· Barida reports from the Prophet (PBUH) that:“I have told you about visiting the graves, so visit them”.
· Abu Sa’eed Al-Khidri reports from the Prophet (PBUH) that:“I told you about visiting the graves, so visit them as there is an example in it”.
· Anas Bin Malik reports:“I have told you about visiting the graves, so visit them; it reminds of death”.
Anwar:Excellent! Let me here ask you a question. Visiting the graves to supplicate for forgiveness and salvation is, to some people, an act of polytheism. How do you respond to that?
Hasan:This is a good question? We earlier said that the only people trying to distort and discredit these facts are the Wahabists, and this only due to their ignorance and narrow-mindedness. However, this how we respond to such people:
First, asking for forgiveness and salvation is neither polytheism nor worship.
Second, the person I ask for forgiveness is in no way considered a god doing whatever I ask him to do. He is
just a close slave to the Almighty Allah whose prayers are answered more than mine.
Third, they are virtuous people and forgive only with God’s will and according to certain conditions, that is, the one asking for forgiveness and salvation has to be believing in the Almighty Allah, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and his pure offspring (PBUT); they follow the instructions of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), but they have certain sins that prevent their prayers from being answered.
Fourth, the Most Exalted Allah, in the Noble Quran, provides us concrete evidence in this regard:
(And We did not send any apostle but that he should be obeyed by Allah's permission; and had they, when they were unjust to themselves, come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Apostle had also asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Oft-returning to mercy, Merciful)4;64.
With a bit of consideration, one can find out that repentance and forgiveness is associated with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH); we should try forgiveness
through such pure people:
(…and seek means of nearness to Him…)5;35.
Here are more proofs from the Noble Quran:
(Allah is He besides Whom there is no god, the Everliving, the Self-subsisting by Whom all subsist; slumber does not overtake Him nor sleep; whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His; who is he that can intercede with Him but by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except what He pleases, His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of them both tires Him not, and He is the Most High, the Great۞There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing)2;256.
(And those whom they call upon besides Him have no authority for intercession, but he who bears witness of
the truth and they know him)43;86, and many more.
Anwar:However, they say those supplicating for forgiveness through certain people are similar to disbelievers and polytheists getting close to god through their idols!
Hasan:Again, this proves what ignorant people they are.
First of all, we do not see the Prophets and the Imams (PBUT) as gods or in the same way pagans and disbelievers see their idols.
Second of all, we do not claim that the Prophets and the Imams (PBUT) do what the Almighty Allah does unlike the disbelievers.
Third of all, supplication the Prophet and the Imams (PBUT) is allowable according to the Almighty Allah:
(O you who believe! be careful of your duty to Allah and seek means of nearness to Him and strive hard in His way that you may be successful)5;35.
(He said: I will ask for you forgiveness from my Lord; surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful۞Then when
they came in to Yusuf, he took his parents to lodge with him and said: Enter safe into Egypt, if Allah please)12;98-99.
Finally, the Prophets and the Imams (PBUT) are means through which the Divine abundance is received looking at their status and capabilities.
Anwar:This last one I could not really comprehend. What do you mean?
Hasan:I mean when the Most Gracious and Generous and Munificent Allah want to give generously to His creatures, there must be human beings capable of bearing this responsibility without being subject to pride or exceeding the limits; these people are the Infallibles.
I will give you some examples to clarify this point. Jesus Christ (PBUH) had the ability to bring the dead to life and create a bird from clay, all in accordance with God’s will. Moses (PBUH) had miracles using his cane. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) also had the ability to deal conclusively with the universe, yet they never misused their power for their own interest or advantage; such status and capabilities qualify these people to receive
the Divine abundance. Thus, they are better and of higher status than us, the fact that qualify them to be those mediators between the sinners and their Glorious Allah.
Anwar:Very good, Sir!
Hasan:I would to add that Jesus Christ (PBUH) is a person of distinction to Most Exalted Allah as it is mentioned in this Holy Verse from the Noble Quran:
(When the angels said: O Marium, surely Allah gives you good news with a Word from Him of one whose name is the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, worthy of regard in this world and the hereafter and of those who are made near – to Allah)3;45.
This means that he is a link and a mediator in order to fulfill people’s needs. There is a lot more to learn about supplication and forgiveness if you like.
Anwar:What you presented has been quite sufficient and satisfactory. Thank you so much!
Hasan:Thanks God! See you soon, Inshallah.
Symposium 67
What is Shi’ism?
Anwar:Salam ‘Alaykom!
Hasan:Alaykom As-Salam Wa Rahmatollah Wa Barakatoh!
Anwar:The Shi’ite and the Sunnis are two common words I hear a lot. This makes us wonder why the followers of one same religion split into two sects.
Hasan:Before we discuss this question, we need to know what this word, Shi’ism, means linguistically and idiomatically.
Shi’ite linguistically means the followers and the supporters or a group of people getting together.
Shi’ite idiomatically means the followers of Amir Al-Mu’menin (PBUH) who give preference to him over others; so, the followers and the supporters and the defenders and the loyal partisan of Imam Ali Bin Abu Talib (PBUH).
We have evidence from the Hadith in this regard. It is reported, in ‘Tafsir Al-Safi’, from Al-Amali that Jabir Bin Abdullah said:“We were with the Prophet (PBUH) when Ali Bin Abu Talib arrived. So, the Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘my brother has come’, then he turned to Ka’ba, struck it and said: ‘By He who has my life, this man and his followers (Shi’a) are the victorious in the Day of Judgment.’
He added: ‘He is the first to believe with me among you and the most loyal towards the vows to Allah, the most committed to the commands of Allah, the most objective and just towards people, the most straightforward and of most advantages to Allah.’ Then, he mentioned this Holy Verse:
(As for those who believe and do good, surely they are the best of men)98;7.