ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Shiite Apologetics Question Thirty-four Is belief in the invisible power of God's Saints a source of Polytheism ? Answer: You may ask someone to do something because you evidently consider him able to do it. This ability is of two kinds: The ability confined within the corporeal, natural forces as when you ask someone for a glass of water.

The ability beyond the natural forces, a hidden power as you believe that a righteous servant of God, such as Jesus Christ, possessed the power to heal incurable diseases through his Messianic breath.

The belief in such an ability is no doubt similar to the belief in (the existence of) a natural force if this ability is dependent upon Gods Will; Such a conviction will not lead to polytheism, for God who has given people their corporeal and natural ability can also give some of His righteous servants a hidden ability.

The belief in the invisible power of God's saints can be conceived of in two ways: We may take the person who has the hidden power as one who is independent in his will, one from whom the power originates and whom we may attribute a Godly job to.

The belief in such a power, independent of God, undoubtedly brings about polytheism because we have considered someone besides God as the source of independent and genuine power, to whom we have attributed a Godly job, whereas the Lord of the universe is sole source of all powers.

We may believe in the hidden power of some righteous servants of God, and maintain that this ability has originated from Gods eternal power, and that God's Saints are simply the instruments for this power to be manifested; they have no independence of their own, but are dependent upon God, the Exalted, both in their existence and in exercising the hidden power.

Such a belief undoubtedly carries no implication of considering the saints as God, nor does it imply that a Godly job is attributed to them because it is only with Gods permission and His inevitable Will that they manifest their God-given authority, never desiring disobedience. The holy Quran says and it is not in (the power of) an apostle to bring a sign except by Allahs permission 13:38.

It is thus clear that such a belief is no cause for polytheism, but is in complete agreement with the principle of monotheism.