Title: A glimpse of Maulana Saad Kandhlawi’s misleading statements which the honorable Muftis of Darul Uloom Deoband have strongly rejected. What do the honorable scholars and grand muftis say about the following issue
Date: September 2018 (Received)
Question (Page 1)
Someone stated in their speech at Eidgah New Delhi on September 22, 2001 that “Allah has sent us to the world tasking us with inviting to the kalima and working for the kalima, but we say that guidance is in Allah’s hands alone – He may give it to whoever He wills or not, misguidance is in Allah’s hands alone – He may misguide whoever He wills. No, this is not correct. Rather remember, my friends, that humans are the means of guidance for other humans, and humans are the means of misguidance for other humans. People don’t understand, they just create objections. People say guidance and misguidance are in Allah’s hands. No, that’s not the case. Rather, Allah has made humans the means of guidance for other humans.”
The matter requiring clarification is: Is guidance and misguidance not in Allah’s hands as this person has stated, while the Holy Quran says: “Indeed, you cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills” and “Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide”? Don’t these Quranic verses indicate that guidance and misguidance are in Allah’s hands? Don’t his statements amount to denying these Quranic verses? Will these statements not affect beliefs and faith?
Secondly, he accepts humans as “Means” of guidance here, while in the same speech he denies “Means” elsewhere, saying “Allah’s power is not with means” – like how people currently make dua with means: merchants think “establishing the shop is my responsibility, Allah will give success in it”, landowners think “preparing the land is my responsibility, Allah will give success in it”, doctors think “making medicine and treatment is my responsibility, Allah will give health and healing.” These means are not Allah’s principles for granting success. Taking these means and asking Allah for success in them – no, never, this is not the way to success. Allah has not made His promises contingent on means at all.
The question is: When nothing happens through means, how can humans be means of guidance and misguidance for others? And why did Allah choose means by sending divine books and scriptures, and sending prophets (peace be upon them) to guide humanity? Is it correct to deny means? What is the verdict of Quran and Hadith regarding those who think this way?
In one place he says: “Remember, by God’s oath, you cannot attain salvation through your deeds alone without giving dawah to the ummah. People don’t understand, they just create objections. I swear and submit that an individual of this ummah will not attain salvation through their deeds alone.”
The matter requiring clarification is: Many people accepted Islam and passed away right then without giving dawah – will they not attain salvation? Or what about the large segment of the ummah that never gives dawah of faith and deeds to anyone – what will happen to them? Please provide a detailed response.
Your kindness will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Muti-ur-Rahman Qasmi Shahidgarh, Ghaziabad, UP
Answer (Page 2)
- These statements stem from his ignorance and error and are incorrect according to Islamic law. Guidance and misguidance are exclusively in Allah’s hands – He alone can guide whom He wills and misguide whom He wills. No servant has control over guidance or misguidance. A person can only be a means or medium, but giving guidance or causing misguidance is not within any servant’s power. If Allah does not wish to misguide someone, servants’ efforts will not succeed despite thousands of attempts.
- Similarly, claiming that one cannot attain salvation through deeds alone without giving dawah to the ummah is incorrect. Someone who speaks such confused statements has no right to give speeches. Before speaking, one should understand from a reliable scholar. Dawah and Tabligh are fard kifayah – if some scholars perform dawah and tabligh, it fulfills the obligation for the entire ummah. Not all Muslims are obligated to do dawah and tabligh. This ignorant person should be explained kindly and in a good manner, and guided to not make such un-Islamic statements in future and to sincerely repent from what he has said.
Allah knows Best
Habibur Rahman, may Allah pardon him
