In principle...

In principle, the life of every human being is founded on seeking help from mediums and intermediaries without which man’s life will be chaotic. Now, if we look at these mediums as the agents for fulfilling the assistance of God and hold that they have been originated and granted power by Him, in this case seeking help will by no means contradict monotheism.

If a devoted godly farmer seeks aid through such agents like land, water, air, and the sun to plant seeds and bring them up until they yield fruit, he has actually sought help from God because it is He Who has given power and activity to these agents. It is clear that seeking assistance in the mentioned way is totally consistent with the spirit of monotheism.

In fact, the Glorious Qur’an invites us to seek assistance through such things like patience and prayer as in the following verse: واستعينوا بالصبر والصلوة. “And take recourse in patience and prayer.” [^5] It is evident that constancy and patience is a human attribute, yet we are invited to seek assistance through it.

The aforementioned way of seeking assistance is not inconsistent with turning for help to God as stated in the following verse: "إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين." “You {alone} do we worship, and to You {alone} do we turn for help.” [^6] [^1]: Surah Fatir (or al-Mala’ikah) 35:15. [^2]: Surah Al ‘Imran 3:126. [^3]: Surah al-Fatihah 1:5. [^4]: Surah al-Ahzab 33:17. [^5]: Surah al-Baqarah 2:45. [^6]: Surah al-Fatihah 1:5. Previous…