SAINTS & PROPHETS OFFER

N O  I N T E R C E S S I O N

    Many people from the Asian sub-continent follow saints in the same manner as their parents did. Although they claim that they do not worship these people, they openly declare that they pray through them, and through the prophet Muhammad to Allah.

    These people who claim to be deeply religious become easily upset when their beliefs are questioned.

    Their faith is quite often based on traditions and customs and the source of their information is usually family teachings. Belief in saints as intercessors has no foundation in Quranic teachings. Yet when this is brought to their attention they become angry and abusive.

    These actions are symptomatic of those who claim to 'love and respect' the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) yet become frenzied and emotional when faced with the truth.

    And then they make unsubstantiated accusations such as: `you should not be disrespectful to the prophet...'

Showing respect to the prophet means following his example.

    The prophet Muhammad followed the Quran. The following verse is appropriate to show how he would have behaved:

    "Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knows best, who have strayed from His path and who have received guidance." (AI-Nahl 16.125).

    One of the many causes of misguidance is dependence on intercession, wishful thinking that somehow a person can be saved by a show of favouritism by a saint or prophet.
    As the following verse shows, the prophets cannot intercede except for people who repent and are already accepted by God as Muslims.

"He knows what is before them, and what is behind them , and they offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable and they stand in awe and reverence of His (glory)."(AL-Anbiya 21 .28)

    However, even the prophet Muhammad was commanded to declare: '..l do not know what will be done with me or with you..."(AI-Ahqaf 46.9).

"It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to right conduct. " (AI J inn 72.21 )

    Once death comes, a barrier is placed between us and the dead, (AI Mu'minun 23.99-100), and no one can make the deceased hear (AI-Raum 30.52-53), so it is futile to believe that saints and prophets who have died can hear our pleas for them to pass on our supplications to God.

    During salat Muslims recite chapter AI-Fatihah and as in verse 5 we say "You (God alone) we worship and you (God alone) we ask for help."and God clearly states "Call on ME and I will answer your (prayer)"  (Ghafir 40.60).

    Nowhere is there any hint or indication that we are expected to pray through mediators.
    In fact verse Ghafir 40.60 concludes: "But those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell -in humiliation."

    Furthermore, we only need to read verse 39.3 in chapter AI-Zumar to realise that those who worship through deities other than Allah, are in fact out of touch with Quranic teachings. The Quran states that these people wrongly believe that the veneration of saints will! bring them closer to God.

    Here is the verse: "Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due ? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say:) `We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah'. Truly Allah will judge between them in that therein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful. "(AI-Zumar 39.3).

    In the Arabic text you will see that for `protectors' the word `Aulia' is used -the exact term for `saints' in the Indian sub-continent!

    The verse ends by saying "Allah guides not such as are false..." Consequently those who pray thorough saints to bring them closer to God are false and NOT GUIDED.

    The Quran asks: "Allah not enough for His servant? But they try to frighten thee with other (idols) besides Him! For such as Allah leaves to stray, there can be no guide.
(AI-Zumar 39.36)

Is Allah not sufficient? Do people need saints as idols?

"When Allah, the One and Only is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; But when idols are mentioned besides him, behold they are filled with joy!"(AI-Zu mar 39.45).

    When the sub-continent 'muslims' say thay they do not pray to the saints but through them... through the prophet Muhammad to God...thay do not appear to realise that this action is similar to the pagans who say it's not the idols they pray to but through them to reach the spirit it represents... in other words blatant idolatry! The verses of the Quran only verify this.

    Please refer to Chapter Yusuf 12.106: "And most of them believe not in Allah without association (others as partners) with Him!".

The Arabic word used in this verse is `mushrikun', this translates as `idolaters'.

    The evidence now emerges that not only are those who associate advocates with Allah idolaters, but the majority of people fall into this category!

    Here is another verse: "Were you to follow the majority of the people on earth, they will lead you away from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture, they do nothing but lie!" (AI-Anam 6.116).

    Many people will be happy to wait for someone to intercede on their behalf, but those whose submit to God's will take the example of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and follow the Quran, and put their trust in God alone without associating ANY partners or mediators with Him.