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Can we ask for help other then ALLAH?

Bismillahir Rehmanir Raheem

Assalat-O-Wassalam-O-Alaika YARASOOL ALLAH

We are living in a world of uncertainty and misconceptions. Man is beginning to question the very roots of his beliefs for Allah Almighty and the Holy Prophet Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim, to create doubt in the minds of the simple and un suspecting Muslims.

Here is proof from QUR'AN, Ahadith-e-Nabawi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam), Sayings of Sahab-e-Kiram and from the writings of great and authentic scholars of Islam which show beyond a shadow of a doubt that Can we ask for help other then ALLAH?

The distinguished Prophets and illustrious Awliya enjoy a very special proximity with ALLAH and are therefore, Divinely blessed to assist fellow creation. This assistance can be of a spiritual or physical nature and can be rendered while they are alive and even after their death. These Elite Servants of ALLAH offer their help only by the Command of Almighty ALLAH. They do not do anything without the Consent of their Sublime Lord and are always obedient to Him. 
  
The Gracious ALLAH always Showers His Choicest Blessings on His special servants. He addresses them as “His Friends” and no one can imagine or understand this Divinely blessed relation between them. ALLAH States in a Hadith-al-Qudsi:

 

اوليائي تحت قبائي لا يعرفهم غيري 

"My Awliya are hidden in My Divine Garb and no one knows them besides Me."

There are numerous Ayahs of the Holy Quran and other Ahadith that speaks about the excellence and powers of the Ambiya and the Awliya. They are Divinely appointed representatives and commissioned by ALLAH to perform special duties in His Kingdom. Since they are the distributors of the Bounties of ALLAH, therefore to seek help from them is actually and in reality seeking the Help of ALLAH. This is so because they are not the enemies of ALLAH but the Friends of ALLAH. 
  
Unfortunately, the Wahabies and Deobandies ignorantly oppose this help as Shirk and regard it as an erroneous belief. This problem did not exist in the long past and peaceful history of Islam. Ibne Abdul Wahab of Najd introduced it a few hundred years ago. It was then imported to the Indo/Pak sub-continent and propagated by the Deobandi/Tableeghi cult. This caused a great deal of confusion in the Ummah and also divided the Muslim community. The Wahabi/Deobandi scholars have written extensively and vehemently condemned the seeking of help from anyone other than ALLAH as Shirk. They claim with baseless proof that such help seeking is Shirk. To this day, many Muslims are still confused on this subject and some have adopted this Wahabi/Deobandi belief in sheer ignorance. 

The reality of assistance is that ALLAH must be regarded as the All- Powerful, the Sovereign, the Absolute, the Non-dependent and Infinite Affluent. He has the Power to independently do as He pleases. It is the belief of every Muslim that to attribute these unique qualities to anyone other than ALLAH is Shirk. Surely, no Muslim will attribute this to anyone, other than ALLAH. In fact, he regards certain creations as a medium or Waseela to achieve blessings and fulfillment of desires. This is certainly correct and in order. ALLAH Himself Orders in the Holy Quran:

 

وابتغوا إليه الوسيلة * "Seek the Waseela towards ALLAH." (Al-Maidah:35) 

  
By this we understand that إياك نستعين does not reject the seeking of assistance from other than ALLAH. Similarly, in the reality of existence, it is only ALLAH Who exists without assistance and birth. Then how can it be Shirk if we believe in our existence by His Divine Grace? حقائق الأشياء ثابتةThe reality of things is established.

This is a basic and fundamental article of faith in Islam. Likewise, is the state of the reality of knowledge. Only ALLAH Possesses Absolute and Personal Knowledge and none of His creation possesses the same. All of creation seek from Him and are dependent on ALLAH to inspire them with knowledge. So, if we call a knowledgeable person an Aalim or seek knowledge from an Aalim, is it Shirk? This is not so unless both ALLAH and an Aalim be regarded as the same in status. ALLAH Himself Addresses His servants in the Holy Quran as Aleem and Ulama. Almighty ALLAH refers to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Peace Be Upon Him) in this Ayah:

 

يعلمهم الكتاب و الحكمة * "The Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) teaches them the Kitaab and wisdom". (Al-Imran:164)

The same is the situation of seeking assistance (استعانت) because the intention is to use a beloved of ALLAH as a Waseela to beg for His Mercy and Bounties. There is no prohibition in this act because only the creation can be a Waseela and not ALLAH. A Waseela is used to reach someone higher. Who is higher than Allah, that his Waseela is to be used? Who is above Him to fulfill desires and ambitions? ALLAH is pure from being used as a Waseela because nothing is higher than He is. Therefore, it is stated in the Hadith Shareef that a Bedouin came before the Holy Prophet(Peace Be Upon Him) and said; 

"Ya Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)! We make you a Shafee (intercessor) in the Court of ALLAH and present ALLAH to you as a Shafee (intercessor)". The Beloved Prophet(Peace Be Upon Him) was very displeased with this and repeated سبحان الله سبحان الله  for a long time and replied:

 

ويحك! انه لايستفشع بالله على أحد شأن الله اعظم من ذالك *رواه ابوداؤد عن جبير بن مطعم رضى الله عنه 

"O fool! You do not present ALLAH to anyone as an intercessor. The Integrity of ALLAH is way superior to this".
  
A Muslim seeks that assistance from the Ambiya and Awliya that if the same is sought from ALLAH it will earn the displeasure of ALLAH and His Rasool(Peace Be Upon Him). It is an insult to the Divine Integrity of ALLAH to seek this form of assistance. The truth is that if anyone has faith and Imaan in such forms of assistance from ALLAH (to regard ALLAH as a Shafee), he will become a Kaafir. What can be said about the stupidity and ignorance of the idiots who have no respect for Allah, no fear of Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) and no regard for Imaan? They ignorantly include this assistance with إياك  نستعين. They include this with that which is impossible for ALLAH and make it exclusive to Him. 

One idiot said:

Woh Kya hay jo nahi Milta Khuda Se
Jisay tum Maangtay ho Aulia Say

What is that you cannot get from ALLAH that you ask from Awliya?

We reply to this:

Tawassul Ker nahi saktay Khuda Se
Isay Hum Maangtay Hain Aulia Se

One cannot use the Tawassul (intercession) of ALLAH and that is what we seek from the Awliya. 

We present the Tawassul of Awliya in the Divine Court of ALLAH for our needs so that it may not be rejected. In 
the Holy Quran, ALLAH answers this idiotic question and rejection as follows:

 

و لو انهم إذ ظلموا أنفسهم جاءوك فاستغفروا الله واستغفر لهم الرسول لوجدوا الله توابا الرحيما 

"And when they impose on their lives (sin), they must come to your (the Nabi's) presence, then seek repentance from ALLAH and the Rasool(Peace Be Upon Him) also asks for their forgiveness. Then, they will indeed find ALLAH Most Forgiving and Compassionate." (An-Nisa:61)
  
Can ALLAH Himself not forgive? Why then does ALLAH say, "O Prophet(Peace Be Upon Him)! They must come to your presence and you seek forgiveness for them from ALLAH. Then only will they achieve the gift of forgiveness 
from ALLAH.” This is actually our motive but these people do not have the mentality to understand. For ALLAH'S Sake, have justice! Does the Ayah إياك نستعين refer to seeking absolute assistance from ALLAH only, and is seeking assistance only from only Prophets and Awliya regarded as Shirk? Are the Prophets and Awliya only not Allah U? So according to the Wahabies, besides the Prophets and the Awliya, the rest of the creation are Allah U, or the is the Ayah as it takes the name of these two groups that it is Shirk to seek any aid from them and permissible (to seek assistance) from the rest?

It is not so! If seeking assistance is limited absolutely only to ALLAH and forbidden from His creation, then whatever form of aid is sort from anyone other than ALLAH will always be Shirk. Whether it be from human beings or animals, dead or alive, person or attribute, action or condition, they are all other than ALLAH. Now, what is your answer to the Ayah-e-Kareema where Almighty ALLAH States:

 

واستعينوا بالصبر و الصلوة * "Seek help from Sabr (patience) and Salaah".

Is Sabr (regarded as) ALLAH that you are ordered to seek assistance from it or is Salaah (regarded as) ALLAH that we are ordered to seek aid from it? 
  
ALLAH States in another Ayah:

 

و تعاونوا على البرّ و التقوى * "Assist one another in good deeds and piety". (Al-Maidah:2)

  
Excuse me sir! If it is absolutely impossible to receive any help from other than Allah, then what is the meaning of this Command of Allah? If it is possible to get assistance from them, then why does the stomach pain?

There are countless Ahadith that clearly command the seeking of assistance from things other than ALLAH. I will list a few here:

·         Assist the evening Ibadah with the Morning Prayer,

·         Seek assistance from the late night prayer (Tahajjud),

·         Seek assistance from recording knowledge. (Notations),

·         Seek assistance from the food of Sehri,

·         Seek assistance from the mid-day siesta (Qaylola),

·         Seek assistance from charity (Sadqa),

·         Assist yourself by not providing clothing to your women so that they are without them. (Fitna),

·         Assist yourself by not begging. (Self-sufficiency)

Are all these things the “Lord” of the Wahabies, that it is commanded to seek assistance from them? If you cannot remember these Ahadith, then listen to them from me.

Hadith no.1

البخارى و النسائى عن ابوهريرة رضى الله تعالى عنه عن النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه

 و سلّم استعينوا بالغداوة والروحة و شيئ من الدلجة *

Sayyiduna Abu-Hurayra(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Sayyiduna

Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) “Seek Assistance from the morning,

evening and close to the morning (Tahajjud) prayers”.

(Bukhari and Nisaa'ee)

Hadith no. 2 and 3

الترمدى عن ابوهريره  و عن ابن عبّاس رضى الله تعالى عنهم عن النبى صلى الله

تعالى عليه و سلّم استعن بيمينك على حفظك *

Sayyiduna Ibne Abbas(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)  “Assist your memory by making notations”. (Tirmidi)

Hadith no. 4

ابن ماجه والحاكم والطبرانى في الكبير والبيهقى في شعب الايمان عن ابن عبّاس رضى الله تعالى عنه عن النبى صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم استعينوا الطعام السحر على صيام النهار و بالقيلولة على قيام الليل *

Ibne Maaja(Radi ALLAH Anho), Haakim(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho) state in Al-Kabeer and Bayhaqi(Radi ALLAH Anho) states in Shou'bul-Imaan, that Sayyiduna Ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him), “Seek assistance from Sehri for the days fast and from siesta for the nights Ibadah”. (Ibne-Maaja)

Hadith no. 5

الديلمى في مسند الفردوس عن  عبد الله ابن عمررضى الله تعالى عنهما عن النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم استعينوا على الرزق بالصدقة *

Imam Daylami(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Musnadul-Firdous directly narrates from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Omar(Radi ALLAH Anho) who reports from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) that, “Assist your Rizq by giving charity”. (Daylami)

Hadith no. 6

ابن عدى في الكامل عن انس ابن مالك رضى الله تعالى عنه عن النبي صلى الله تعالى

 عليه وسلّم استعينوا على النساء بالعرى فانّ إحداهن إذا كثرت ثيابها و أحسنت زينتها أعجبها الخروج *

Imam Ibne-Adi(Radi ALLAH Anho) records in Al-Kaamil that Sayyiduna Anas ibne Maalik(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) “Assist yourself by not giving your women excessive clothing when she sits at home. If women get many clothes then she would like  to dress up and leave her home to display her garb”.

Hadith no. 7, 8, 9 and 10

الطبرانى في الكبير والعقيلى وابن عدى و أبو نعيم في الحلية والبيهقى في الشعب الإيمان عن معاذ ابن جبل و الخطيب عن ابن عبّاس و الخلعى في فوائده عن أمير المؤمنين على^ن المرتضى و الخرائطى في اعتلال القلوب عن أمير المؤمنين عمر الفاروق رضى الله تعالى عنهم عن النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه  و سلّم  استعينوا على إنجاح الحوائج بالكتمان *

Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Al-Kabeer, Aqeeli(Radi ALLAH Anho), Ibne-Adi(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Abu-Na’eem(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Hilya, Imam Bayhaqi(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Shou'bul-Imaan narrates from Sayyiduna Mu'aaz ibne Jabal(Radi ALLAH Anho). Khateeb(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Khal'ee(Radi ALLAH Anho) in his Fawaa'id narrates from Ameeril Moh'mineen Sayyiduna Ali Al-Murtudah(Radi ALLAH Anho). Khara'itee(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Ah'tadaalul-Quloob directly narrates from Ameeril Moh'mineen Sayyiduna Omar Al-Farooq(Radi ALLAH Anho) the Beloved Nabi(Peace Be Upon Him) said, “Success of intentions are in keeping them a secret. So assist yourself from not exposing those secrets”. 

We do not seek assistance from the Mushrik in matters regarding the Mushrik.

Hadith no. 13

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and Sunan-e-Nisaa'ee that a few Arab tribes came for some assistance from the Prophet of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him), who assisted them.

عن انس رضى الله تعالى عنه انّ النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم اتاه رعل و ذكوان و عصية و بنو لحيان فزعموا انهم قد اسلموا واستمدوه على قومهم فامدّهم النبي صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم *  الحديث

Sayyiduna Anas(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) that the clans of Ri'al, Zakwaan, Asiyyah and Banu Lahyaan came to him. They professed of their Islam and sought assistance for their families from the Prophet of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him), and he assisted them.

Hadith no. 14

Sahih Muslim, Abu-Da'ood, Ibne Maaja and Tabraani in Muh’jam-e-Kabeer narrate from Sayyiduna Rabee'ah bin Kaab Aslami(Radi ALLAH Anho) that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) once said to him (Kaab Aslami): “Ask what you desire and I will give it to you”. I said, “I ask of you that I be in your company in Jannah”. The Beloved Nabi(Peace Be Upon Him) replied, “Is there anything else you desire?” I said, “That is all I desire”. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) said, “Assist me by making excessive Sojood”.

قال كنت أبيت مع رسول الله صلى الله تعالى عليه و سلّم فأتيته بوضوئه و حاجته  ،

 فقال لي سل و لفظ الطبراني فقال يوما يا ربيعه! سلني فاعطيك ، رجعنا الى لفظ مسلم ، قال فقلت ، اسئالك مرافقتك في الجنة ، قال أوغير ذاك؟ قلت هو ذالك  قال فاعنّي على نفسك بكثرت السجود *

Sayyiduna Rabee'ah(Radi ALLAH Anho) says that “I always spent the nights with the Prophet of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him). One night, I presented water to him for Istinja and Wudu. He(Peace Be Upon Him) said to me, ‘Ask!’ and the words of Tabraani are, ‘O Rabee'ah! Ask me what you desire and I will grant you’. We revert back to the words of Sahih Muslim, ‘Then I (Rabee'ah) asked, ‘I seek your company in Jannah’.  The Prophet of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him) asked, ‘Is there any other request?’  I replied, ‘That is all I desire’ The Beloved(Peace Be Upon Him) then replied, ‘Then you assist me by making excessive Sojood’”.  

In these following 14 Ahadith, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) states:

اطلبوا الخير عند حسان الوجوه *

Seek virtues from those with a beautiful face.

و في لفظ اطلبوا الخير والحوائج من حسان الوجوه *

Ask for virtues and desires from those with a beautiful face.

و في لفظ اطلبوا الحاجات عند حسان الوجوه *

Ask the handsome ones for your desires.

وفي لفظ اذا ابتغيتم المعروف فاطلبوه عند حسان الوجوه *

When you require virtue, request it from the handsome face.

و في لفظ اذا طلبتم الحاجات فاطلبوها عند حسان الوجوه *

When you look for desires look for them by the handsome faces.

وفي لفظ بزيادة فان قضى حاجتك قضاها بوجه طلق وان ردّك ردّك بوجه طلق *

That, a handsome person will smilingly fulfill or reject your desires.

Source of Hadith no. 15

أخرجه الامام البخاري في التاريخ و ابوبكر بن ابى الدنيا في قضاء الحوائج وابو يعلى في مسنده والطبرانى في الكبير ولاعقيلى وابن عدى والبيهقى في شعب الايمان وابن عساكر عن امّ المؤمنين الصدّيقه رضى الله تعالى عنها   *

This Hadith is recorded by Imam Bukhari(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Taaree’kh, Abu-Bakr bin Abi-Duniya(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Qada-e-Hawaa'ij, Abu-Yah'li(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Musnad, Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Kabeer, Aqeeli(Radi ALLAH Anho), Ibne Adi(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Bayhaqi(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Shoubul-Emaan and Ibne Asakir(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Ummul-Moh'mineen Sayyadah Ayesha Siddiqah رضى الله تعالى عنها

Source of Hadith no. 16             

و عبد بن حميد في مسنده وابن حبّان في الضعفاء وابن عدى في الكامل والسلفى في الطوريات عن عبد الله بن عمر الفاروق رضى الله تعالى عنهما *

And Abdu bin Hameed(Radi ALLAH Anho) records in his Musnad, Ibne Habbaan(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Do'afa and Ibne Adi(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Kaamil and Salafi(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Tou'riyaat narrates this Hadith from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Omar Al-Farooq(Radi ALLAH Anho).

Source of Hadith no. 17

و ابن عساكر وكذا الخطيب في تاريخهما  عن انس ابن مالك بلفظ التمسوا *

  and Ibne Asakir(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Khateeb(Radi ALLAH Anho) both record  in their Taaree’kh and narrate from Sayyiduna Anas ibne Maalik(Radi ALLAH Anho) with the word  "Iltamaso".

Source of Hadith no. 18

 والطّبرانى في الاوسط والعقيلى والخرائطى في اعتلال القلوب وتمام في فوائده وابوسهل عبدالصمد بن عبدالرحمان البزّار في جزئه   وصاحب المهروانيات عن جابر بن عبدالله*

And it is recorded by Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Al-Awsat, Al-Aqeeli(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Al-Khara'iti in Ah'talaal-al-Qoloob, Imam Tamaam(Radi ALLAH Anho) in his Fawaa'id, Abu-Sahal Abdus Samad bin Abdur Rahmaan Baz'zaar(Radi ALLAH Anho) in his Jaza and Sahibul-Mahru'waaniyaat narrates from Sayyiduna Jaabir bin Abdullah

Source of Hadith no. 19

و الدارقطنى في الافراد بلفظ ابتغوا   والعقيلى وابن ابى الدنيا في قضاء الحوائج والطبرانى في الاوسط وتمام والخطيب في رواية مالك عن ابىهريرة *

And Dara-Qutni(Radi ALLAH Anho) records in Afraad with the word "Ib'tagho", Al-Aqeeli(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Ibne Abi-Duniya(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Qada-e-Hawaa'ij, Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Awsat, Tamaam and Khateeb(Radi ALLAH Anho) with the narrations of Maalik(Radi ALLAH Anho), narrate from Sayyiduna Abu-Hurayra

Source of Hadith no. 20

وابن النجار في تاريخه  عن أمير المؤمنين على المرتضى *

 And Ibne-Najjaar(Radi ALLAH Anho) in his Taaree’kh narrates from Ameeril-Moh'mineen Sayyiduna Ali Al-Murtudah

Source of Hadith no. 21

والطّبرانى فى الكبير  عن بزيد بن خصيفه عن ابيه عن جدّة  ابىحصيفة بلفظ التمسوا

And Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Kabeer narrates from Sayyiduna Yazeed bin Husayfa(Radi ALLAH Anho) who narrates from his father and he narrates from his father Abi-Husayfa(Radi ALLAH Anho) with the word  "Iltamaso"

Source of Hadith no. 22

وتمام في الفوائد عن أبى بكرة *

Muhaddith Tamaam(Radi ALLAH Anho) in his Fawaa’id narrates

 from Sayyiduna Abu-Bikrah(Radi ALLAH Anho)

Source of Hadith no. 23

 والخطيب وتمام لفظه التمسوا والبيهقى فى الشعب والطبرانى فى الكبير عن عبدالله بن عبّاس هذا الاخير منهم خاصة عن ابن عبّاس باللفظ الثانى *

And Khateeb(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Tamaam(Radi ALLAH Anho) with the word "Iltamaso", Bayhaqi(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Shoubul-Imaan and Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Kabeer narrate from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anho) . The last Muhaddith (Tabraani) specifically narrates this Hadith from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anho) with a second word.

Source of Hadith no. 24

وابن عدى عن ام المؤمنين باللفظ الثالث واخرجه ابن عدىفى الكامل والبيهقى فى الشعب عن عبدالله بن جواد باللفظ الرابع *

And Ibne Adi(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates from Ummul-Moh'mineen Sayyadah Ayesha Siddiqah رضى الله  عنها with a third word which Ibne Adi(Radi ALLAH Anho) records in Kaamil and Bayhaqi(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Shoubul-Imaan narrates from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Jawaad(Radi ALLAH Anho) with a fourth word.

Source of Hadith no. 25

واحمد بن منيع فى مسنده عن الحجاج بن يزيد عن ابيه  يزيدالقسملى باللفظ الخامس

And Ahmad bin Maneeh(Radi ALLAH Anho) in his Musnad narrates from Hijjaaj bin Yazeed(Radi ALLAH Anho) who narrates from his father Yazeed al-Qasmali(Radi ALLAH Anho) with a fifth word.

رضى الله تعالى عنهم اجمعين هذا كلها مسندات *

May ALLAH be pleased with all of them. These quotations were all from the authentic books of Hadith Shareef  (Musnads).

Source of Hadith no. 26

وابوبكر بن ابىشيبة فى مصنفه عن ابن مصعب الانصارى  *

And Abu-Bakr bin Ibne-Shaybah(Radi ALLAH Anho) in his Musannaf narrates

from Sayyiduna Ibne Mus'ab Al-Ansaari

وعن عطاء *

And Ata(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates

Source of Hadith no. 28

 وعن الزهرى مرسلات *   

And Imam Zahri(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates.  These Ahadith are

Mursal (forwarded)

Imam Haafiz Jalaaludeen Suyuti(Radi ALLAH Anho) states:

الحديث فى نقدي حسن صحيح *

According to my understanding, this Hadith is Hasan Sahih (approved and sound).

Imam Ahmad Raza states:

قلت و قوله هذا لاشك حسن صحيح فقد بلغ حدّ التواتر إلى رأى *

I say that that there is no doubt in the comment of Imam Jalaludeen Suyuti(Radi ALLAH Anho) that the Hadith is Hasan Sahih because its narration has reached the stage of Tawatur (recurrence), and hence, it will be given preference over Ra'ee (views).

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Rawaha(Radi ALLAH Anho) or Sayyiduna Has’saan ibne Thaabit(Radi ALLAH Anho) state:

قد سمعنا نبيّنا قال قولا       هو من يطلب الحوائج راحة

اعتدوا و اطلبوا الحوائج        ممن زين الله وجه بصباحة *

Verily, we heard our Nabi(Peace Be Upon Him) say that it is the tranquility of the seekers. He said, "Seek your desires from those whose faces ALLAH has beautified with fairness and attraction”.  (Narrated by Imam Al-Askari)

Hadith no. 29

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) states:

اطلبوا الفضل عند رحماء من امّتي تعيشوا فى اكنافهم فانّ فيهم رحمتي *

Seek excellence from the tender-hearted people of my Ummah. Live close to them because you will find my mercy in them.

It is stated in another Hadith:

و في لفظ اطلبوا الحوائج الى ذوى الرّحمة من امّتي يرزقوا و تنجحوا *

Seek your desires from the tender-hearted persons of my Ummah, you will receive sustenance and fulfillment of desires.

Another Hadith states:

و في لفظ قال صلى الله تعالى عليه وسلّم يقول الله عزّ و جلّ اطلبوا الفضل من الرحماء من عبادي تعيشوا في اكنافهم فأنّي جعلت فيهم رحمتي *

The Glorious ALLAH States, "Ask for excellence from My kind-hearted servants. Enjoy life in their company because  I have left My mercy with them”.

The sources and chain of narrators of the above Hadith Shareef are as follows:

رواه بلفظ الاول ابن حبّان و الخرائطي فى مكارم الاخلاق و القضائى فى مسند الشهاب و الحاكم فى التاريخ و ابو الحسن  الموصلى و بالثانى العقيلى و الطبرانى فى الاوسط وبالثالث العقيلى كلهم عن ابى سعيد الخدرى رضى الله تعالى عنه *

The first is recorded by Ibne Habbaan(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Khara'iti(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Makarimul-Akhlaaq, Qada'ee(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Musnad-e-Shihaab, Haakim(Radi ALLAH Anho) in Taaree’kh and Abul-Hasan Mousali(Radi ALLAH Anho). With the second word, it is recorded by Aqeeli(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho)  in Awsat and with the third word Aqeeli(Radi ALLAH Anho) reports. All of them narrate from Sayyiduna Abu-Saeed Al-Khudri(Radi ALLAH Anho).

Where are the eyes of justice? Look at the clarity of these 17 Ahadith with Imaan. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) distinctly orders us to seek assistance (استعانت), virtues and excellence from the kind-hearted servants of his Ummah. They will happily fulfill your desires. Request from them sustenance and they will give it to you. They will grant you your desires. There is peace and tranquility in their company. There is joy to live with them. O ALLAH! What is the meaning of Isti'aanat and what Isti'aanat is greater than this? Who are more soft-hearted than the Awliya in this Ummah that Isti'aanat from them will be recommended so that to seek assistance from them will be ordered?

Alhamdullilah! The sun of truth has unveiled itself with great brightness towards which the kind Rasool(Peace Be Upon Him) of the Affectionate Lord calls the Ummah.

If you are Haraam, so be it!

All Praise is due to ALLAH! By His Mercy, as promised, I have presented 30 Ahadith. I would like to present another three to make it an odd number (33) because the Hadith Shareef says that ALLAH loves an odd number.

Hadith no. 31

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) states:

اذا اضلّ احدكم شيئاً او اراد عوناً و هو بارضٍ ليس بها انيسٌ فليقل يا عباد الله! اعينوني ، يا عباد الله! اعينوني ، يا عباد الله! اعينوني ، فانّ لله عباداً لايراهم *

When anyone of you loses something and require help in a remote place where there is no help, then call out: “O servants of Allah! Assist me! O servants of Allah! Assist me! O servants of Allah! Assist me!” because there are some servants of ALLAH that you cannot see.

رواه الطبراني عن عتبه بن غزوان رضى الله تعالى عنه *

Imam Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates this Hadith Shareef from Sayyiduna Otba bin Ghazwaan(Radi ALLAH Anho).

Hadith no. 32

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) states that when your animal runs away in the jungle then this is how you (seek assistance):

فليناد يا عباد الله!  احبسوا *

Call out, “O servants of Allah! Catch it (the animal)”.

رواه ابن السّني عن عبد الله ابن مسعود رضى الله تعالى عنه *                                                                

Ibnus-Sani(Radi ALLAH Anho) narrates this Hadith Shareef from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Mas'ood(Radi ALLAH Anho)

Hadith no 33

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) teaches how to call out:

اعينوا  يا عباد الله ! *

Help me, O servants of Allah!

رواه ابن ابىشيبة و البزار عن عبدالله ابن عبّاس  رضى الله تعالى عنهما *

Can we ask for help other then ALLAH?

Bismillahir Rehmanir Raheem

Assalat-O-Wassalam-O-Alaika YARASOOL ALLAH

We are living in a world of uncertainty and misconceptions. Man is beginning to question the very roots of his 
beliefs for Allah Almighty and the Holy Prophet Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim, to create doubt in the minds of the simple and un suspecting Muslims.

Here is proof from QUR'AN, Ahadith-e-Nabawi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam), Sayings of Sahab-e-Kiram and from the 
writings of great and authentic scholars of Islam which show beyond a shadow of a doubt that Can we ask for help other then ALLAH?

The distinguished Prophets and illustrious Awliya enjoy a very special proximity with ALLAH and are therefore, 
Divinely blessed to assist fellow creation. This assistance can be of a spiritual or physical nature and can be 
rendered while they are alive and even after their death. These Elite Servants of ALLAH offer their help only by the Command of Almighty ALLAH. They do not do anything without the Consent of their Sublime Lord and are always obedient to Him. 
  
The Gracious ALLAH always Showers His Choicest Blessings on His special servants. He addresses them as “His 
Friends” and no one can imagine or understand this Divinely blessed relation between them. ALLAH States in a 
Hadith-al-Qudsi:

اوليائي تحت قبائي لا يعرفهم غيري 

"My Awliya are hidden in My Divine Garb and no one knows them besides Me."

There are numerous Ayahs of the Holy Quran and other Ahadith that speaks about the excellence and powers of 
the Ambiya and the Awliya. They are Divinely appointed representatives and commissioned by ALLAH to perform 
special duties in His Kingdom. Since they are the distributors of the Bounties of ALLAH, therefore to seek help from them is actually and in reality seeking the Help of ALLAH. This is so because they are not the enemies of ALLAH but the Friends of ALLAH. 
  
Unfortunately, the Wahabies and Deobandies ignorantly oppose this help as Shirk and regard it as an erroneous 
belief. This problem did not exist in the long past and peaceful history of Islam. Ibne Abdul Wahab of Najd 
introduced it a few hundred years ago. It was then imported to the Indo/Pak sub-continent and propagated by the Deobandi/Tableeghi cult. This caused a great deal of confusion in the Ummah and also divided the Muslim 
community. The Wahabi/Deobandi scholars have written extensively and vehemently condemned the seeking of 
help from anyone other than ALLAH as Shirk. They claim with baseless proof that such help seeking is Shirk. To this day, many Muslims are still confused on this subject and some have adopted this Wahabi/Deobandi belief in sheer ignorance. 

The reality of assistance is that ALLAH must be regarded as the All- Powerful, the Sovereign, the Absolute, the 
Non-dependent and Infinite Affluent. He has the Power to independently do as He pleases. It is the belief of every Muslim that to attribute these unique qualities to anyone other than ALLAH is Shirk. Surely, no Muslim will attribute this to anyone, other than ALLAH. In fact, he regards certain creations as a medium or Waseela to achieve blessings and fulfillment of desires. This is certainly correct and in order. ALLAH Himself Orders in the Holy Quran:

وابتغوا إليه الوسيلة * "Seek the Waseela towards ALLAH." (Al-Maidah:35) 
  
By this we understand that إياك نستعين does not reject the seeking of assistance from other than ALLAH. Similarly, in the reality of existence, it is only ALLAH Who exists without assistance and birth. Then how can it be Shirk if we believe in our existence by His Divine Grace? حقائق الأشياء ثابتةThe reality of things is established.

This is a basic and fundamental article of faith in Islam. Likewise, is the state of the reality of knowledge. Only 
ALLAH Possesses Absolute and Personal Knowledge and none of His creation possesses the same. All of creation 
seek from Him and are dependent on ALLAH to inspire them with knowledge. So, if we call a knowledgeable person an Aalim or seek knowledge from an Aalim, is it Shirk? This is not so unless both ALLAH and an Aalim be regarded as the same in status. ALLAH Himself Addresses His servants in the Holy Quran as Aleem and Ulama. Almighty ALLAH refers to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Peace Be Upon Him) in this Ayah:

يعلمهم الكتاب و الحكمة * "The Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) teaches them the Kitaab and wisdom". (Al-Imran:164)

The same is the situation of seeking assistance (استعانت) because the intention is to use a beloved of ALLAH as a Waseela to beg for His Mercy and Bounties. There is no prohibition in this act because only the creation can be a Waseela and not ALLAH. A Waseela is used to reach someone higher. Who is higher than Allah, that his Waseela is to be used? Who is above Him to fulfill desires and ambitions? ALLAH is pure from being used as a Waseela because nothing is higher than He is. Therefore, it is stated in the Hadith Shareef that a Bedouin came before the Holy Prophet(Peace Be Upon Him) and said; 

"Ya Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him)! We make you a Shafee (intercessor) in the Court of ALLAH and present ALLAH to you as a Shafee (intercessor)". The Beloved Prophet(Peace Be Upon Him) was very displeased with this and repeated سبحان الله سبحان الله  for a long time and replied:

ويحك! انه لايستفشع بالله على أحد شأن الله اعظم من ذالك *رواه ابوداؤد عن جبير بن مطعم