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Sheikh revealing status of parents in heaven or hell

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Askimam.org

Heard from one very pious person that his SHAIKH asked someone that close your eyes and you will see the status of your dead parents if they are in hell or heaven. He talked about the kirrammats. Is it within the teachings of Islam or would the Sahaba tell people they can tell about the status of the dead. Is it not out of proportion. 

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

As followers of the Ahlusunnah Wal Jamah we believe in karāmāt (extraordinary occurrences with the friends of Allah) that happen only at the hands of those who staunchly adhere to the Quraan and the Sunnah. It is something bestowed by Allah on certain awliyā (the friends of Allah) for reasons He knows best. [1]

However, the occurrences of such karāmāt are neither an objective nor the end goal. A Muslim can be a high-ranking wali (friend of Allah) without exhibiting any karāmah.

Similarly, such extraordinary and supernatural acts are even displayed by non-Muslims in the past and even today, which does not prove them being on haq (the truth) nor does it prove their proximity to Allah Taala. There are two reasons why such occurrences happen at the hands of disbelievers: a) it could be a deception, trick or an illusion b) it could be istidraj (respite from Allah Taala by which Allah in His Infinite Wisdom allows such acts to occur at their hands) by which the faith of the believers is tested.

Furthermore, after a person passes away he goes in to the aalam of akhirah (realm of the hereafter) which is confined to the sole knowledge of Allah Taala. Consider the following hadith:

Narrated ‘Ume Al-`Ala (Radiallahu Anha): an Ansari woman who gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) that the Ansar drew lots concerning the dwelling of the Emigrants. `Uthman bin Maz’un was decided to dwell with them (i.e. Ume Al-`Ala’s family), `Uthman fell ill and I nursed him till he died, and we covered him with his clothes. Then the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) came to us and I (addressing the dead body) said, “O Abu As-Sa’ib, may Allah’s Mercy be on you! I bear witness that Allah has honoured you.” On that the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “How do you know that Allah has honoured him?” I replied, “I do not know. May my father and my mother be sacrificed for you, O Allah’s Messenger (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam)! But who else is worthy of it (if not `Uthman)?” He said, “As to him, by Allah, death has overtaken him, and I hope the best for him. By Allah, though I am the Apostle of Allah, yet I do not know what Allah will do to me,” By Allah, I will never assert the piety of anyone after him. That made me sad, and when I slept I saw in a dream a flowing stream for `Uthman bin Maz’un. I went to Allah’s Messenger (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and told him of it. He remarked, “That symbolizes his (good) deeds.”(Bukhari-3929)[1]

From the above hadith it is clear that even the Rasuluallah of Allah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam was unaware of the occurrences related to the hereafter.  Therefore, it is not possible for one of us to ascertain the happenings of the hereafter.

We are unaware of who the “Sheikh” you are referring to is or what his aqidah (faith). However, you may use the following points outlined by Sheikh Hassan al Tabari lalkai (Rahimahullah) to judge the status and legitimacy of one on whose hands extraordinary occurrences take place:

  1. The person performing the extraordinary act should be a Allah fearing Muslim.[2]
  2. He should not personally claim that he is a wali (friend of Allah).[3]
  3. Whatever extraordinary act that is done by him should not lead one to leave any obligations of Deen.[4]
  4. The extraordinary occurrence does not go against any aspect or teaching of Deen.[5]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Ismail Dawoodjee

Student Darul Iftaa
Zambia

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net 

[1])ونومن بما جاء من كراماتهم) جمع كرامة وهي امر خارق للعادة غير مقرون بالتحدي يظهر على يدي عبد ظاهر الصلاح ملتزم لمتابعة نبي من الانبياء عليهم الصلوة و السلام مصحوب بصحيح الاعتقاد والعمل الصالح فامتاز بعدم الاقتران بالتحدي عن المعجزات وبكونها على يدي ظاهر الصلاح…وبمقارنة صحيح الاعتقاد والعمل الصالح عن الاستدراج وبمتابعة نبي قبله من عن الخوارق المؤكدة لكذب الكاذبين كبصق مسيلمة في بئر عذبة…و الدليل على الكرامة ما تواتر عن كثير من الصحابة و من بعدهم (بيان السنة والجماعة ص194 دار البصائر)

[2] عقائد الاسلام، ص. ١٧٤ مولانا إدريس كاندلهوي اداره اسلاميات

و كرامات أولياء الله تعالى اعظم من هذه الأمور وهذه الأمور الخارقة للعادة وان كان قد يكون صاحبها وليا لله فقد يكون عدوا لله فان هذه الخوارق تكون لكثير من الكفار والمشركين وأهل الكتاب و المنافقين وتكون لأهل البدع وتكون من الشياطين فلايجوز أن يظن أن كل من كان له شيئ من هذه الامور أنه ولي الله(الفرقان بين اؤلياء الرحمان ص49 ابن حذم)

ليس كل ما يظهر على ايد الصالحين او غيرهم يكون كرامة من الله غز و جل بل قد تكون غواية من الشيطان أو اضلالا من بعض الجن. و لذالك لابد من بيان بعض الشروطالتي تجب ان تتحقق في الكرامة و كرامة نفسها للتميز بين الكرامة وكيد الشيطان(كرامات اولياء الله ص33 دار الطيبة)

[3] ان يكون صاحبها مومنا متقيا

[4] أن لايدعي صاحبها الولاية

[5] ان لاتكون سببا في ترك شيئ من الواجبات

[6] أن لاتخالف أمرا من أمور الدين (كرامات اولياء الله ص34-36 دار الطيبة)

This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

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