How come prayers of shirk are answered by Allah ?

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother

Assalam alaikum

I come from a very modern family.Religion meant nothing to me.But after coming in contact with your forum i have realised the seriousness of islam and its deeper meaning.May Allah provide you with all good things in this world and in the here after.

I would like you to clarify my doubts regarding the following;

Bida is an innovation and people indulging in it are cursed by allah and his angels.Nearly all of my relatives indulge in bida (Quran qani, Ayaath-e-karima,Gyarvin etc)They ask allah for some favour during these ceremony's and their prayers do get answered.If bida is a crime then why does allah subhannah answer their prayers? Continuing on the same note-My hindu friend was not able to conceive for nearly 8 years of her married life.Some "pundit"advised her to visit a particular temple and pray there.Two months later she conceived.Mushriks are considered disbelievers and obviously their gods do not exist.Then why was her prayer answered.When i tell my people not to indulge in bida they say that their prayers have been answered .Therefore i am wrong and they are right.

your sister

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

How come prayers of shirk are answered by Allah ?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol,  no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Statement:  I come from a very modern family. Religion meant nothing to me.But after coming in contact with your forum i have realised the seriousness of islam and its deeper meaning.May Allah provide you with all good things in this world and in the here after.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.253         Narrated by Sahl

On the day (of the battle) of Khaibar, I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say to Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.):  ‘By Allah, if Allah gives guidance to somebody through you, it is better for you than possessing red camels (the most prized possession of those times!)."

 

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth.    We humbly hope, beg,  and pray the Merciful Lord  accepts our humble and weak efforts,  forgive us our shortcomings,  and save you, us,  and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire.  Ameen.

 

Your statement: If bida is a crime then why does allah subhannah answer their prayers? Continuing on the same note-My hindu friend was not able to conceive for nearly 8 years of her married life.Some "pundit"advised her to visit a particular temple and pray there.Two months later she conceived.Mushriks are considered disbelievers and obviously their gods do not exist.Then why was her prayer answered.When i tell my people not to indulge in bida they say that their prayers have been answered .Therefore i am wrong and they are right.

Beloved brother,  before we answer your specific question,  we would like to explain the difference between ‘bida’ (innovation) and ‘shirk’ (associating other gods with Allah Subhanah).

 

Ref:  Bida (innovations).

Bida is adding something to the rituals in the deen of Islam, which have no basis or evidence in the Quran or Sunnah.   No person who ever walked on this planet earth, worshipped Allah Subhanah better and in a more perfect manner than the person of the Last Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws).   When one invents a novelty, or innovates a new rite or ritual in the deen of Islam,  and creates his own method of earning rewards from Allah Subhanah through these innovations,  he implies that either he worships Allah Subhanah more than the Messenger of Allah (saws),  or that he knows how to worship Allah Subhanah better than the person of the Messenger of Allah (saws);  both of which are absolutely impossible!!! 

Besides, if everyone starts innovating and inventing his own rites and rituals and adding it to the deen of Islam; the deen that was brought by Prophet Mohamed (saws) will change beyond recognition, just as the deen of the earlier Prophets Musa (a.s.) and Isa (a.s.) was changed by their followers!    That is why the Messenger of Allah (saws) has declared each innovation in the deen as a grave sin in Islam!

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515  Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion),  he will be responsible for it.   If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah,  by His angels,  and by all the people.”

 

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885     Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon:  “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws).   The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

 

Ref:  Shirk (associating other gods with Allah Subhanah)

Shirk is absolutely the biggest and gravest sin in Islam!   All the Prophets who ever came to this earth, came to invite people to the Truth of the Oneness of Allah Subhanah,  and warn them against committing the evil and heinous sin of ‘shirk’!    Any person who dies while in the state of ‘shirk’, Allah Subhanah has declared that He has forbidden Paradise for him,  and Hell shall be his everlasting abode!   Such is the gravity of this single most heinous sin in the sight of Allah Subhanah.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 72:Whoever commits ‘shirk’ (invoking anything with Allah),  Allah shall forbid for him Paradise,  and Hell shall be his abode.  And for such wrong doers there will be no one to help.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 4 Surah An-Nisa Verse 48:Shirk (associating other deities with Allah) is the only sin that Allah does not forgive, and He forgives, whomsoever He pleases, sins other than this.  For whosoever associates any other partner with Allah, does indeed forge a big lie and commits the most heinous sin.

 

Your Question:  Mushriks are considered disbelievers and obviously their gods do not exist.  Then why was her prayer answered.

The truth is that Allah Subhanah has sent man on this earth for a test, to see who amongst mankind does the best deeds.  Thus, Allah Subhanah puts man through good and bad conditions, and sees what is the reaction of his created slave.  

 

When Allah bestows someone with good, the person’s test is whether he is grateful to Allah Subhanah or to someone else!   If the person is constant in his gratefulness to Allah Subhanah he passes the test, and if he is grateful to anything else other than Allah Subhanah (any idol, any star, any grave, etc.), he fails the test miserably and is guilty of the heinous crime of shirk!  

 

When Allah Subhanah afflicts someone with a trial, the preson’s test is whether he is patient and keeps his hope in the Power and Strength of Allah Subhanah Alone,  or does he go knocking and bowing and pinning his hopes on every door and grave and idol, etc.!   If the person accepts his affliction as a trial from his Lord, shows patience and steadfastness,  and keeps his hopes and prayers constant in the Lord of the Worlds,  he passes the test.   And if the person loses hope in Allah Subhanah, and starts seeking ‘super-natural’ help from any combination of his false gods,  and idols,  and graves,  and rituals,  etc.,  he fails the test miserably and is guilty of the heinous crime of shirk!  

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah 155-157:

155    Be sure We shall test you with something of fear,  and hunger,  some loss in goods,  or lives,  or the fruits (of your toil);   but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.

156    Who say when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."

157    They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy,  and they are the ones that receive guidance.

 

Thus,  every good and evil that afflicts a person on this earth,  is nothing more than a test ordained by the Lord All-Mighty as a test!   Allah Subhanah tests his slaves for a limited time period ordained by Him, and when the test period is over,  He lifts the calamity or affliction at the exact time He has ordained, whether the person beseeches Allah Alone,  or begs and prays to all and sundry!   And the deeds that a person does during his time of trial will determine whether he passes or fails the test in the sight of Allah Subhanah.

 

Whether your Hindu friend who could not conceive had stayed patient and beseeched the One Lord of the Worlds Alone,  or whether she begged and worshipped every idol in every temple in the world;  her test would have ended on the exact same day which Allah Subhanah had ordained for her!  

 

Allah Subhanah cites a similar parable in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 189-193:

189    It is He who created you from a single person and made his mate of like nature in order that he might dwell with her (in love).   When they are united she bears a light burden,  and carries it about (unnoticed).   When she grows heavy they both pray to Allah,  their Lord (saying): "if Thou givest us a goodly child we vow we shall (ever) be grateful."

190    But when He giveth them a goodly child,  they ascribe to others a share in the gift they have received:  but Allah is exalted high above the ‘shirk’  they commit.

191    Do they indeed ascribe to Him as partners things that can create nothing, but are themselves created?

192    No aid can they (their false gods) give them, nor can they aid themselves!

193    If ye call them to guidance they will not obey:  for you it is the same whether ye call them,  or ye hold your peace!

 

Allah Subhanah Alone has the Power to afflict someone with a trial, He Alone is the One Who determines what trial to afflict on which person, He Alone is the One Who determines the period of the trial, and He Alone is the One Who lifts the trial when the determined test period has ended!  The One Who recognizes the Power and Strength of the One Lord of the Worlds, and keeps his hopes and prayers constant on Him Alone, passes the test;  and the one who thinks he can get his trial lifted by someone who has absolutely no power or control over anything Allah Decrees,  and seeks help from all and sundry,  fails the test miserably!  

 

If one just sees the modus-operandi of the people who commit shirk, he will see the fallacy in the process of shirk, through simple and basic common sense.    Lets take the same example of a woman who is unable to conceive; she tries everything in her power, but cannot conceive.  Then she decides to seek ‘super-natural’ help, and goes from one god to another god, one idol to another idol, one ritual to another ritual, to get her wish to conceive.   Anyone who gives her hope that she might be able to get her wish from so and so god, or temple, or idol, or star, or whatever; she runs to that hope and does the necessary rituals as told by the relevant ‘holy men’!   She keeps on running after every hope until the precise time which Allah had ordained for the ending of her test arrives; and her test is lifted by Allah Subhanah, and she conceives!  Now the person starts thanking and being grateful to the last stop she made in her run-a-around, and thinks and believes that so and so god or temple or whatever was responsible for giving her wish! And she starts worshipping and thanking and being grateful to her deity, when in truth, that deity had absolutely nothing to do with her test, the period of her test,  or the lifting of her trial!  She failed her test miserably, and through her own deeds deserves the Wrath and Anger of the All-Mighty Lord of the Worlds!

 

But the one who knows that none other than Allah Subhanah Alone has all the Power and Might in this Universe, stays constant in his hope and prayer to the One True Lord Alone.  He never ever waivers from his supplications to his One and Only Lord, and remains steadfast and patient in his period of trial.   At the precise time ordained by Allah Subhanah, the trial will be lifted; but his deeds of constancy, patience, steadfastness,  and hope on the Lord Who holds all Power and Might Alone,  enables him to pass the test with flying colors, and earns him the Pleasure and Good Will of Allah Subhanah.  

 

If you study the people who commit shirk, they always thank their false gods, or idols,  or stars,  or graves,  or whatever else they can think of as a deity for all the good things in life;  and reserve all the afflictions that cannot be removed as the ‘Will of the One True Lord’!   Whatever good that happens to them, they ascribe it to their self-invented gods; and whatever trial or affliction comes upon them,  like death of a loved one,  like bankruptcy,  or a deadly incurable disease,  etc.;  they ascribe it to the Supreme Lord!   

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 30 Surah Rum verses 33-35:When a affliction befalls the people, they invoke their Lord, turning penitently towards Him.  Then, when He makes them taste of His Mercy, some of them start committing shirk, so that they may show ingratitude for Our Favors.   Well, enjoy yourselves, for soon you shall know!   Have We sent down to them an authority, which may testify to the truth of the Shirk they are committing?

 

But when one truly believes in the One Lord Alone without associating any partners with Him, he knows for sure that all good is a Mercy from His Lord, and all afflictions are a trial from the same Lord.   Thus when He receives Allah’s Mercy, he is grateful to his Lord;  and when afflicted with a trial,  he remains patient and keeps his hope and prayers constant to the same Lord of the Worlds!  

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar verse 67:These people (who commit shirk) have not recognized the true worth of Allah, as His worth should truly be recognized.  (As for His Omnipotence) the entire earth on the Day of Resurrection shall be in His grasp and the heavens shall be rolled up in His Right Hand.   Glorified is He and Exalted above the ‘shirk’ that these people commit.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verse 66:Note it well that all the dwellers of the heavens and the earth belong to Allah.   And those who invoke partners besides Allah, follow nothing but surmises and merely indulge in guess-works!  

 

The truth about the power and might of the false deities is described by Allah Subhanah in the parable quoted below! 

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse73:O mankind!  A parable is related to you, so listen to it!  Those on whom you call besides Allah, cannot (even) create a fly, even though they may all combine together for this purpose!  Nay! If a fly snatches away anything from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly!  How weak are those who petition, and how weak are those to whom they supplicate!

 

Glorified and Far Exalted is Allah Subhanah the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything that exists in between from what they associate with Him!

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your Brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 

 

 
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