The Ruling on Supplicating by Virtue of the Messenger Muhammad (ﷺ)

In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

Question:

Is it permissible to supplicate to Allāh by virtue of the Messenger Muhammad (ﷺ), the Qurʾān, the Injīl (Gospel), the Tawrah (Torah), the month of Ramadan, or righteous people?

Answer:

The Imām, al-ʿAllāmah, ʿAbdul-ʿAzīz Ibn Bāz answered:

A Muslim is not permitted to supplicate Allāh by the status or honour of any person like the prophets, righteous people, Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ), Jibrīl (Gabriel) or any other person. Doing so is impermissible according to the majority of scholars. Moreover, it is a bidʿah (innovation in the religion) and is one of the avenues leading to Shirk (associating others with Allāh in His Divinity or worship). However, supplicating to Allāh by virtue of the Qurʾān, like saying: “O Allāh, I supplicate to You by Your Words or by Your Honourable Book,” is permissible.

It is also permissible to say: “O Allāh, I supplicate to You by virtue of Your Words revealed to Mūsā (Moses) and “ʿIsā (Jesus).” But supplicating to Allāh by His Names and Attributes is better and more worthy, like asking Allah by virtue of His Names and Attributes. Qurʾān is from Allāh’s Words and likewise, the Tawrah and Injīl that were not distorted. This is because the words revealed to Mūsā and ʿIsā are from Allāh’s Words. Therefore, it is permissible to supplicate to Allāh by virtue of His Words that were revealed to His prophets. One can supplicate to Allāh by virtue of the Qurʾān as it is from Allah’s Attributes. Moreover, it will be better to supplicate Allāh by His Most Beautiful Names and and High Attributes in general. All these means of supplication are considered to be a legal means for supplication. Allāh (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

 “And to Allāh belong the best names, so call on Him by them.” Sūrat al-ʾAʿrāf, 7:180.

It is permissible also to supplicate Allāh by one’s belief and love for Allāh and His Messenger (ﷺ) and by one’s righteous deeds like obedience to parents, abstinence from committing what is prohibited and fulfilling trusts that one was committed to. Therefore, there is no blame to supplicate to Allāh by virtue of one’s righteous deeds.

^{Answered by the Imām, al-‘Allāmah ‘Abdul-‘Azīz Ibn Bāz (may Allāh have mercy upon him).}

^{Translated by Abū Asad (may Allāh preserve him).}