Q. Certain groups back home are maintaining that one cannot be admitted to heaven unless he follows the guidance of a Pir who shows him the way, and plead with God to make such admittance possible. This is affecting young people who are following blindly in such teachings. Please comment.
Z. Nayeem
A. A unique feature of the Islamic faith is that it has no clerical order, or priesthood. The relationship between every individual and God is direct, with no intermediary in between.
The only intermediary was Prophet Muhammad who delivered God’s message to us complete. God has undertaken to preserve it intact, so that everyone may have direct access to it at all times.
On the Day of Judgement we are held to account, but each will be on his or her own. No one will speak for anyone else. God says in the Qur’an: “Not one of all (the beings) that are in the heavens or on earth but shall appear before the Most Gracious as a servant. Indeed, He has full cognizance of them.
He has kept a strict count of their numbers, and every one of them will appear before Him all alone on the Day of Judgement.” (19: 93-95)
I suppose this is very clear. There are numerous other verses that make absolutely clear that no relative, friend or tribe will avail any person anything on the Day of Judgement.
Only their faith and actions will determine whether they will attain to a happy state or not.
Take, for example, the following verses: “No friend will ask about his friend, though they may be in one another’s sight. Everyone who was lost in sin will on that Day but desire to ransom himself from suffering at the price of his own children, spouse, brother, all his kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, and all those who live on earth, so that he could but save himself.” (70: 10-14)
The only one who is allowed to intercede with God on behalf of his community will be Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). God will judge everyone according to what they have done in their time on earth. He bestows His grace on whomever He wills and punishes those who deserve punishment.
These are basic principles of the Islamic faith. The Qur’an is full of verses that confirm them, making clear that no intercession takes place except by God’s leave, and He does not give it except to the Prophet. Any different view is erroneous. So, where does the role of a Pir comes in?
The answer is that it does not. Anyone who claims to have a role to ensure that people are saved from hell, or that they are assured of entry into heaven is a liar. He cannot be sure of his own position: how can he help others? Besides, what these people say implies that they themselves are certain of going to heaven.
Where do they get such information from, when the Prophet says that he does not know what will happen to him? The fact is that such people gain a great deal from deluding people into thinking that they show them the path to attain God’s pleasure, and they want to enjoy these gains.
Well they may enjoy their gains in this life, which is very short. On the Day of Judgement they will have to answer for their lies, and God knows what happens to them then. The only way to ensure admittance to heaven on the Day of Judgement is by following the Prophet’s guidance, contained in the Qur’an and the sunnah. Scholars who explain these help us to know what God requires us to do and to practice it. But it is up to everyone of us to act on that or not. The result depends on what we do, not on any liar or a Pir.
Offering Fajr Prayers Late
Q. A relative of mine is too lazy to wake up for Fajr prayer, offering it when he wakes up long after sunrise. He claims that this is all right. Please comment.
A. Your relative is wrong. He should endeavor to offer the Fajr prayer at its proper time, i.e. before sunrise. If he makes the necessary effort to wake up in time, but oversleeps despite his efforts, then he offers Fajr prayer shortly after waking up. This must not be a habit.
Children’s Circumcision
Q. Could you please explain when should circumcision be done. People have given us widely different views, some recommending it to be done early, while others advising us to leave it till later. Please explain.
Z. Mohammad
A. There is no definite date for circumcision, although some scholars suggest that it should be done on the seventh day of the boy’s birth. However, if it is delayed for a little while after that, it remains appropriate.
What is not advisable is to leave it until the boy has grown up. In fact, when it is done early, it is better for the child because the healing is much faster in infancy. Besides, the piece of skin to cut is useless after birth, and if it is left, it could attract dirt and cause infection.
— Arab News Islam 3 October 2003
