Q 3: There is a Muslim who claims to acknowledge the fundamentals of monotheism, but when he sees something falling and he does not want it to be broken or damaged, he seeks help saying, “O Messenger of Allah” or “O Shaykh Ahmad Al-Tijany.” Are his words counted as Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or in worship)? Or speaking such words incurs no guilt and the person who says them will not be regarded as a Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and his deeds will not turn fruitless because of saying them? (Part No. 1; Page No. 166) Please provide your legal opinion in writing and furnish it with evidence from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace be upon him).

A: We should be fully aware that Allah (Exalted be He) Alone is the Guardian over everything, the All-Knower of everything. If a person wants to be safe when falling or fears that he or one of his relatives may be afflicted with a calamity, regardless of the conditions, he should resort to Allah (Exalted be He). This is because Allah, in whose Hand is the dominion of all things, knows the secret, and what is even more hidden. One must call upon his Lord with humility and in private and ask Him for protection from harm if he is falling, or when he is asleep, or awake, and in all other conditions. In this way evil will be removed and sorrow will be relieved. In this regard, Allah (Exalted be He) says (what means), And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) 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. , Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors. And, And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, 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!" On the other hand, if a Muslim is tempted away by Satan and he invokes other than Allah (Exalted be He) such as the prophets and other righteous people, or the Jinn and devils, to protect him or any of his relatives from an evil which he fears, he will be associating with Allah (Exalted be He) (Part No. 1; Page No. 167) another god whom he hopes will bring him benefit, fears his punishment, relies upon him in fulfilling his wishes and wants; such a person will end in Hell, and worst indeed is that destination. In fact, they cannot ward off harm from him, fulfill his wants or benefit him in any way. Allah (Exalted be He) says, Say: (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to polytheists, pagans) "Call upon those whom you assert (to be associate gods) besides Allâh, they possess not even an atom’s (or a small ant’s) weight either in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor there is for Him any supporter from among them. , Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits. So much so that when fear is banished from their (angels’) hearts, they (angels) say: "What is it that your Lord has said?" They say: "The truth. And He is the Most High, the Most Great." , Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم): "Call upon those - besides Him - whom you pretend [to be gods like angels, ‘Isâ (Jesus), ‘Uzair (Ezra), and others.]. They have neither the power to remove the adversity from you nor even to shift it from you to another person." and, Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations? Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Little is that you remember! May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!