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378 Ahle Sunnah Wal Jammah believe that the concept of Wasila is allowed and it is a good practice to ask Prophets, Wali Allah's etc for their intercession whist making Dua.

I have been asked by someone that if this thinking is the correct belief then can you explain the following the verses: In Surah An-Naml (27):80 " Verily you cannot make the dead hear" and further more In Surah Fatir (35):22 it states "The living and the dead not alike. Allah makes whoever the wishes hear, but you cannot make those in their graves hear"
Please read below the full context with a very brief introduction to each Surah of both references and then I will Inshallah elaborate;

Kanzul Imaan

SURAH AL-NAML (The Ant)

Introduction to Chapter:
Then the evils of polytheism have been described and crushing reply with solid arguments have been given against polytheism. In the end the prophet is consoled by God saying that these infidels and polytheist are devoid of ability to think and accepting the truth. Meccan leaders thought that it would be favour to God if they would accept Islam. This idea was rejected and condemned and it as told that it would be a good fortune to them if they enter the fold of Islam and accept truth.

SECTION: 6
67. And the infidels said, 'what, when our fathers and we will become dust, shall we be brought forth again?
68. Undoubtedly, we have been promised this and before us our fathers, this is not but the tales of the ancients.
69. Say you, 'travel in the earth and see, how was the end of the culprits'?
70. And grieve you not over them, and not be straitened on their plotting.
71. And they say, 'when this promise will be fulfilled, if you are truthful'.
72. Say you; it is near that some of the things you are hastening for may have come close behind you.
73. And undoubtedly, your Lord is graceful for mankind but most of them are not grateful.
74. And undoubtedly, your Lord Knows what is hidden in their breasts and what they disclose.
75. And as many unseen of the heavens and the earth are there, all are in a Book disclosing.
76. Undoubtedly, this Quran explains to the children of Israel most of those things in which they differ.
77. And undoubtedly, that is guidance and mercy for the Muslims.
78. And undoubtedly, your Lord decides between them by His command and He it is the Honourable, the Knowing.
79. Therefore, put your trust in Allah. Undoubtedly, you are on clear truth.
80. Undoubtedly you can not make the dead hear, and nor you can make the deaf to hear the call, when they turn showing their backs.
81. And you can not guide the blind from their error You can make only those to hear who believe in Our signs and they are Muslims.
82. And when the word will fall upon them, We shall bring forth for them out of the earth a beast that shall talk to them, because the people had not believed in Our signs.
These are taken out of context. Shane nazul

AL-FATIR (THE CREATOR)

Introduction to Chapter:
The chapter emphasizes the importance, strength and power of Almighty Allah Who is the real Originator and Creator of entire Universe. Truth is to prevail and for its spread a new generation is required.
Therefore a new generation will have to be raised in place of old one which failed to promote the cause of truth and justice in the world.
The believers have been promised peace, safety, success while the non believers and doers of evil will have to face punishment.

SECTION: 3
15. O mankind! you are all in need of Allah. And Allah only, He is all-Independent, All praised.
16. If He please, He may take you away and bring a new creation.
17. And this is not anything difficult for Allah.
18. And no soul bearer of burden will bear the burden of another. And if any one heavily loaded calls any other to share its load, not anyone-will bear anything from its burden, even though he may be a near relation. O beloved!- your warning is useful only for those who fear their Lord with out seeing and establish prayer. And who became purified, purified himself for his own good. And to Allah is the return.
19. And the blind and seeing are not equal.
20. And nor the darkness and the light.
21. And nor the shadow and the heat of the full sun.
22. And equal are not the living and the dead. Undoubtedly, Allah causes him to hear whom He pleases; and you are not to make those who are lying in their graves to hear.
23. You are but a warner.
24. O beloved! undoubtedly, We have sent you with truth as a bearer of glad tidings and as a warner. And whoever was a group of people in each of them a warner has already passed away.
25. And if they belie you' then those before you have already belied, there came to them their Messengers with clear proofs and with the scriptures and the shining Book.
26. Then I seized the infidels, then how was My abhorrence?

Now the explanation of the ayahs and discussion of if intercession is permissible:

Undoubtedly you can not make the dead hear, and nor you can make the deaf to hear the call, when they turn showing their backs (Kanzul Imaan, SURAH AL-NAML (27:80). This is a clear statement which refers to the message of Allah SWT’s beloved (S.A.W) and Allah SWT is saying only He SWT has the power to guide those who have refused the message. The Chapter, section, nor verse in any shape or form have any direct relevance to waseela, hence whoever has used it has misused it and implied upon himself, as Allah SWT has made him deaf and blind from Imaan to embrace the truth.

22. And equal are not the living and the dead. Undoubtedly, Allah causes him to hear whom He pleases; and you are not to make those who are lying in their graves to hear. Kanzul Imaan, Al Fatir (35:22). This verse is dealing with the supreme power and strength of Allah Azawajal and Allah SWT is saying he is Qadir (powerful) over all else, such that he can make those hear from the dead and alive and cause the reverse, no man has that power. Again this Surah does not have any relation to Waseela and is rather showing the high station of the lord of universe (SWT). It would be out of order to use or fit such to deny that people in their grave don’t or can’t hear those who call or speak to them.

Now couple of daleels on the ability of the dead to hear the living; firstly when the nations of Thamud were destroyed after the punishment of Allah Ta'ala descended upon them, Hazrat Saleh (AS) spoke to them. The Holy Quran confirms: "Hence he turned his face away and said, 'O my people! Undoubtedly, I did deliver to you the Messages of my Lord, and wished you good, but you do not approve the well wishers'." Kanzul Iman, Surah Al Araf (8:79) In this verse of the Holy Quran, the Nabi of Allah Ta'ala addresses the dead by using the term "Ya" which is proof enough that the dead can hear.

Furthermore when the Kufaar were defeated in the Battle of Badr and were thrown into a well, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) stood beside the well and spoke to the dead. He said, "O certain person, son of certain person. O certain person, son of certain person. Does this make you sad that you should have followed Allah and his Rasool (S.A.W)?" He then said, "Verily I have found the promise of my Creator to be true. Did you find the promise of your Creator to be true? " When Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) heard this, he said, "Ya Rasoolullah! (S.A.W). Are you conversing with such bodies in which there are no souls? " The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said, "A Oath on that Being in Whose control is the life of Muhammad (S.A.W), You cannot hear better than them, that which I am saying." (Mishkaat Shareef; Sahih Bukhari Shareef; Sahih Muslim Shareef).

These are the evidences on the people of grave being able to hear, now we will move on to the topic of Waseela, but its dalail (evidences) are enough to compile a book.

I will keep it simple for your understanding for detailed explanation please access our website on the following link and browse through the aqaid
http://www.janathimessage.co.uk/Literature_Page/Beliefs_of_ahle_sunnah.html).

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) has been given the station of Maqaam-e-Mahmood. Maqaam-e-Mahmood is that point on intercession where all will praise and honour the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). (Tafseer Khaazin; Tafseer Jalalain)

The Holy Quran states: "It is near that your Lord may make you stand at a place where all should praise you." Kanzul Iman, Surah Bani Israel (17:79) from this it is established that intercession is going to take place in akhirah, let’s analyse further;

The following verse of the Holy Quran proves that one can also seek the assistance of the Awliya Allah: "Your helpers are Almighty Allah and His Rasool and those Muslims who perform Salaah and give alms and make Ruku" Surah Al Maida (5:55) This verse refers to the Helpers as "those Muslims" who are in reality are the "Awliya".

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) has stated, "There are certain of Allah's servants that have been set aside to fulfil the necessities of the people. People will call to them in their
times of need. They are protected from the punishment of Almighty Allah". (Jame Saghir) This Hadith Shareef clearly proves that one may call the Awliya Allah for assistance.

Hazrat Allama ibn Juzri (R.A) states, "If one is ever in any need then He should say, 'O servants of Allah, assist me! O servants of Allah, assist me! O servants of Allah, assist me'." (Tibraani)

Hazrat Imam Naudi (R.A), the commentator of "Muslim Shareef", quotes an incident: "One of my superiors narrated an incident to me, 'My mule ran away and I had known the Ahadith and I immediately said, 'O servants of Allah, assist me!' Almighty Allah immediately stopped the mule (from running away)'." (Kitaabul Azkaar)

Hazrat Shamsuddeen Muhammad Hanafi (R.A) was performing ablution in his room. He suddenly threw his wooden sandal into the air. It disappeared although there was no way for it to exit through the room.

He gave the other sandal to his disciple and asked him to keep it until the first one returned. After some time a certain person from Syria arrived with the sandal and some money as gifts and said, "May Almighty Allah give you the thanks for this. The actual incident, which occurred, was that once when a thief sat on my chest and was about to slaughter me. In my heart I said, 'Ya Sayyidi Muhammadin Ya Hanafiyu.' Then suddenly, this sandal came and fell on the chest of the thief with such force that he became dazed and collapsed and Almighty Allah has saved me through your blessing." (Tabqaatul Kubra)

I pray that your question has been sufficiently answered and has clarified any misconceptions you may have had with regards to the accusations made against Ahle Sunnah Wal Jammah. It is often found that people use Ayahs of the Quran and misquote them in order to fulfil their own baseless theories but along the way mislead others. May Allah (S.W.T) give us the ability to learn, understand and most importantly accept the truth. Should you require further explanation please feel free to ask, Inshallah we will answer in light of Quran and Sunnah.
Category (Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat)
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