Q: What do you think about the saying of Shaykh `Abdul-Rahman ibn Hasan Al Al-Shaykh in his book Fat-hul-Majid (p. 45) in which he states: This is different from those who say "La ilaha illa-Allah (there is no God but Allah)" while invoking other than Allah, seeking refuge with a dead person or an absent person who can not provide any good or evil. As you see most people act like this. Verily, when such people say the Word of Shahadah (La ilaha illa-Allah), (Part No. 2; Page No. 430) they get involved in its contradiction. The person who says it will not benefit from it except by knowing its meaning, whether negative or positive. Does the ruling on people differ from time to time and from place to place, or is the ruling constant and does not need Ta'wil (allegorical interpretation)?

A: The words of Shaykh `Abdul-Rahman ibn Hasan (may Allah be Merciful with him) clarify that the word of the Shahadah will not be useful for the person without knowing its true meaning, acting according to it, and proving his sincere worship to Allah (Exalted be He). As regards seeking refuge with, supplicating to anyone other than Allah, believing that the dead hear those who supplicate to them and intercede for them and act as a mediator between them and Allah, offering sacrificial animals to them, making vows for their sake, resorting to them to relieve distresses and believing that supplication to them is useful, all these acts contradict the Word of Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah). He who practices and believes in such acts is a Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and thus commits an act of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). The ruling of Kufr (disbelief) should be applied to him.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.