Introduction
All Praise is due to Allaah, we praise Him, seek His aid and His Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from the evils of our souls and the evils of our actions. Whomsoever Allaah guides there is none to misguide and whomsoever Allaah misguides there is none to guide. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, alone, without any partners and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
In this brief excerpt from “al-Waasitah” of Shaikh ul-Islaam, the correct understanding of the Scholars of Islaam being intermediaries of knowledge is presented alongside a refutation of the type of understanding that entails the major form of Shirk.
Shaikh ul-Islaam wrote:
[THE SCHOLARS ARE THE INHERITORS OF THE PROPHETS]
Those who affirm people other than the Prophets – such as the shaikhs [scholars] of Knowledge and of the religion – as intermediaries between the Messenger and his Ummah in the sense that they are people who impart knowledge to them (the Ummah), teach them (such knowledge) and correct their conduct and then follow in their way, they are correct in doing so (i.e. considering them intermediaries in this particular manner).
When these scholars agree upon a matter, their concensus is an absolute proof. They never unite upon misguidance and if they differ upon any issue they always refer it to Allaah and His Messenger. This is because not a single one of them is free from making mistakes in an absolute manner, rather every persons words can either be accepted or rejected except the words of the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam). The Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said: The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets and the Prophets do not leave behind dinars or dirhams but they leave behind the knowledge so whoever takes from it then he has acquired a huge fortune. [Abu Daawood]
[THE INTERMEDIATION OF SHIRK]
There are those who affirm them as being intermediaries between Allaah and His creation in the manner of a barrier which is between a king and his citizens and who raise to Allaah the needs of His creation - such that Allaah guides His servants and gives them sustenance throught their intermediation, the creation asks them and they ask Allaah. This is like the intermediaries between the kings and their people who ask for the needs of the people because they are closer to the kings than the people themselves. So the people ask them courteously, that they should take their request to the king, or thinking that their requesting the intermediaries is more beneficial for them than requesting from the king directly because the intermediaries are closer to the king than the one making the request. Whoever affirms the scholars as intermediaries in such a manner then he is a Kaafir (disbeliever) and a Mushrik (pagan). It is necessary to seek his repentance and if he does not make repentance he must face death. Such people make resemblances for Allaah, they compare the creation with the Creator and set up rivals and equals with Allaah.
[THE REJECTED TYPES OF INTERMEDIARIES]
There is a refutation of these people within the Qur’aan which is too vast to mention in this treatise. Intermediation between the kings [of this world] and their people occurs in one of three ways:
THE FIRST: Informing the king of the situation of the people which the king by himself does not know. Whoever says that Allaah does not know the condition of His servants until some of the angels or the prophets or anyone else informs Him of that he is a Kaafir. Rather He, the One Free from all Imperfections, knows [all the] secrets and what is most hidden. No one can hide anything from Him in the Heavens and the Earth and He is the Hearer, the Seer. He hears the sounds of all the tongues in all the different languages with all the diversity of their requests. Listening to one does not occupy Him from listening to another. Neither does this cause Him to make mistakes and nor is He exhausted by the persistence of the insistent.
THE SECOND: When the king is incapable of administering and regulating his people and in repelling his enemies except by helpers who assist Him. He cannot do without these assistants due to his weak position and incapacity. However, Allaah, the One free of all imperfections and limitations is not in need of a helper nor any allies to help Him. Allaah the Exalted said:
- Say: “Call upon other (gods) whom you fancy, besides Allaah: They have no power,- not the weight of an atom,- in the heavens or on earth: No (sort of) share have they therein, nor is any of them a helper to Allaah. [Sabaa 34:22]
And He said:
- Say: “Praise be to Allaah, who begets no son, and has no partner in (His) dominion: Nor (needs) He any to protect Him from humiliation: and magnify Him for His greatness and glory!” [Israa 17:111]
Allaah is the Creator, the Lord and the Owner of everything which is in existence. He is the One free of all needs from that which is besides Him and all that is besides Him is in need of Him in opposition to the kings who are in need of their helpers. In reality such people are their partners in the ownership of their dominion and kingdom. Allaah the Exalted has no partner in His dominion, rather there is none deserving of worship except Allaah alone, without any partners, to Him is the dominion, to Him belongs all Praise and He has power over all things.
THE THIRD: When the king does not desire any benefit for his people and showing benevolence and mercy to them except due to an external movement which urges him to do so. The concern of the king for fulfilling the needs of his flock changes either due to his heart being affected by the words of the one who advises, warns him and directs him or due to the fear or aspiration which occurs (in his heart) on account of the words of the one who is directing him.
However Allaah the Exalted is the Lord and Owner of everything. He is more merciful to His servants than a mother is to her offspring. Everything occurs by His Will, whatever He wills happens and whatever He does not will does not occur. When He sends down benefit for His servants he makes one of them do good towards another by supplicating for him or interceding for him (in a matter of the world) and other such things. Allaah is the Creator of all of that and He is the One who created in the heart of this doer of good, who supplicates and intercedes, the desire to do good, make supplications and intercede.
It is not possible that there is anyone in the creation who can compel Him against his will or desire or inform Him about something which He did not know or whom He hopes in or fears. For this reason the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said: Let not one of you say: O Allaah! Forgive me if you will, have mercy upon Me if you will. Let him be firm and resolute in the matter for there is none to compel Allaah (to do something). [Bukhaaree]
As for the interceders who intercede with Allaah, they do not do so except by His permission just like Allaah has said:
- Who is there to intercede with Him except with Him permission [Baqarah 2:255]
And the Exalted also said:
- And they offer no intercession except for those whom (Allaah) is pleased with [Anbiyaa 21:28]
Allaah has also said:
- Say: “Call upon other (gods) whom you fancy, besides Allaah: They have no power,- not the weight of an atom,- in the heavens or on earth: No (sort of) share have they therein, nor is any of them a helper to Allaah. No intercession can avail in His Presence, except for those for whom He has granted permission. [Sabaa 34:22]
Allaah has explained that everyone who is called upon besides Him does not have any possession or share in the dominion and neither is he a helper to Allaah. He also explained that their intercession will not benefit anyone except for whom permission has been granted by Allaah. This is not so in the case of the kings of this world because the one who intercedes with them often has some sort of dominion or power and is sometimes a partner to them in their kingdom. Sometimes he is helps or assists them in the management of their kingdom.
And all of these people intercede with the king without the permission of the king. The king sometimes accepts their intercession due to a need he has from them, or due to fear of them, or to reward them for their good conduct towards him and causing benefit to him. The king may even accept the intercession of his wife and son because he is in need of a wife and a son and if they were to turn away from him he would be harmed by that. He also accepts the intercession of his citizens because he fears that if it was not accepted they would not obey him or that they might try to cause him harm. The intercession of people for each other, all of it is of this type. No one accepts intercession except out of fear or hope/aspiration.
Allaah the Exalted does not hope in anyone, however, nor does He fear anyone. He is Al-Ghaniy (the One Free of all needs). The Exalted said:
- Behold! verily to Allaah belong all creatures, in the heavens and on earth. What do they follow who worship as His “partners” other than Allaah? They follow nothing but fancy, and they do nothing but lie. He it is That has made you the night that you may rest therein, and the day to make things visible (to you). Verily in this are signs for those who listen (to His Message). They say: “Allaah has begotten a son!” - Glory be to Him! He is self-sufficient! His are all things in the heavens and on earth! [Yoonus 66-68]
Allaah the Exalted said:
- They serve, besides Allaah, things that hurt them not nor profit them, and they say: “These are our intercessors with Allaah.” Say: “Do you indeed inform Allaah of something He knows not, in the heavens or on earth?- Glory to Him! and far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)!” [Yoonus 10:18]
He also said:
- Why then was no help forthcoming to them from those whom they worshipped as gods, besides Allaah, as a means of access (to Allaah)? Nay, they left them in the lurch: but that was their falsehood and their invention. [Ahqaaf 46:28]
He also informs about the pagans who said:
- We do not worship them except that they may bring us closer to Allaah [Zumar 39:3]
And He said:
- And He does not command you to take the angels and the prophets as lords besides Allaah. Would he command you with Kufr while you are Muslims [Aali Imraan 3:80]
End of Shaikh ul-Islaam’s words and with Allaah lies all success.
Source: WWW.SALAFIPUBLICATIONS.COM