Question :
Is calling the dead to do dua for him to Allah considered as Shirk Al Akbar ?
Answer :
This a means to Shirk – we seek protection of Allah – because this is asking the dead to make dua for him.
(The reality of the dead is)
‘Then they will not be able to make bequest, nor they will return to their family.’ Yaseen – 50
‘Verily, you cannot make the dead to hear (i.e. benefit them and similarly the disbelievers), nor can you make the deaf to hear the call, when they flee, turning their backs.’ – An Naml -80
And the dead cannot hear the voice of the living people. So this is means to Shirk. Now he asks him to make dua for him and tomorrow he believes the dead can bring benefit and prevent harm independently (means the dead will bring benefit and prevent harm himself without need to ask Allah). So this is a means to Shirk and it is wajib to block this means. So it is haram to ask (dead for making dua).
It is not known from Companions that they use to say ‘Oh Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) make dua for us’ or ‘Oh Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) intercede for us at your Lord’ (after the death of Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)).
So this is means to Shirk and if one believes the benefit and harm from the dead then this Shirk with Allah (Subahanahu wa taalaa). If one takes this as tawassul (as a means for the dua being accepted) then this is also Shirk (Al Asghar) as it is not a legislated means and Allah has not made it as a means (for the dua getting accepted). So no doubt that it is Shirk with Allah because it is taking a means which Allah has not permitted like calling the dead to bring benefit to the living people and to intercede for them and to make dua for them.
He is dead, how can he make dua to Allah ? This dead will not benefit you, his soul was removed from his body. So saying it as Shirk is not far, that is calling the dead. -A word is not clear – [It could mean – But the confusing point is he is calling the dead to make dua for him]. It is not far to rule upon this that this from Shirk (Al Ashgar).
[Translator’s note : I have clarified with Shaykh after the class that calling the dead to make dua is Shirk Al Ashgar and it is a big means to Shirk Al Akbar].
Answered by : Shaykh Abu Bilal Al Hadhrami
Translated by : AbdunNoor Al Hindi