However...

However, if we humble ourselves before someone without considering him to be God or conceiving him as having been entrusted with Godly acts, then such respect or humbleness is none but similar to that rendered by the angels to Adam or that of Jacobs sons before Joseph.

Now, concerning the above question, if we suppose that right to intercede has been entrusted upon real interceders in such a way that they can intercede uncategorically and forgive sins, such a belief can then equate polytheism or shirk because we have asked for a Godly act from someone other than God Himself.

However, if we assume that a number of pious servants of God do not possess the station of intercession but have the right to ask forgiveness for the sinners under certain conditions - the most important of which is Gods permission - such an assumption, then, cannot entail polytheism, nor does it entail that Gods actions are entrusted to them. Rather, it is asking someone for something which he is entitled to be asked.

During the Holy Prophets life, sinners used to go to him, so he would ask God for their sins to be pardoned. The Noble Prophet did not call them polytheists. In his Sunan, Ibn Majah quotes the Prophet as having said, Do you know what options God has given me tonight? God and His messenger know better, we said. God permitted me to choose between His admission of half of my people into Paradise and (my having) the right to intercede and I choose intercession.

We said, O Messenger of Allah, call on Allah that we may be worthy of enjoying intercession. He said, Intercession embraces every Muslim,[1] This narration clearly states that the holy Prophets companions used to ask the Prophet himself for intercession by saying, Call on Allah. We read in the Holy Quran, and had they, when they were unjust to themselves, come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah and [1] Sunan Ibn Majah, vol. 2, the chapter "On Mentioning Intercession" P. 586.

the Apostle (also) asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Forgiving and Merciful. 4:64 Elsewhere, quoting Jacobs sons, the holy Quran says O Our father! Ask forgiveness for our faults, as surely we are sinners (12:97). Prophet Jacob also promised them to ask forgiveness but never accused them of polytheism. He said, I will ask for your forgiveness from my Lord; surely He is Forgiving, and Merciful (12:98) Back Index Next Previous…