What is the ruling on one who believes that a wali (“saint”) or murshid (spiritual leader) gave him a child, or that he can increase or reduce his provision?. Praise be to Allah. Whoever believes that a child may be given by someone other than Allaah or that anyone other than Allaah can increase or reduce provision, is a mushrik whose shirk is worse than that of the pre-Islamic Arabs and others in the Jaahiliyyah. The Arabs and others like them, if they were asked who granted them provision from the heavens and the earth, or who brought forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living, would reply, ‘Allaah.” They only worshipped their false gods because they believed that they would bring them closer to Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Say (O Muhammad): ‘Who provides for you from the sky and the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?’ They will say: ‘Allaah.’ Say: ‘Will you not then be afraid of Allaah’s punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allaah)?’” [Yoonus 10:31] “And those who take Awliyaa’ (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): ‘We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allaah.’ Verily, Allaah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allaah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever” [al-Zumar 39:3] “Who is he that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision?” [al-Mulk 67:21] It is narrated in the Sunnah that the power to grant or withhold belongs to Allaah alone. For example al-Bukhaari (844) and Muslim (593) narrated from al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say after each prescribed prayer: “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer, Allaahumma laa maani’ lima a’tayta wa laa mu’ti lima mana’ta wa la yanfa’ dhaa’l-jadd minka al-jadd (There is no god except Allaah alone with no partner or associate, His is the sovereignty and to Him be praise and He is able to do all things. O Allaah, none can withhold what You give and none can give what You withhold, and no wealth or majesty can benefit anyone for from You is all wealth and majesty).” But Allaah may give His slave children or increase his provision because of his praying to Him and turning to Him alone, as is clearly demonstrated in Soorat Ibraaheem, where Ibraaheem al-Khaleel prays to his Lord and Allaah answers his prayer, and in Soorat Maryam and Soorat al-Anbiya’ and elsewhere, where Zakariya prays to his Lord and He answers his prayer. And it was narrated that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: Whoever would like to have his provision increased and his life span extended, let him uphold the ties of kinship.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2067; Muslim, 2557. and Allaah knows best. And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions. Question
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