Istighathah: Seeking aid from other than Allah

[Ibn Thahir]

If Isthighatha is Shirk what would you say to this quote from Imam Taqi al-Din al-Subki from Shifa’ al-siqam fi ziyarat khayr al-anam :

Originally Posted by Taqi al-Din al-Subki

Know, that it is permissible and praiseworthy to perform tawassul, istighātha, and to seek
intercession through the Prophet unto his Lord . The permissibility and desirability of
this is from the matters that are well known among those who have dīn, and well known
from the Prophets and Messengers, as well as the rest of the righteous salaf, scholars, and
layman among the Muslims. Tawassul through the Prophet is permissible in every situation,
both before his creation and after it in his time in the life of this world, as well as after his
death in his time in the isthmus life, and after the resurrection on the day of reckoning and
paradise.

What would be the answer to the below quote from Imam al-Ramli from Fatāwa al-Ramlī

Originally Posted by Imam al-Ramli

Istighātha (seeking aid) with the Prophets and Messengers, the Awliyā, the ‘Ulemā and
the righteous is permitted. The messengers, Prophets and the Awliyā have [the ability
to] assist after their death because the miracles of the Prophets and Awliyā are not
severed following their death. As for the Prophets, then they are alive in their graves praying and doing hajj as it has come in the reports. So assistance from them will be a miracle on their behalf; and the martyrs are also alive, and have been seen, openly killing the kuffār...

What is the answer for the below quote from Imam Ibn Hajar Haytami from al-jawhar al-munazzam

Originally Posted by Ibn Hajar Haytami

From amongst the untruths of Ibn Taymiyya which no scholar before him had said,
and whereby he created dissent between the people of Islām, is that he denounced
tawassul and istighātha (seeking aid) through him ; and that is not as he had decreed
(i.e. that it is impermissible). Rather, tawassul through him is hasan (good) in every
state: before his creation and after his creation, in the dunya and in the ākhira...

All the above quotes were obtained from w w w. M A R I F A H . n e t.
If Istighatha is shirk, then why all these illustrious scholars of past failed to know it?
Were they ignorant of Tawheed and Shirk?

[bugmenot]

If Isthighatha is Shirk what would you say to this quote from Imam Taqi al-Din al-Subki from Shifa’ al-siqam fi ziyarat khayr al-anam :...

http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...l=1#post752141

[Ahmad_shakeel]

If Isthighatha is Shirk what would you say to this quote from Imam Taqi al-Din al-Subki from Shifa’ al-siqam fi ziyarat khayr al-anam :

salam,

‘Allamah Sun’ Allah al-Makki answers a misconception of the proponents of istighathah, on p.49-51, “What has been said [by some scholars] of istighathah through the prophets and saints being permissible, the meaning of it is only attaining blessing (tabarruk) through their mention, and tawassul through them, and not seeking assistance (imdad) from them.[11]

Footnote:

This was also elucidated by others such as Imam Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, Mawlana Sayyid Murtada Hasan Chandpuri, etc. It says in Fatawa Rashidiyyah, p.200, “Since istimdad is a mushtarik (common) word, some adopted one [meaning] while others opted for the other.” Meaning that sayings such as, ‘O, so and so, please make du’a to Allah concerning my needs’; certain scholars referred to this as istighathah/istimdad. ‘Allamah Ibn Hajr Makki (d.974 AH), ‘Allamah Taj al-Din Sukbi (d.771 AH), etc. can be cited here as an example. They never endorsed directly seeking aid from the creation.

http://barelwism.wordpress.com/2012/...-the-creation/

[islam4best]

The author of the well-known work I’la’ al-Sunan, `Allamah Zafar Ahmad ‘Uthmani (d.1394 AH), has discussed the issue of istighathah in detail in his treatise Al-Irshad fi Mas’alah al-Istimdad. He has divided istighathah into several categories for a better and a clearer understanding. These categories are:

[a] To call a prophet or a saint (dead or alive) from nearby or at their grave.

[b] To call them from a distant place when the purpose is not to address them directly, such as when their name is called out due to overwhelming [emotion and] rapture of their love [as sometimes done in poetry].

[c] To call them [with the intention of addressing them] and with the belief that they can hear from far.

[d] To call them in their absence, not to address them, [seek aid from them] or due to overwhelming rapture [emotion], but rather as a recitation of a supplication (du’a) which contains their name as being addressed (ba sighah al-nida’).

[The ruling on the above mentioned points:]

[a] It is permissible according to the agreement of the research scholars (muhaqqiqin). This is provided that isti’anat (help) being sought is not haram, [such as] asking those alive for things that are considered umur ghayr `adiyyah[1] (those things that are `adatan -according to natural disposition - or shar’an – as per Shari’ah – outside the power (qudrah) of humans and are not considered their actions – [also referred to as ma fawq al-asbab]) like saying, ‘O shaykh, give me children’.

Or to ask those in the grave for things that are either umur ghayr `adiyyah or things that are considered umur `adiyyah (those things are that `adatan or shar’an within the power of humans and are considered their actions – [also referred to as ma taht al-asbab]) but become umur ghayr `adiyyah after death, like asking for help in a trial, or asking for sustenance, children, rain, cure from disease, etc.

[b] It is permissible.

[c] It is shirk.

[d] It is permissible provided that this supplication (du’a) is present in the Qur’an or hadith, like in tashahhud where `al-salamu `alayka ayyuhannabiy’ is reported with sighah al-khitab. (For more see: Maqalat ‘Uthmani, 2:287-288)

http://barelwism.wordpress.com/2012/...-the-creation/

is the book Al-Irshad fi Mas’alah al-Istimdad available online and is it in Arabic or Urdu ? Please post link if available online.

[Saad]

is the book Al-Irshad fi Mas’alah al-Istimdad available online and is it in Arabic or Urdu ? Please post link if available online.

http://www.4shared.com/office/JrsK0M...l-Istimda.html