O

TAUHEED OR SHIRK?

by

HADRAT ALLAMA SYED AHMED SA'EED KAAZMI t

PUBLISHEDBY

IMAM AHMED RAZA ACADEMY

DURBANSOUTHAFRICA

A BARAKAATUR RAZA PUBLICATION

COPYRIGHTRESERVED

DateofPublication:Rajab1422A.H.(October2001)

Numberofcopies:1000(1stEdition)

Numberofcopies:1500(2ndEdition)

Publishers:

ImamAhmedRazaAcademy

AhmedRazaBuilding
 3rdFloor,2022LorneStreet

Durban.4001

SouthAfrica

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Durban.4000

SouthAfrica

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Int.Code:(27)(31)+Number

WebSite:www.raza.co.za

email:raza786@mweb.co.za

ISBN:0958443653

PREFACE

This book is intended to protect Muslims from all misconceptions and misunderstandings prevalent in the Muslim
community,insofarasthebeliefinseekingassistancefromgreatProphetsandSaintsisconcerned.

AllamaSyedAhmedSa'eedKaazmiShahSahebtwasagreatAalim,ScholarandaspecialistintheFieldofHadithand
Tafseer,towhichhemadeavoluminouscontribution.Heearnedthetitleof"GhazzalieZamaan"or"TheGhazzaliofthe
Age".Inthistreatise,heclearlydistinguishesbetween"Shirk"and"Tauheed".Hedoessoinanextremelysimplemanner,so
that all Muslims are able to understand. This policy of his is based on the principle of education and the acquisition of
knowledge,whichiscompulsoryinthelifeofallMuslims,manorwoman.

Theaimofthewriterisnotoneoftrivialargumentanddiscussionbasedonheresay,rather,itistomakethepublicaware
and to educate them on practises followed by the first generation of Muslims, yet these practises are mocked by a few
"enlightenedModernday"Muslims.

MayAllahY assist and guide those Muslims who are instrumental in producing this book and all those involved in the
protectionofthepristinefaithofIslam.Aameen.

MoulanaAbdulHadiAlQaderiBarakaati

President

Imam Ahmad Raza Academy

Durban,SouthAfrica

11Rajab1422

29September2001

O
THE UNITY OF ALLAH Y

TheBeingoftheAlmightyAllahY isindeedOne.Itisonlythosewhoareignorantandpersistinbeingignorantneedan
explanation on how Almighty Allah Y is One and is actually Present. Those who are Allahconscious do not desire an
explanationonthissubjectofTauheedandShirk.Theyinfactacceptwithoutquestioning.Thereisafamousproverbinthe
Arabiclanguage,whichisasfollows:

"Objectsareindeedunderstoodbyitsopposites."

For example, peace can only be understood and appreciated by that person who has felt and experienced anxiety. That
personthoughwhohasnotfeltanxiety,cannotappreciatepeace.Inthesamemanner,Daycannotbeunderstoodifaperson
has not experienced the Night. Likewise, if a person has not comprehended misguidance how is it possible for him to
understandguidance?Usingthisveryprinciple,wemayask,ifapersonhasnotunderstood"Shirk"orPolytheism,howisit
possibleforhimtoappreciateorcomprehend"Tauheed"orMonotheism?Itis,therefore,onlylogicalthatafterwehave
understoodShirkcanwethenunderstandTauheed.

TheAlmightyAllahY hasinfactveryclearlyexplainedtheactionShirkandTauheed,therebycompletelyeradicatingthe
conceptofnonreligion.ItisverysurprisingthatafterexplainingthedifferencesintheconceptofTauheedandShirkso
clearly,therearestilldoubtsinthemindsofthosewhosesoledutyitistodestroytheconceptorfundamentalsofunity
foundinIslam.

THE MEANING OF TAUHEED

The meaning of "Tauheed" is to believe that there is no Partner to Allah Y in His Being and in HisAttributes. In other
words,howAlmightyAllahY is,wedonotbelievethatthereisanotherbeinglikeHimY.Ifanypersonbelievesonthe
contrary,thenhisbeliefwouldconstituteShirk.WeshouldrememberthattheattributesofAllahY,amongothers,include
theactofListening,SeeingandPossessingKnowledge.IfanyindividualbelievesthatanotherpossessestheseAttributes,he
willbeguiltyofShirk.


THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TAUHEED AND

SHIRK

AfterwehaveunderstoodthemeaningofTauheed,thenaturalquestionthatarisesis,ifknowledge,whichisoneofthe
AttributesofAllahY,isascribedforanotherindividual,willthisreallymeanthatweareguiltyofShirk?Weknowthat
ListeningandSeeingarealsoamongtheAttributesofAllahY.Ifweprovetheseveryattributesforanotherindividual,will
webeguiltyofShirk?Intheverysamemanner,theAttributesofLivingisalsoamongtheAttributesofAllahY.Ifwe
ascribethisattributeforanotherindividualwillweagainbeguiltyofShirk?

THE DIFFERENCE

No!DearMuslimBrothersandSisters,donotbedeceivedbythosewhohopetomisleadyou.Youshouldrememberthat
indeedAlmightyAllahY possessestheAttributeof"Living",yetHeY has,alsothroughHisMercy,bestoweduponHis
creationthisveryquality.Theattributeoflivingthough,whichwerelatetoourselves,isnotthesameAttributeofLivingas
werelatetoAllahY.ThedifferenceisthatHisAttributeofLivingisnonbestowed,whiletheattributeoflivingwhichwe
possesisonewhichwehavebeenbestowedwithbyAllahY.TheattributeoflivingwhichHehasbestoweduponusis
temporaryandnoneternal,whileHisY AttributeofLivingisEternalandnonbestowed.

Ifthisprincipleandlawisappliedtoallqualitiesandattributes,thenthequestionofShirkwillneverarise.Itissimple,yet,
as we have mentioned earlier, those Muslims whose sole aim is to deprive Islam of its unity, peace and harmony,
intentionallymakeitdifficultsothatthesimplemindedMuslimsbecomeconfusedandmisguided.

HAS THE ALMIGHTY ALLAHY GIVEN MAN

POWER AND AUTHORITY?

The answer to this is quite simple. If man has not been given power and authority, then what indeed is the difference
betweenhimandstone?WeknowthattheAlmightyAllahY possessesPowerandAuthority.WealsoknowthatHeY has
createdtheseattributeswithinman.Youmaywellask,ifbothpossesspowerandauthority,thenwhatisthedifference?The
answer to this is quite simple. If one applies the above law and principle, there is no doubt that the Almighty Allah Y
possessesPowerandAuthority,yet,althoughpossessingtheseAttributes,HeYisnotsubservienttoanyone,neitherhave
theseAttributesbeengiventoHimY byanyone.HisY slave,man,ontheotherhand,possessestheseattributesofpower
andauthority,yet,heisstillsubservienttotheAlmightyAllahY, and these attributes are not his, rather they have been
bestoweduponhimbytheAlmightyAllahY.

THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH Y

 AND HIS SLAVE

This very same principle as explained above, can be applicable to the question of Knowledge, Seeing,
Listening, and other Attributes. The Almighty Allah Y possesses these Attributes and so does the slave. No
one has given these Qualities to Allah Y, whilst the slave, on the other hand, has been accorded these
attributes by Almighty Allah Y. This is, in fact, one of the clear differences between the Almighty Allah Y
and His slave.

WeunderstandthatiftheAlmightyAllahYhasbestowedanattribute,whichisconferredtoanyslave,upontheslave,then
thisbeliefcannotbelabelledasShirk.Forexample,ifwerelatethequalityof"hearing"toaslave,wemustthereforebelieve
thattheGraceofAllahY hasbestowedthisattributeofhearingupontheslave,thenthisbeliefcannotbetermedShirk.

At this point an important question arises. Applying the above principle, we ask, why is it that we condemn the Idol
worshipperswhoalsobelievethattheirIdolshavebeengiventheseamazingpowersbyAllahY.Aretheynotusingthevery
sameprinciple,whichweareapplying?

Theanswertothisquestionisquiteclearandsimple.WhentheIdolworshipperbelievedthattheirIdolswereacreationof
AllahY,theyalsoshouldhavebelievedthattheslaveisindebtedlyinbondagetotheCreatorY.WithouttheCreatorY,the
creationcannotcomeintobeing.Theyalsoshouldhavebelievedandacceptedthat,asinlifeorindeath,theslaveisinneed
oftheCreatorY.But,theyrefusedtobelieveandacceptthisprinciple,thatis,Allah'sY Authority.

TheybegantobelievethatalthoughtheirIdolswereacreation,AlmightyAllahY hadgiventheIdolsDivinityandtotal
"Godhead".TheybelievedthataftercreatingtheirIdols,therewasnownoneedforsubmissiontowardsAlmightyAllahY
tocomplete(Allahforbid!)becausetheirIdolscoulddowhateveritwished,evenifAlmightyAllahY hadnotcommanded
ittodoacertainthing.TheIdolworshipperscouldnotunderstandthisverysimpleprinciple,thatis,thatthecreationcan
nevertototallyindependentofAlmightyAllahY.

DIVINITY CANNOT BE GIVEN

Indeed,AlmightyAllahY,throughHisMercy,maybestowuponHisslavewhateverpowersHewishes,yetHeY would
not bestow Divinity, which is Permanent and Independent, the attributes given to His slave are not permanent or even
independent. The Idol worshippers believed that because of the tremendous worship performed by the Idols, "Laat" and
"Manaat",AlmightyAllahY setthemfreetodoastheypleased.Basedonthisbelief,theIdolworshippersbelievedthat
theirIdolshavebeengivenDivinityandGodhead.AnypersonwhobelievesthatAlmightyAllahY hasgivenHiscertain
slaveGodheadandDivinityhascommittedShirk.Thereisnodoubtinthis.ThisisanotherdifferencebetweentheMuslim
and the Idol worshipper. The Muslim believes that the servant ofAllah Y will always remain a servant and can never
becomeonepossessingGodheadandDivinity.

DEEDS PERFORMED BY THE SLAVE THROUGH

THE PERMISSION OF ALLAHYCAN NEVER

 BE TERMED SHIRK

TheAlmightyAllahY statesintheHolyQuran:

"Who is it that can intercede with Him, except with His

permission."(SuraBaqara:255)

FromthisQuranicinjunction,animportantfactisbecomingapparenttous.AlmightyAllahY isquiteclearlystatingtous
that not everyone will be given permission to intercede except those to whom He Y has given permission. It is also a
warningtotheIdolworshippers,inthattheyshouldnotbelieveandholdhighesteemoftheirIdolsconsideringthattheir
Idolshaveneverbeengivenpermissiontointercedefortheirworshippers.ThisclearlyprovesthattheirIdolsaretotally
useless.

ThebelovedslavesofAllahY,ontheotherhand,havebeengivenpermissiontointercede.Thefirsttointercedewillbethe
ProphetMuhammadrasprovenbymanyauthenticsources.Thereafter,theotherProphetsu,theMartyrs(Shuhadat),the
Saints t, etc. Another important fact we must always bear in mind is that if an individual performs a duty without the
Permission of Allah Y, then this would be considered Shirk, whereas if a duty has been allocated, as will be discussed
shortly,thenthiscannotbeconsideredShirk.

The Holy Quran is evidence of Hazrat 'Isa u explaining to his nation some of his amazing miracles. This serves as a
remindertoall,ofthepowerandauthoritybestowedbyAllahY uponHisbelovedservants.Hestates:

"IhealthosewhoarebornblindandtheleperandIraise

thedeadbyAllah'spermission."(SuraAleImraan:49)

WeknowthattoperformamazingdutiesasexplainedbyHazrat'IsauisindeedtheGraceoftheAlmightyAllah,yetthis
greatProphetu isactuallystatingthathecanperformthem.Isheguilty(Allahforbid!)ofcommittingShirk?No,forhehas
clearlyprovenbyoneversethedifferencebetweenShirkandTauheed.

When he has said, "these duties are performed through the permission of Allah", immediately, the question of Shirk is
dismissedandtheentireconceptbecomesoneofTauheed.Keepingthisinmind,whenMuslimsstatethatgreatProphetsu
andSaintst canperformmiraclesanddosowiththePermissionofAllahY,howcananysensiblepersoncallthisactionas
beingShirk.ThisbeliefispurelyTauheed.

IfonequestionsthisandstatesthataMuslimcannotperformtheseamazingduties(ofmiraclesandinterceding)thenheis
contradictingnumerousQuranicversesandAhadithwhereinamazingqualitiesandattributesofthespecialservantsofAllah
Y areexplained.

THE REASON FOR THE CREATION OF MAN



EverycreationoftheAlmightyAllahY hasbeencreatedforsomespecificreasonandpurpose,namely,thesun,thetrees,
water,thewind.ExplainingthepurposeforthecreationofMan,theAlmightyAllahY states:

"I have not created Man and Jinn, but that they
worshipMe."(AdDhaariyat:56)

Worshipcanonlybeperformedifthereisrecognition.Inotherwords,mankindandJinnhavebeencreatedtorecognizethe
AlmightyAllahY.Thequestionthatarisesis,whatistheoutcomeofthisrecognition?Itmeansthatthemorewerecognize
AllahY,themoreweworshipHimY.

FromtheabovediscussionwecometorealizethatmankindhasbeencreatedtorecognizeAllahY,andbydoingsowe
becomecloser.Inotherwords,closenesstoAllahY isthepinnacleofgloryinthelifeofmankind.

Byunderstandingthis,wemustexamineit'sconnotation,it'sresultsandit'smeaninginthelightofIslamicLaw.

ThereisaHaditheQudsifoundintheSahihBukhariexplainingthis:TheProphetrhasexplainedthattheAlmightyAllah
Y hasstated:"HewhohascausedenmitywithMyWali(Friend),Igivehimdeclarationofwar.Amongthoseactsthrough
which My slave achieves My closeness, the most beloved are the Fardh (Compulsory) acts. My slave also achieves My
closenessthroughtheNafil(Optional)deeds,tillImakehimintoMybeloved.WhenhebecomesMybeloved,Ibecomehis
earsthroughwhichhelistens,hiseyesthroughwhichhesees,hishandsbywhichheholds,hisfeetbywhichhewalks.When
hepleadstoMeforanythingIdefinitelybestowitonhim.WhenheseeksrefugeinMefromanybaddeed,thenIdefinitely
savehimfromit."

Some individuals state that only after achieving this status does the slave refrain from all bad deeds. This thought is a
flagrantmisinterpretationoftheTradition,foranypersonpossessingalittlecommonsensewilltellyouthatafterrefraining
fromallbaddeeds,doestheslaveachievethisstatus.Inotherwords,afterhehasadoptedpietyandabstinence,doeshe
standanychanceofbecomingthebeloved.

Inthefollowingverse,AlmightyAllahYisexplaininghowwecanachieveHisY closeness.Hestates:

"Say(OMuhammadtothem),ifyouloveAllahfollowme,

Allahwillloveyou."(SuraAleImraan:31)

Inotherwords,afterwehaveadoptedpietyandabstinenceinfollowingtheHolyProphetr,willwehaveanychanceof
becoming a beloved? The slave first refrains from bad deeds and actions. He then performs the Fardh and Nafil acts
continuously.Thenonlydoeshebecomethebeloved.Itisnotpossibleforhimtocontinueperformingevildeedsandstill
feelshecanbecomethebelovedservantofAllahY.

Imam Fakhrudeen Raazi t in his "Tafseer Kabeer", explains the above Hadith: "In the same manner, if the slave
continuouslyadoptsgooddeeds,thenheindeedreachesthatstageofwhichtheAlmightyAllahY statesthatHebecomesthe
slaveseyeandear.WhentheMagnificentNoor(Light)ofAllahY becomes the eye of the slave, then the slave perceives
thingsnearanddistant.WhenthisLightbecomesthehandoftheslave,thenhe,theslave,isthenabletodispensewith
thingseasyanddifficult,nearandfar."

WealsocometorealizefromthisexplanationthatthebelovedslavesofAllahYhavebeengiventhepowertohelpand
assist.Oncewehaveprovedthis,howcanwecallitShirkifweimplorethemforassistance?ItcanneverbeShirk,for
althoughtheslaveandtheCreatorY canhelpandassist,rememberthattheCreatorY possessesthisAttributewithoutit
beinggiventoHimbyanyone.Theslave,ontheotherhand,possessestheseattributesafterAlmightyAllahY hasgivenit
tohim,andwestillbelievethattheslaveistheservantofAllahY andisstillsubservienttoHimY.Thisisthebeliefofall
Muslims.

When we have understood and accepted this, the difference between Tauheed and Shirk becomes quite clear, yet,
unfortunately,therearecertainindividualswhostatethattheybelieveinAllahY,yetconsideraskingHisbelovedslavesfor
assistanceasShirk.Ifthisindeedbetheirfaith,thenwhat,weaskofyou,isKufr?

Italsoseemstobethehabitofthese"believers"torelateversesmeantfortheKufaartowardsMuslims,perhapstheyare
merelyfollowingthehabitoftheirforefathers.ItisrecordedintheSahihBukhari,thatHazratAbdullahIbnOmartusedto
despisetheKhaarijisectthemost.Why?Letussee.Heconsideredthemtheworstofcreation.Heusetosaythat"these
peoplehavemadeitapracticeoftheirs,thatwhateverversehasbeenrevealedagainsttheidolworshippers,theyrelate
theseversestowardstheMuslims."

IMPORTANT QUESTION

Someindividualhasaskedthisquestion,andwefeelthatitshouldbeanswered.Thequestionisthis:weacceptthatthe
belovedslaveofAllahY possessesallthesemagnificentattributes.Weacceptthathecanassistandhelp.Yet,arenotall
theseattributesonlyprevalentinhimwhenheisinthisworld,forwhenhedies,willnothisbodybecomeaheapofsand
andrubble?Whenitdoesbecomeaheapofsand,willnotalltheattributesfoundinhimbeimmediatelynullified?

ANSWER

Thisdoubt,infact,hasonlybeencreated,forwehavemerelyconsideredMantobeacombinationoffleshandbones.This
mannerofthinkingisindeedincorrectfortheessenceofmanisnotfleshandbones,ratheritisthesoul.Thesoul,unlikethe
flesh and bones, never dies. If we accept that his soul will die, then how will he experience the punishment and reward
withinthegrave?Describingtheconditionwithinthegrave,theProphetrhasstatedthatthegraveissometimesaGardenof
ParadiseandsometimesaPitofHell.

We,therefore,logicallyask:forwhoisthisgravesometimesaPitofHellorsometimesaGardenofParadise?Itis,without
doubt,forthesoul,whichisstillalive.Thesoulalwayshasaconnectionwiththebodyevenifthebody,describedasthe
rays of the sun, even though it may manifest itself on a heap of sand, on a tree or on the roof of a house, it still has a
relationshipwiththesun.

Sowejudgefromthisthattheessenceofmanisthesoul,itisthiswhichenableshimtoassistusintimesofneedand
anxiety.

Anotherquerythatseemstoconfusepeopleis:howisitthatwecannotseethepunishmentorrewardexperiencedbythe
body or the soul? The answer to this is simple. The happenings of the grave are being experienced within theAalame
Barzakh, a world in itself which means, "The Screened World."A logical explanation of this would be that if a person
complainsaboutaheadacheandalthoughthepainheisexperiencingisanabsolutereality,wecannotperceiveitoreven
comprehenditsimplybecausethepainisscreenedfromoureyes.Similarly,punishmentandrewardisexperiencedwithin
thegrave.

Anotherexamplewouldbeofapersondreaming.Althoughheisseeinghimselfburning,wecannotseehimburningor
receivingagift,forthesimplereasonisthathislifeinthatcontextisscreenedfromoureyes.

THE SQUEEZING OF THE GRAVE

ItisreportedintheAhaadiththatwhenthepersonisplacedwithinthegrave,thegravesqueezeshim,beheMuslimornon
Muslim.Theearthcouldbedescribedas"themother",formanhasbeencreatedfromsand.Therefore,itstandstoreason
that all will return to her. Some of her children who have adopted piety and abstinence, they she will be welcomed and
agreeablyreceived.Those,ontheotherhand,whohaveadopteddisgracefulbehaviouranddishonour,shewillreceivethem,
notwelcomethem,butrathertopunishthem.ThisexampleclearlydescribeshowaMuslimandnonMuslimwillbetreated
inthegrave.ItwillwelcometheMuslimasamothercaressingherchild,whileshewillsqueezethedisbelievertillhisribs
appearonoppositesides.Thisillustratesthatthesoulneverdiesandthattherewardorpunishmentwithinthegraveisa
reality.

LetusreturntothediscussiondescribingthemagnificentattributespossessedbythebelovedslavesofAllahY. Having
proventhathissoulandbodystillpossessestheseattributes,itmeansthathecanstillassistus,traversemilesonend,listen
andseethingsfarandnear.WhenhecanstilldothesethingswiththePermissionofAllahY,thenhowcananysaneperson
termitasbeingasShirkifweaskthemtoassistus?

IntheTirmidhiShareef,HadratAbdullahIbnAbbastnarratesthataSahabat once pitched his tent on a plot of ground

withoutrealizingthathewasdoingsooveragrave.Afterawhile,herealizedthathistentwasoveragraveforhecouldhear
therecitaloftheSuraMulk.HerelatedtheentireepisodetotheProphetr,whorepliedthattherecitalofSuraMulkindeed
assiststhepersonwithinthegraveandprotectshimfrompainandpunishment.

Fromthisepisode,weseethatthebelovedservantsofAllahY arestillalivewithintheirgraves,orelsetheProphetrwould
havemerelydisregardedtheentireincident.Buthedidnotdoso.Rather,hecommentedontheexcellencesoftheSura
Mulk,whichmeansthathealsoacceptedthatthebelovedservantsofAllahY arestillalivewithintheirgraves.

Letusrelateanotherincidentfromtheperiodofthecompanions.ItisrecordedthatintheperiodofHadratMu'awwiyata
canalwasdugbetweenMeccaandMedina.Coincidentally,thecanalpassedthroughthatplotoflandwheretheShuhadat
(Martyrs)ofUhudlayburied.ApersonwhilediggingaccidentallycutthefootofaShaheedt withaspade.Asaresultof
this,bloodbegantoflowfromtheblessedfoot.Welearnfromthisincidentthatasidefromtheirsouls,eventhebodiesof
thesegreatandbelovedservantsofAllahY arealive.Thisincidentisnarratedin"JazbulQuloob"bySheikhMuhaddith
Delwitand"SharahusSudur"byImamJallaludeenSuyutwit.

LetusnowquoteanotherexamplefromtheperiodoftheTaabe'ins.ImamAbuNa'eemtinhisbook,"HilyatulAwliya",
narratesfromHadratSa'eedt.ThegreatSaintstates,"ByAllah,HameedTaweeltandmyselfwereburyingHadratThaabit
Nibhaanit.Asweweresettingthefinalrocks,onerockaccidentallyfellintothegrave.AsIpeepedintothegrave,Isawthat
HadratThaabitNibhaanit was about to perform the Salaah and he was imploring Allah Y in the following manner, 'O
Allah,YouhavegivencertainofYourcreationthePermissiontoperformtheirSalaahwithinthegrave,givemealsothe
samepermission'.ItwasindeedbeyondtheMercyofAllahY torefusehim."

N.B.:HadratThaabitbinAslamNibhaaniBasritwasaTaabi'in.HehasnarratedAhaadithfromHadratAnastandvarious
otherCompanions.Shubat statesthatheusedtocompletetherecitationoftheHolyQuraninonedayandnight.Healso
usedtofastduringtheday.AbuBakrAlMuznit statesthathehadnotseenamorepiouspersonthanThaabitbinAslamt.
("KashfunNoor",ImamAbdulGaniNaablisit,pg.9)

ImamBaihaqitnarratesfromQaziNishapuriEbrahimtwhostatesthat,"Apiouswomanpassedaway.Amongthosethat
were present for her Janaaza was a coffin thief, who attended only with the intention of noticing where she was being
buried.Asdarknesssetin,hedugthegraveandwasabouttostealthecoffinwhenthepiousladyexclaimed,'ByAllah,how
strangethatadwellerofParadiseisstealingthecoffinofanotherdwellerofParadise'.Sheexplainedthatwhosoevertook
part in her Janaaza, Allah would forgive them, and that the coffin thief took part in the Janaaza. The thief immediately
coveredthegraveandrepentedwithatrueheart.IndeedthisisthegreatnessofthebelovedservantsofAllah,thatone
goestothemasathiefandreturnsasaSainthimself.

ItisreportedintheHaditheQudsithattheAlmightyAllahY hasstated:"WhenMyslave,becomesMybeloved,thenhis
wordsandattributesbecomethemirrorofMyWordsandAttributes.Whateverhepleadsfor,Ibestowituponhim.Ifhe
seeksrefugeinMe,Iprotecthim."

Aswehaveseen,allthesegiftsarestillfoundinthebelovedservantsofAllahY evenaftertheyhavedepartedfromthis
world.ItisduesolelytothisthatthebelievingMuslimsvisitthegravesoftheSaintst fortheyareindeedpeoplewhohave
beenpromisedtheMercyandAssistanceofAllahY.Wederivefromtheseproofs,thatifanindividualgoestotheMazaar
ofagreatSaintt andimplorestohiminthismanner,"ObelovedservantofAllahY,youareindeedthebelovedslaveof
Allah.PleaseasktheAlmightyonmybehalf,"how,weaskofyou,canthisbetermedShirk,whentheAlmightyAllahY
Himselfhaspromisedthemallthesegifts?

Afterconsideringthesefacts,ifanypersonfeelsthathecannotachieveanyhelpandassistancebyvisitingaMazaarofa
greatSaint,thenhehasnotinanywayinsultedtheSaint,ratherhehasdoubtedthepromiseofAllahY whereasAllahY has
promisedhisslavesHisassistance.

Tillnow,wehaveprovedthathelpandassistancethatcanberenderedbythebelovedslavesofAllahY inthisworldandin
theAalameBarzakh,thequestionis:willtheybeabletoassistusintheHereafter?

ThisanswerhasalreadybeengivenbytheHolyProphetr.Hehasstated:"TheUlama,theHufaaz,andtheShohadahofmy
followerswillindeedintercedeontheDayofJudgement.EventheinfantwhoseparentsareMuslimswillintercede."If,as
somemisledindividualssay,thatitisShirktoaskthecreationforassistance,thenhowwilltheseabovementionedbeloved
slaveshelpusontheDayofJudgment.ThisagainisproofthatitisnotShirktoasktheminthisworldeither!


TheeventsthatwilltakeplaceontheDayofJudgmentarecleartoall.WeknowthatmankindwillgotoeachProphetu
seekingassistance,whenfinallytheyreachtheHolyProphetr,hewillsay,"Iamforit(thatis,Iamthatpersonwhowill
intercedeforyou)."

He will then go into prostration and Praise the Almighty Allah Y, after which the Almighty Allah Y will say, "O
Muhammadr!Raiseyourhead.Speakyoushallbelistenedto.Ask,itshallbegiventoyou.Intercede,yourintercessionwill
beaccepted."

TheProphetrwillthenintercede.Afterhim,thegreatProphetsuandSaintst.IfitisShirktoaskthebelovedservantsof
AllahY forassistance,howwillitbepermissibleontheDayofJudgment?Wesuggesttothosewhoconsiderthisactionas
ShirktovoicetheiropinionontheDayofJudgment,perhapstheywillbeamply"rewarded"fortheirfolly.

MaytheAlmightyAllahY bestowuponpeopletheImaantodifferentiatecorrectlybetweenShirkandTauheed.Aameen!

IMAMAHMEDRAZAACADEMY

Promoting the cause of the Ahle Sunnah

The Imam Ahmed Raza Academy is an organisation that was established on the 5th of July 1986 (1406 A.H.) in South
Africa with the sole purpose of serving the Muslim community and to provide some form of academic and spiritual
direction to the Muslims.

TheorganisationhasbeennamedafterthegreatMuslimscholarandSaint,ImamAhmedRazaKhanBareilvi t,wholivedin
Indiabetween1856and1921,andwaspopularlyknownas"AlaHadrat"intheIslamicworld.AlaHadratImamAhmed
RazaAlQaadiritachievedthestatusofaversatilescholarandobtainedahighdistinctioninover50branchesoflearning.
OnhisvisittoMakkatulMukarramahandMadinatulMunawwarah,ImamAhmedRazaAlQaadiritwastreatedwithgreat
dignity and was conferred the title of "ImameAhleSunnat" by eminentUlema. He was also hailed as the Mujaddid or
RevivalistoftheCentury.HeactedasashieldagainstthosewhowantedtoassaulttheprinciplesoftheAhleSunnahWa
Jamaah.

As a devout Sufi, Ala Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza t was awarded the Ijaazah and Khilafat (Certificate of Spiritual
Successorship)intheQaaderiyaSilsila(Order),aswellasin13otherbranchesofSufism.Asanauthor,ImamAhmedRaza
Khan AlQaadiri t has left to his credit more than a 1 000 books on 50 different subjects ranging from Tafseer, Logic,
Grammar,Literature,IslamicJurisprudence,Education,Sociology,Astronomy,Mathematics,Physics,History,Scienceof
History,Engineering,Biographies,Philosophy,MysticismtoPersian,Arabic,UrduandHindiLiterature.

ThekeyaimoftheImamAhmedRazaAcademyistopromoteandpropagatetheteachingsoftheAhleSunnahWaJamaah.
Inordertoachievethiskeyobjectivewehavededicatedourselvestotranslate,compile,publishanddistributeusefulIslamic
literature,books,magazines,brochures,periodicals,newsletters,pamphlets,etc.withspecialreferencetotheteachingsof
AlaHadratImamAhmedRazaAlQaadiri t andhisSuccessors t In this age of immorality and emergence of corrupted
Sectsclaimingtobethebeaconsofsalvation,itisourresponsibilitytosaveoursocietyfromsuchwickednessandadoptthe
correctperspectiveofIslambasedontheteachingsoftheAhleSunnah.Avitalingredientinthisworkisthepublicationof
SunniliteratureinEnglishtowhichwehavecommittedourselves.

We are presently offering a variety of services to the community on a daily basis, from being a centre for imparting
Islamic education for our children - to issuing Fatawa (Legal Islamic Decrees). At the same time, in the last few years,
we have also developed as an organisation laying emphasis on the publication of Sunni literature for the community and
have thus far to our credit a regular newsletter Raza and numerous titles of authentic Sunni books, and we will,
Insha-Allah, be adding more titles each year. We have already designed a set of madressa textbooks that are being
implemented locally and, we are proud to add that these textbooks have gained international repute. We have also
developed a web site (www.raza.co.za) which is highly information based and is continually being updated.

We need your help not only to retain but promote our Ahle Sunnah Aqaaid at a time when we are surrounded and
bombardedbynonSunnipublications,whichhavecorruptedourAqeedaandhavemadedeepinroadsinthemindsofthe
youth. All such activities in Islam that helps in promoting Islam constitute an act of Jihad for which there will be an
enormousreward.ThecelebratedSaint,HadratSheikhSirriSaqti t said,Thatpersoncanneverbecomeperfectuntilhe
doesnotgivepreferencetoDeenoverhispersonaldesires.

TheImamAhmedRazaAcademyisanorganisationthatreliessolelyontheassistanceandWasilaofSayyidunaRasoolullah
randtheFuyoozandBarakaatoftheAwliyaAllah,andthesupportofourwellwishers.Ourvisionforthefutureandour
dedicationtothemissionofAlaHadratImamAhmedRazaAlQaadirit hasasignificantcontributiontobemadelocally
andintheworldaworldinwhich,wepray,thatSunniIslamdominates.InshaAllah!

General Secretary