Bismillahir rahmanir raheem, With the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Unity of worship means that we acknowledge no person or thing worthy of worship other than Allah, Whose commands alone do we obey and Whose laws only do we follow, avoiding any kind of servitude and submission to other than Him, the Pure Essence. The outcome of this belief is that one relies on Allah alone, and knows that all authority and power are His only. In his view, other than Him is powerless, mortal and perishable. Allah is the only Essence to be relied on and worshipped. It is only He Who is deserving of man’s reliance for everything.

So, what if someone calls out Ya Ali (as)? Or Ya Muhammad (saww)? Isn’t that against the teachings of Qur’an and Hadith?

The verse, “Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’in” (You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help), is often misinterpreted. It is used to argue against saying “Ya Ali, madad!” (O Ali, help!) by certain individuals. They claim that seeking help from anyone other than Allah is against this verse and is considered Shirk. However, there are numerous verses in the Quran that refute this argument.

The Prophets themselves sought Allah’s help through intermediaries. For example, Prophet Sulaiman (as) sought assistance from Asif bin Barkhiya. One should note that Asif bin Barkhiya wasn’t even a Prophet. All he had was a little knowledge of the book, and what he did was no less than a miracle.

قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِي بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ

He said: O chiefs! which of you can bring to me her throne before they come to me in submission? (Surah An-Naml, Verse 38)

قَالَ الَّذِي عِندَهُ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُ قَالَ هَٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ

One who had the knowledge of the Book said: I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye. Then when he saw it settled beside him, he said: This is of the grace of my Lord that He may try me whether I am grateful or ungrateful; and whoever is grateful, he is grateful only for his own soul, and whoever is ungrateful, then surely my Lord is Self-sufficient, Honored. (Surah An-Naml, Verse 40)

The Qur’an also mentions the incident of Prophet Yusuf (as). He sought help from a fellow prisoner. Here one should realise how Prophet Yusuf (as) is seeking help through an intermediary, who was not holding any important position or power.

وَقَالَ لِلَّذِي ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا اذْكُرْنِي عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَاهُ الشَّيْطَانُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِ فَلَبِثَ فِي السِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ

And he said to him whom he knew would be delivered of the two: Remember me with your lord; but the Shaitan caused him to forget mentioning (it) to his lord, so he remained in the prison a few years. (Surah Yusuf, Verse 42)

Prophet Yusuf (as) also sent his shirt as a means to ease his father’s difficulty, who was a Prophet himself.

اذْهَبُوا بِقَمِيصِي هَٰذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

Take this my shirt and cast it on my father’s face, he will (again) be able to see, and come to me with all your families. (Surah Yusuf, Verse 93)

Indeed, Allah could have restored Prophet Yaqub (as)’s vision without the need for Prophet Yusuf (as)’s shirt. Isn’t seeking mediation from a lifeless shirt shirk, as per the definition of the Wahabis? Shouldn’t the Qur’an have called it out and labelled both the Prophets (as) to be in err, nauzubillah?!

The recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha (the first chapter of the Quran) is a common practice among Muslims. In prayer, specifically, reciting the verse “Iyyaka nasta’in” is an essential component. Worship, in any form, especially in prayer, is solely and exclusively for the purpose of seeking closeness to Allah. It is necessary for every believer to maintain their complete focus on remembering Allah alone during prayer. True Tawhid (belief in the oneness of Allah) means not allowing any thought of anyone other than Allah, especially during Salah.

However, in the Tashahud (sitting portion of the prayer), we say, “Ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh, Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad” (I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad).

Even as per Ahlul Sunnah, it is somewhat similar. They recite – Al-Tahiyyatu Lillahi wa’l-salawatu wa’l-tayyibat. Al-salamu ‘alayka ayyuha’l-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Allahi wa barakatuhu. Al-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibad-illah il-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh (All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger). (al-Bukhari, 831; Muslim, 402)

Thus, mentioning Muhammad and his family is also part of remembering Allah and an integral part of the most important act of worship, prayer. The prayer of a worshipper is not complete without sending blessings upon these revered individuals. Moreover, in the final greeting of the prayer, we address the Messenger of Allah by saying, “As-salamu ‘alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh” (Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings). By addressing and greeting the Messenger of Allah in prayer, can we not seek help from him and his successors? Therefore, it is baseless to claim that seeking help from Maula Ali (the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, saww) by saying “Ya Ali, madad” constitutes Shirk or associating partners with Allah. This assertion is senseless.

The reason is that Allah Himself has appointed these revered personalities as a means to approach Him. Allah has commanded believers to present their supplications and actions through these means, so that they may achieve success in their objectives.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

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. (Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 35)

We never consider any of our Holy Infallibles to be dead, and we again have Qur’an to back out claim. The numerous verses of Qur’an bear a clear witness to the fact that death is not the end of life but a window for a new life. By passing from this passage, man steps into a new life, a world completely new to him and much superior than this material world.

Those who take death to be the end of life and believe that with death, everything of man is finished and nothing remains of him except one lifeless body which (even that) after some time is changed to soil and destroyed, follow the philosophy of materialism.


Verses of the Qur’an clearly indicate that the spirit continues to live after its separation from the body. For the sake of brevity, we bring here only the text of the verses.

وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَنْ يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ وَلَٰكِنْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ
And do not speak of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead, nay, (they are) alive, but you do not perceive. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:154)

وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
And reckon not those who are killed in Allah’s way as dead, nay, they are alive (and) are provided sustenance from their Lord. (Surah Aale Imran, 3:169)

فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ
Rejoicing in what Allah has given them out of His grace, and they rejoice for the sake of those who, (being left) behind them, have not yet joined them. (Surah Aale Imran, 3:170)

Qur’an saluting the death Prophets?!

The Holy Qur’an has sent Salutations upon the past Prophets (as) and one should make note that these salutations are not meaningless compliments or some kind of formalities.

The Holy Qur’an says:

سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ نُوحٍ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ
Peace be upon Nuh, in the Universe. (Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Saffat, 37:79)

سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
Peace be upon Ibrahim. (Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Saffat, 37:109)

سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ
Peace be upon Musa and Harun. (Surah Al-Saffat, 37:120)

سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِلْ يَاسِينَ
Peace be upon Aal Yasin. (Surah Al-Saffat, 37:130)

سَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ
Peace be upon the Messengers. (Surah Al-Saffat, 37:181)

If what the Wahabis/Salafis say is correct, that Prophets (as) are dead, then why is the Qur’an remembering them and sending salutations on the past Prophets, time and again? Because, as per their teachings, sending salutations on Prophet Muhammad (saww) is a biddat, and no teachings of the Holy Prophet (saww) authenticate such a claim. They say that one can send salawat on the Prophet from far off places, butremembering him or sending him salutations near his grave is a serious offence.

Wherever the Qur’an says, do not call out anyone other than Allah, those ayats are referring to the polytheists who worship idols instead of the One and Only God and supplicate to these man-made objects in their hour of need. Allah says here that these idols do not own even a straw, so how can they grant anything to those who worship and prostrate before them? No matter how fervently these idols are called upon, they do not listen since they are inanimate objects, and suppose even if they were to listen, they cannot answer since they do not listen or cannot talk.

As is crystal clear for any discerning person, it has no connection whatsoever concerning seeking mediation through the Prophet (saww) or the Infallible Imams (as). First and foremost, it is a gross mistake to place those who seek mediation in the same category as the polytheists, since idolaters seek their needs from idols and not from the Almighty Creator. But those who take mediation beseech Allah for their needs and regard Prophet Muhammad (saws) as a means for the acceptance of their supplications, since he is the Messenger of Allah.

Secondly, it is a manifest error to equate with idols the Prophet (saww) who has been sent by Allah as a divine sign and is called Habib-Allah (Friend of God) by all Muslims. Even Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab maintains that Prophet Muhammad (saww) is alive in his grave and his life in the intermediary world (barzakh) is superior to the life of the martyrs, since he hears the voices of those who send blessings upon him.

If the Wahabis equate the calling of Holy Prophet (saww) or Imam Ali (as) with the calling of Jesus by the Christians, then even that is absolutely wrong. The belief of the Christians is not what the Muslims believe about the Holy Prophet (saww).

Let’s look at the belief of the Christians, as sourced from their teachings.

Jesus is God Himself manifest in the flesh. He is the image of the invisible God.
Jesus said; John 4:24 God is a Spirit…

And Jesus is the body where God dwells:

Col 2:9 For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

He is the image of the invisible God.

2 Corinthians 4:4 … Christ, who is the image of God

Hebrews 1:3 (Jesus is) … the express image of his (God’s) person

Colossians 1:15 (Jesus) Who is the image of the invisible God

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Now this believe is in fact associating someone with Allah which should be called Shirk. Christians believe that God is Jesus, and Jesus is God. The Father is the Holy Spirit which dwells within Jesus. Jesus is the human body God created for Himself! All of this is a belief that is against the teachings of Qur’an and Hadith.

In order to conclude, basis the Holy Quran and Hadith, they consider many lifeless articles to be blessed and miraculous, like the shirt of Prophet Yusuf (a.s.), the staff of Moosa (a.s.), the rock that sprung 12 fountains of water satiating the 12 tribes of Bani Israel, or the Black Stone in the Kabah. They are all capable enough to be a source of blessings. We don’t have access to other things now, however, the black stone or the wall of Kaaba is something that people do not come back from Hajj and Umrah without kissing and seeking blessings from. However, you call out Ya Muhammad (saww) or Ya Ali (as), madad and you would see how you get fatawas coming your way.

Why is it that when it comes to Imam Ali (a.s.) or the Prophet’s progeny (a.s.) in general, there are altogether different principles of monotheism and polytheism. More than monotheism, this is a case of envy and prejudice, since Ali (a.s.) and his infallible sons (a.s.) are blessed with the power to mediate in crises unlike the leaders of the doubting dolts, who themselves depended on Ali (a.s.) in crises.

وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ
And seek help through patience and prayer; and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]. (Al-Baqarah 2:45)

May Allah keep us guided to follow the path shown by the Holy Prophet (saww) and his rightly guided successors, Imam Ali (as) and his sons and may we keep aloof from the path of Shaitan.

Allahumma Ajjil Le Waliekal Faraj, wal Afiyate wan Nasr.