Study of Salafists' View about Istighatha with Emphasis on Contemporary Scholars

Muhammad Ja'far Milan Nurani
Salafists and Wahhabis condemn and forbid istighatha (beseeching for help) describing it as shirk (polytheistic), innovation and ghulu (exaggeration). In this regard, they have made use of reasons and arguments which are in contradiction with Qur'an and narrations of Ahl-e Sunnah. Relying on Quranic verses and authentic Sunni traditions and reports, this article proves that the Salafists' claims about prohibition of beseeching help from anyone other than Allah, the Glorified, and limiting the permissibility of istighatha to certain specific manifestations of it such beseeching help from living people in possible undertakings is not acceptable. Thus, these people who are opposed to istighatha have not been able to find a solid and concrete proof, and it can be said that neither textual sources nor the human reason confirm and validate their belief. Moreover, given the fact that over the history, Salafists' views in various areas have been subject to changes, this study using an analytical descriptive method brings together and criticizes Salafists' opinion about istighatha.