Seeking Refuge in Other Than Allah

Seeking Refuge in Other Than Allah

Seeking refuge involves turning to, seeking protection, and taking refuge in.

Its essence:

Escape from something feared to the One who safeguards you from it. Seeking refuge in Allah is a refuge from harm or destruction, turning to one's Lord and Master. Thus, it becomes evident that seeking refuge in Allah is an act of worship.

  وَإِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾ [الأعراف: 200])

[And if you are tempted by Satan, then seek refuge with Allah. Indeed, He ˹alone˺ is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.] 41:36

 قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ﴾ [الفلق: 1])

[Say, ˹O Prophet,˺“I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak”] 113:1

If Allah is our Lord, Master, and God, there is no refuge in adversity except with Him, and there is no means of protection apart from Him when hardship strikes.

Therefore, Allah orders seeking refuge and turning to Him in times of hardship in matters beyond one's control.

Allah says:

 وَقُلْ رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ * وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ﴾ [المؤمنون: 97، 98])

[And say, “My Lord! I seek refuge in You from the temptations of the devils.]

[And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, that they ˹even˺ come near me.”] 23:97-98.

Among the practices of the early polytheists was seeking refuge with the jinn from one another. Allah mentions it in the Quran:

 وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِنَ الْإِنْسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادُوهُمْ رَهَقًا﴾ [الجن: 6])

[And some men used to seek refuge with some jinn—so they increased each other in wickedness.] 72:6

Mujahid said they used to say when descending into a valley, "We seek refuge by the great jinn of this valley which resulted in their further weakness" He added, "It increased the disbelievers in tyranny."

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, guided that when entering a new place, one should say:

"أعوذ بكلمات الله التامات من شر ما خلق"

"I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created."

The scholars unanimously agree that seeking refuge in other than Allah is not permissible.

Seeking refuge in Allah and His words is an act of worship and a declaration of Allah's oneness. Therefore, seeking refuge in anything other than Allah in matters that only He can control constitutes Shirk, such as seeking refuge in jinn or seeking refuge in the deceased against an enemy, and so on.

During the pre-Islamic times of ignorance, when someone sought protection, they would request refuge with a particular saint who, in their belief, could shield them from harm inflicted by others. This individual would provide protection and seek refuge for the seeker. However, if someone intended harm, the saint would inflict harm on their behalf. This distorted belief was deeply ingrained in their hearts, asserting that these saints had control over benefit and harm.

Even after the demise of the Prophet, people continued to seek refuge in a similar manner. As al-Busiri expressed in his poem:

"O most honorable of creation! At the time of sudden calamities, who else but you should I seek refuge with?"

The poet negates seeking refuge in anyone other than the Prophet during times of adversity. The style of restriction is employed to emphasize that this refuge is solely for Allah, who is the only true refuge. Allah alone is the Master of benefit and harm, and there is no sanctuary or refuge for humanity besides Him.

Muhammad, peace be upon him, said about himself as Allah mentioned:

 قُلْ لَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ [الأعراف: 188]

[Say, “I have no power to benefit or protect myself, except by the Will of Allah. If I had known the unknown, I would have benefited myself enormously, and no harm would have ever touched me. I am only a warner and deliverer of good news for those who believe.”] 7:188.

So, if the Prophet does not have the ability to benefit or harm himself during his life, how could he have it for others after his death?

Al-Busiri also said:

"If he does not take me by the hand in my adversity,

Then say, “I stumbled down and fell into woe'"

In this line, the poet turns away from the Creator, relying on the creature in the events of this world and the Hereafter. He invoked the supplication of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and sought refuge in him with a conditional statement, similar to what Prophet Noah, peace be upon him, said:

وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُنْ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴾ [هود: 47])

[And unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be one of the losers.] 11:47.

We seek refuge in Allah from associating partners with Him and from invoking others besides Him.

In the Quran, it is stated about the Day of Judgment:

يَوْمَ لَا تَمْلِكُ نَفْسٌ لِنَفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَالْأَمْرُ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلَّهِ﴾ [الانفطار: 19])

[˹It is˺ the Day no soul will be of ˹any˺ benefit to another whatsoever, for all authority on that Day belongs to Allah ˹entirely˺.] 82:19.

So, what can Muhammad, peace be upon him, possess for others? Indeed, on that day, the command belongs to Allah.

The intended message is that seeking refuge in Allah is an act of Tawhid and sincerity. Seeking refuge in others in matters only Allah can control, such as the jinn, the deceased, and the unseen, is a major form of associating partners with Allah. We ask Allah for guidance for everyone.

Thus, the seventh lesson concludes with gratitude to Allah.