As for the dead, absent, or inanimate beings, it is impermissible to ask them, because Allah (Glorified be He) states: "And the mosques are for Allâh (Alone): so invoke not anyone along with Allâh." [Surah Al-Jinn , Verse: 18]. He also states: Say: “To Allâh belongs all intercession." [Surah Al-Zumar , Verse: 44]

Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says: "And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allâh, any other ilâh (god), of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-Kâfirûn will not be successful." [Surah Al-Mu'minun , Verse: 117]

Thus whoever supplicates the dead, absent or inanimate beings, associates other deities with Allah, as did the idol worshippers amongst the Kuffar (disbelievers) of Quraysh and others who worshipped idols, trees, Al-Lat, Al-`Uzzah and Manat (name of idols) during the period of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic era of ignorance). They used to invoke and seek blessings from them.

Therefore, Allah disapproved these acts and declared them Kuffar, as in this noble Ayah, and Mushrikin in His Statement (Glorified be He): "And they worship besides Allâh things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allâh." Say: "Do you inform Allâh of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?" Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they associate as partners (with Him)!" [Surah Yunus , Verse: 18]

Accordingly, He (Glorified be He) clarified that their acts were Shirk, and exalted Himself above this by stating: "So worship Allâh (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allâh’s sake only." [Surah Al-Zumar , Verse: 2]

"Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allâh only. And those who take Auliyâ’ (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allâh." Verily Allâh will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allâh guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever." [Surah Al-Zumar , Verse: 3]

In this Ayah in Surah Al-Zumar, Allah (may he be Glorified) stated what Mushrikin say about their gods:  "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allâh." [Surah Al-Zumar , Verse: 3]

But the fact is that they lie and disbelieve by claiming this, for this act does not draw them nearer to Allah. Rather, it drives them away from Him.

Therefore, it is known that they did not worship them because they control the universe, create or sustain; for these Mushrikin of Quraysh and many others knew that this is a right for Allah alone. Yet, they invoked, slaughtered, and sought blessings from them thinking that they can intercede for them before Allah and bring them nearer to Him, as pointed out in the first Ayah in Surah Yunus in which He (Glorified be He) states: "And they worship besides Allâh things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: “These are our intercessors with Allâh.” [Surah Yunus , Verse: 18]

In addition to the second Ayah in Surah Al-Zumar, He (Glorified be He) has mentioned in Surah Fatir:
"Such is Allâh, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmîr (the thin membrane over the date-stone). If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad sallallahu alaihe wasallam) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of everything). [Surah Fatir , Verse: 13-14]

Therefore, He (Glorified be He) clarified that the Mushrikin amongst the dead, idols, trees, stones, planets, and others do not hear the Du`a of those who call upon them, and even if they were able to, they will not respond to them. Furthermore, on the Day of Resurrection, they will denounce their worshipping them. However, some of their requests which they submit before the idols might actually be answered by dint of the Satans which mislead them.

Thus, they meet some of their needs so that they believe that was a result of calling upon their idols and gods, and this is declared in His Statement (Exalted be He) in Surah Saba': "And (remember) the Day when He will gather them all together, then He will say to the angels: "Was it you that these people used to worship?" They (the angels) will say: "Glorified be You! You are our Walî (Lord) instead of them. Nay, but they used to worship the jinn; most of them were believers in them." [Surah Saba' , Verse: 40-41]

There are many Ayahs mentioned to that effect indicating that supplicating the dead, unseen angels, and others such as the trees, stones, planets and any inanimate being are acts of Shirk even if one who does this seeks intercession or becoming nearer to Allah, for this was the intention of the first generation of Mushrikin but Allah declared them to be Kuffar.

He ordained His Prophetﷺ and the Muslims to fight them until they abandon Shirk and be devoted to Allah in worship as He (Exalted be He) stated in Surah Al-Anfal: "And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allâh) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allâh Alone [in the whole of the world]." [Surah Al-Anfal , Verse: 39]

Allah (Glorified be He) also mentioned in many verses in His Book that Mushrikin do admit that Allah (Glorified be He) is the Creator, the Sustainer, the One Who brings forth life and decrees death, and the One who disposes the Affairs of the entire universe, yet did not cause them to embrace Islam and sincerely worship Allah alone as He (Glorified be He) states: "And if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: “Allâh.” [Surah Al-Zukhruf , Verse: 87]

He (Glorified and Exalted be He) also states: "Say (O Muhammad sallallahu alaihe wasallam): "Who provides for you from the sky and the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?" They will say: "Allâh." Say: "Will you not then be afraid of Allâh’s punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allâh)?" [Surah Yunus , Verse: 31]

The Prophetﷺ stated: The right of Allah over His servants is that they worship Him without associating anything with Him (Agreed upon by Imams Al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the Hadith of Mu`adh رضي الله عنه.

It is also mentioned in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Masud رضي الله عنه who said: O Messenger of Allah, which sin is most grievous? He said: To set up a rival with Allah, though He (Alone) created you." I said, "What next?" He said, "To kill your son lest they should share your food." I said, "What next?" He said, "To commit Zina (premarital sexual intercourse and/or adultery) with the wife of your neighbor."

Accordingly, Allah revealed in this regard His Saying (Glorified be He): "And those who invoke not any other ilâh (god) along with Allâh, nor kill such person as Allâh has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse - and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.  The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allâh will change their sins into good deeds, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Surah Al-Furqan , Verse: 68-70]

Also, it is mentioned in Sahih Muslim on the authority of the Commander of the believers `Ali Ibn Abu Talib رضي الله عنه that the Prophetﷺ stated: Allah has cursed the one who sacrifices to other than Allah.

There are many other Ayahs and Hadith which stress this meaning.

However, intercession and Du`a' can be requested from a living, present, capable person, just as the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) used to ask the Prophetﷺ to intercede for them before their Lord (Glorified and Exalted be He), to supplicate on their behalf that He send down rain during times of drought. They would ask him to appeal for them and he used to do so, after which they were showered with rain. Also, the story of the blind man who asked him to intercede for him that Allah would restore his sight, and the Prophetﷺ did. However, this was during his lifeﷺ.

This will also be the case on the Day of Resurrection when deserving people will ask himﷺ to intercede for them before their Lord to judge between them, so he will respond to their call after being granted Allah's Permission to do so; for as then, he will be alive among them. The Mu'minun (believers) will also ask himﷺ to intercede for them to enter the Jannah and he will do this after seeking Allah's Permission to do so. He will also intercede for many sinful Muslims who will be thrown into Nar (Hellfire) because of their sins after taking Allah's Permission to do so and they will all be brought out of it by dint of his intercession.

However, it is impermissible to ask for his intercession or any other thing after death and before Resurrection. This applies to all prophets, the dead, absent, or inanimate beings as previously mentioned.

But, there is no harm in asking someone living, present, and capable for help so long as this falls within the range of their ability and is prescribed in the Purified Shari`ah (Islamic law). Allah informed us in the story of Musa in Surah Al-Qasas that a man from his party sought his help against their enemy. This had also taken place with some of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) who used to ask the Prophetﷺ in his life and he used to supplicate for them. It is permissible for a person to ask their able present fellows to help them in irrigating their plants, building their houses, and so on. If they are not in proximity, they may write, phone, or use any other tangible means of communication, for this is permissible by Ijma` (consensus).

It is Allah Alone whom we ask to guide all Muslims to the best understanding of their Deen and to remain steadfast upon it, as I ask Him to appoint the best among them to rule them, to rectify their leaders, and protect all Muslims and us from the delusive trials, the temptations of Satan, and the evil of those who call to deviance and Bida`. He is the Most Generous and Bountiful. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his followers in virtue!

`Abdul `Aziz Bin `Abdullah Ibn Baz

The General Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The President of the Council of Senior Scholars and the department of Scholarly Research and Ifta'