do things that seems like solving peoples worries. They pass themselves off as great muslims, that is their outward persona. If say a certain person go them to make a certain individual loose his job, do you think this grand marabout will open the Quran and copy a verse to make that person loose his Job? No. this is where their double life comes into play. Any thing to do with causing harm and instability, their jinn is invoke and he carry out the duty diligently. They prey on people’s weak beliefs and lack of knowledge about their evil actions. This is why they are relevant and respect still today. Some grand marabouts even make their students beg in the streets. Some exceed the sharia even in marriage. They don’t attend jamat community prayer in the mosque yet this men show their islamic side to trap customers.
How holy is a marabout who hardly go to mosque were the prayer perform is of higher grade than that perform at home.

The specialist marabout or serign can send his jinn on missions to cause harm. the jinn can cause some one to get mental illness. 
The methods of getting a jinn are in many categories. One of them is swearing by and seeking refuge in the master of the jinns. This is usually done with the method refered to as thoo batooo ( calling on a name) this practice is done in a dark room, smoke incense. the marabouts who practice this evil, do acts that pleases the jinn. If the jinn is satisfy with the marabout, it will under take task assign to it. If it is steering up hatred, that is the mission.
Another common method of getting the jinn’s attention is slaughtering an animal. The blood that the blood is what the jinn needs. All sacrifice under taken by muslims should be for the sake of God only not any other beings. 
Another method is anagrammatizing words of the Quran. This is locally refer to as katim. Katim is very dangerous method of harming people. It involves the connection of evil forces. Many are making lots of money by using this method of deceiving people. Other methods include using star signs to do incantations and other evils.

Before the marabout or moro under take a task for people, they ask for peoples mothers name, some ask for animals with certain specifications, white lamb, spotted sheep etc. they also give clients item to burry in the ground,
This men can surprise people. They can tell you your name even without you telling them, they narrate thing that happen to you in the past etc. this information is given to them by jinns.

I stated earlier that, some of the marabouts are only taken to be spiritual by people but they don’t invite or call people to themselves, they work hard and attend jamat prayers. They eat from halal or legal acceptable earnings. They don’t cause any harm between people. They don’t deceive using katim or korteh. They pray to God for that person’s well being. We need to stop making this people carry on this profession. They are all over the place. Banjul,Dakar,Serrekunda, Bansang,Basse, every where. Some of them are very powerful and dangerous. To proof their power they can do wick things. 
Next I will write about the Quranic verses to prevent you and me from their magic and demonic tools. Many know this topic more than myself but they are quiet with their knowledge. We need to explain the implications regarding going to to this people. It make us fall into shirk or associating partners with God. That is an unforgivable sin. May God strengthen our imaan.



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