Is it permissible to call upon a dead wali (“saint”) or Hazrat ‘Ali

 

forgive me, I have more than 1 question.


1. Is the Prophet Sallalahu Alaihe Wasallam or any other being apart from Allah Omnipresent?


2. Can we call on anyone in times of need ie. a dead saint or Hazrat Ali Radialahahu anhu etc?


Please could you quote the relevent Hadith and Qur'an Ayahs

Praise be to Allaah. 

First of all, we must comment on your saying in your
question, “or any other being apart from Allah…” We must point out that
this wording is wrong, because it may be taken as meaning that you think
that Allaah is a created being; but we are sure that you do not believe
that. 

Firstly:

Allaah said to His Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):

“Verily, you (O Muhammad) will die,
and verily, they (too) will die” [al-Zumar 39:30]  

And Allaah said (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and indeed
(many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed,
will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)?” [Aal
‘Imraan 3:144]

“And We granted not to any human being
immortality before you (O Muhammad); then if you die, would they live
forever? [al-Anbiyaa’ 21:34]  

Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased
with him) said, in his speech after the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had died, “Whoever used
to worship Muhammad, Muhammad has died, but whoever used to worship
Allaah, Allaah is Alive and will never die.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari).

This and similar evidence
indicates that Muhammad (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was a human being like all other
human beings, who died as they die, and will never be immortal just
as no one before him was immortal.

Whoever wants to put the Prophet
beyond the human realm and claim that the Prophet is present in all
places, is the one who should be asked to produce evidence (daleel).
How does he know that the Prophet is omnipresent at all times? Moreover,
those who make the same claim with regard to Allaah (should know that)
this is kufr, deviation and misguidance. This belief implies that Allaah
is present even in dirty places like bathrooms etc. – Glorified be Allaah
far above what they say.

Secondly:

-                    
You have to read the book Fath al-Majeed Sharh Kitaab
al-Tawheed, by Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Hasan.

-                    
Know that du’aa’ and asking for help are forms of worship, as
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And your Lord said: ‘Invoke Me [i.e. believe in
My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond
to your (invocation). Verily, those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not
invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they
will surely enter Hell in humiliation!’” [Ghaafir
40:40]

And according to a report
narrated by al-Tirmidhi, the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Du’aa’ is worship.”

 So it is not permissible
to offer du’aa’ to or call upon anyone except Allaah. But the evidence
indicates that it is permissible to ask another person for some things,
but that is subject to two conditions : 

1-                 
That it should be something possible and the person should be
able to do it, such as asking a person to give you money when you are
in need of it. But if it is something that he is not able to do, then
it is not permissible for you to ask him, such as asking a man to let
you be one of the people of Paradise, because he is not able to do that
even if he is a righteous and pious man.

2-                 
The person who is asked should be capable, such as one who is
alive. It is not permissible to call upon the dead, as Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“And those, whom
you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmeer (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
[Faatir 35:13-14]