Ruling on excusing those who ignorantly seek help of the deceased
Question:
“You answered a question related to when ignorance can be used as an excuse, and you mentioned that it requires detailed clarification, and that no one can be excused for ignorance in matters related to `Aqidah (creed). If a man was not in the habit of seeking help from the dead or doing such prohibited things, but he did it once as far as I know; he sought the help of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) while visiting the Prophet's Mosque but he did not have any idea that it is Haram (prohibited) and is considered Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). He performed Hajj later, and no one told him that what he did was Haram. I do not think he knew the ruling on this until he died. That man used to perform Salah (Prayer) and ask Allah for forgiveness, but he did not know that seeking help from other than Allah is Haram. Is such a person who did this act only once, and died without knowing it is Haram, considered a Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)? Please advise, may Allah reward you with the best!”
Answer:
“If that man offered Tawbah (repentance to Allah) after this incident and asked Allah for forgiveness, this ruling is cancelled and he is still considered a Muslim. However, if he continued to seek the help from other than Allah and did not perform Tawbah, he is still considered a Mushrik, even if he used to perform Salah and observe Sawm (Fast), unless he performed Tawbah. Likewise, if a person abuses Allah and His Messenger or abuses the Din (religion), Jannah (Paradise) or Hellfire, it is of no avail that they perform Salah and observe Sawm, because this invalidates Islam. Thus, their deeds are considered Batil (null and void) until they perform Tawbah. This is an important rule referred to in Allah's statement (Exalted be He):
{But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.} [Surah Al-An’am 6:88]
And: {And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), as it was to those (Allâh’s Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers." Nay! But worship Allâh (Alone and none else), and be among the grateful.} [Surah Az-Zumar 39:65-66]
The mother of the Prophet (peace be upon him) died during Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance). The Prophet (peace be upon him) requested permission to seek Allah's forgiveness for her, but Allah (Exalted be He) did not permit him. When a man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about his father, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “My father and yours are in Hell”[1] as they both died during Jahiliyyah. This means that if a person dies in a state of Shirk, it is not permissible to ask Allah to forgive them, supplicate to Him for them or give Sadaqah (voluntary charity) on their behalf, unless it is known that they offered Tawbah. This is the rule known to scholars. A man once told his children: “When I die, burn me and crush (my bones), then scatter me in the sea on a stormy day, for if Allah grasps hold of me He will punish me. Allah asked him: "What made you do what you did?" He said: "Fear of You." So, Allah forgave him."[2]
Scholars said that he failed to remember Allah's Power, and he thought that by burning his body, crushing his bones, and throwing his ashes into the sea he would escape Allah's Punishment. Allah forgave for this man this ignorance of a fine detail because he did this out of fear of Him and His Punishment. All the prophets including Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) forbade seeking help from the dead. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{And invoke not besides Allâh any such that will neither profit you nor harm you} [Surah Yunus 10:106]
And: {...so invoke not anyone along with Allâh.} [Surah Al-Jinn 72:18]
And: {Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation).} [Surah Ghafir 40:60]
These matters are Ma`lum minad-din biddarurah (necessarily known Islamic principles) and are very well-known among Muslims. A person who claims to be ignorant will not be excused if they are living within a Muslim community. If, however, a person is living within a Non-Muslim community where there is no one to teach them, then they fall under the ruling of Ahl-ul-Fatrah (people having no access to Divine Messages). The affairs of such people is with Allah (Exalted be He) on the Day of Judgement; if He Wills He will punish them, and if He Wills He will be merciful with them. Allah (Exalted be He) will test them on the Day of Judgement, and those who pass the test by obeying Allah will enter Jannah (Paradise) but those who fail it by disobeying Him will enter the Fire.”
[1] Related by Muslim, Book on faith, Chapter on he who dies associating none with Allah would enter paradise and he who dies as a polytheist would enter the fire of hell, no. 203.
[2] Al-Bukhari, Book on prophets, no. 3294; Muslim, Book on repentance, no. 2756; Al-Nasa'i, Book on funerals, no. 2079; Ibn Majah, Book on asceticism, no. 4255; Ahmad, vol. 2, p. 269; and Malik, Book on funerals, no. 568.
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas of Nur `Ala Al-Darb, Volume 1, Chapter on `Aqidah, Chapter on being excused out of ignorance, Ruling on excusing those ignorantly seek help of the deceased. Question number 19, tape number 154.
“You answered a question related to when ignorance can be used as an excuse, and you mentioned that it requires detailed clarification, and that no one can be excused for ignorance in matters related to `Aqidah (creed). If a man was not in the habit of seeking help from the dead or doing such prohibited things, but he did it once as far as I know; he sought the help of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) while visiting the Prophet's Mosque but he did not have any idea that it is Haram (prohibited) and is considered Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). He performed Hajj later, and no one told him that what he did was Haram. I do not think he knew the ruling on this until he died. That man used to perform Salah (Prayer) and ask Allah for forgiveness, but he did not know that seeking help from other than Allah is Haram. Is such a person who did this act only once, and died without knowing it is Haram, considered a Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)? Please advise, may Allah reward you with the best!”
Answer:
“If that man offered Tawbah (repentance to Allah) after this incident and asked Allah for forgiveness, this ruling is cancelled and he is still considered a Muslim. However, if he continued to seek the help from other than Allah and did not perform Tawbah, he is still considered a Mushrik, even if he used to perform Salah and observe Sawm (Fast), unless he performed Tawbah. Likewise, if a person abuses Allah and His Messenger or abuses the Din (religion), Jannah (Paradise) or Hellfire, it is of no avail that they perform Salah and observe Sawm, because this invalidates Islam. Thus, their deeds are considered Batil (null and void) until they perform Tawbah. This is an important rule referred to in Allah's statement (Exalted be He):
{But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.} [Surah Al-An’am 6:88]
And: {And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), as it was to those (Allâh’s Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers." Nay! But worship Allâh (Alone and none else), and be among the grateful.} [Surah Az-Zumar 39:65-66]
The mother of the Prophet (peace be upon him) died during Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance). The Prophet (peace be upon him) requested permission to seek Allah's forgiveness for her, but Allah (Exalted be He) did not permit him. When a man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about his father, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “My father and yours are in Hell”[1] as they both died during Jahiliyyah. This means that if a person dies in a state of Shirk, it is not permissible to ask Allah to forgive them, supplicate to Him for them or give Sadaqah (voluntary charity) on their behalf, unless it is known that they offered Tawbah. This is the rule known to scholars. A man once told his children: “When I die, burn me and crush (my bones), then scatter me in the sea on a stormy day, for if Allah grasps hold of me He will punish me. Allah asked him: "What made you do what you did?" He said: "Fear of You." So, Allah forgave him."[2]
Scholars said that he failed to remember Allah's Power, and he thought that by burning his body, crushing his bones, and throwing his ashes into the sea he would escape Allah's Punishment. Allah forgave for this man this ignorance of a fine detail because he did this out of fear of Him and His Punishment. All the prophets including Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) forbade seeking help from the dead. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{And invoke not besides Allâh any such that will neither profit you nor harm you} [Surah Yunus 10:106]
And: {...so invoke not anyone along with Allâh.} [Surah Al-Jinn 72:18]
And: {Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation).} [Surah Ghafir 40:60]
These matters are Ma`lum minad-din biddarurah (necessarily known Islamic principles) and are very well-known among Muslims. A person who claims to be ignorant will not be excused if they are living within a Muslim community. If, however, a person is living within a Non-Muslim community where there is no one to teach them, then they fall under the ruling of Ahl-ul-Fatrah (people having no access to Divine Messages). The affairs of such people is with Allah (Exalted be He) on the Day of Judgement; if He Wills He will punish them, and if He Wills He will be merciful with them. Allah (Exalted be He) will test them on the Day of Judgement, and those who pass the test by obeying Allah will enter Jannah (Paradise) but those who fail it by disobeying Him will enter the Fire.”
[1] Related by Muslim, Book on faith, Chapter on he who dies associating none with Allah would enter paradise and he who dies as a polytheist would enter the fire of hell, no. 203.
[2] Al-Bukhari, Book on prophets, no. 3294; Muslim, Book on repentance, no. 2756; Al-Nasa'i, Book on funerals, no. 2079; Ibn Majah, Book on asceticism, no. 4255; Ahmad, vol. 2, p. 269; and Malik, Book on funerals, no. 568.
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas of Nur `Ala Al-Darb, Volume 1, Chapter on `Aqidah, Chapter on being excused out of ignorance, Ruling on excusing those ignorantly seek help of the deceased. Question number 19, tape number 154.