Help Me, Ya Ghaus-e-Azam: Salat-ul-Ghausiyyah and the Power of Seeking Help from the Pious

4. Help me 'Ya Ghaus-e-A'zam'

Sayyiduna Bishr Qarzi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ has stated: Once, I was [travelling] with a business caravan along with 14 sugar loaded camels. We all camped in a terrifying jungle during the night. In the first part of the night, four of my loaded camels got lost. They could not be found despite of my tireless efforts. The caravan left without me. My cameleer also remained behind with me.

The following morning, I recalled that my Murshid, Ghaus-e-A'zam رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ had once said to me, 'Whenever you are afflicted with an adversity or worry call on me إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ you will be relieved from that adversity.' Therefore, I cried for help saying, 'O Shaykh 'Abdal Qaadir! I have lost my camels!' Right away, I saw a saint, dressed in white clothes, standing upon a small hill towards the east. The saint gestured and I started approaching him. As soon as I approached him along with my cameleer, he disappeared. We began to look around in a surprised and confused state. All of a sudden, we saw our four lost camels sitting at the bottom of the hill. We caught them and joined with the caravan.

(Bahjat-ul-Asraar, pp. 196)

Method of Salat-ul-Ghausiyyah

When Sayyiduna Shaykh Abul Hasan 'Ali Khabbaaz رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ was told about the incident of the lost camels, he رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ said that he was told by Shaykh Abul Qaasim رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ that he heard Sayyiduna Shaykh 'Abdul Qaadir Jeelani قُدِّسَ سِرُّهُ الرَّبَّانِي saying: One who calls on me for my help in any adversity, he will be saved from it. One who calls on me in hardship, he will be relieved from his suffering. One who asks Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ anything with reference of my name, his need will be fulfilled.

The person who offers two Rak'aat Nafl Salah and in each Rak'at recites Surah Al-Ikhlas 11 times after Surah Al-Fatihah and then after paying Salam, he sends Salat and Salam upon the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم and then walks 11 steps towards the blessed city of Baghdad (the direction of Baghdad from Indo-Pak is approximately in between West and North) and calls out my name and asks for the fulfilment of a need إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ his need will be fulfilled.

(Bahjat-ul-Asraar, pp. 197; Zubdat-ul-Aasaar, pp. 109)

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Asking help from someone other than Allah

Dear Islamic brothers! After reading the previous incidents, someone might think that we must only ask Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for help and none other than Him because when Allah has the ultimate power to help, why should we turn to anyone else for help? This is a very dangerous trick of Satan with which he has led many people astray. In fact, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has not forbidden us as regard to asking help from others, look in the Holy Quran where Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has permitted us, in various blessed verses, to ask others for help.

In fact, despite being Omnipotent Allah has Himself provided motivation to His bondmen for helping the true religion. It is stated in the Holy Quran:

إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرُكُمْ

If you help the religion of Allah, Allah will help you.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 26, Muhammad, verse 7)

Sayyiduna 'Isa asked for help from others

Sayyiduna Isa عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلُوةُ وَالسَّلَام asked his followers for help. It is stated in the Holy Quran:

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِينَ مَنْ أَنْصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ

'Isa the son of Maryam said to the disciples, 'Who will help me, being on the side of Allah?' The disciples said, 'We are the helpers of Allah's religion.'

[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 28, Surah As-Saf, verse 14)

Sayyiduna Musa asked for support from the people

When Sayyiduna Musa عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلُوةُ وَالسَّلام was ordered to go to Fir'awn for preaching, he made the following entreaty to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ asking for the help of a human being and requested Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ:

وَاجْعَلْ لِّي وَزِيرًا مِنْ أَهْلِي هُرُونَ أَخِي اشْدُدْ بِهِ أَزْرِي

And appoint for me a minister from among my family. Who is he? Haroon, my brother. Strengthen my back by him.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 16, Taahaa, verses 29-31)

Pious people also help

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated in another place:

فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمَلَئِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ

Allah is his helper, and Jibra`eel, and the righteous believers and furthermore the angels are appointed as helpers.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 28, Surah At-Tahrim, verse 4)

Ansaar means 'the helpers'

Dear Islamic brothers! Did you see? The Holy Quran very clearly announces that Allah is indeed the Helper, but by the grace of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ Jibraeel عَلَيْهِ الصَّلُوةُ وَالسَّلام and the people that are close to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ the Prophets عَلَيْهِمُ الصَّلُوةُ وَالسَّلام and the saints رَحْمَهُمُ اللَّهُ تَعَالٰى and even the angels can help. وَإِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ by now this satanic whispering that no one can help except Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ should have been uprooted. An interesting fact is that the people who migrated to Madina-tul-Munawwarah from Makka-tul-Mukarramah are called Muhajir (immigrant companions) and the believers who supported them are known as Ansaar (helping companions). Every sane person knows that the literal meaning of Ansaar is 'helpers.'

Ahlullah are alive

It is possible for Satan to make someone think that it is permissible to ask for help from someone alive but not when he is passed away. If you carefully study the following verse and the proceeding topic إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ this evil thought will be uprooted. It is stated:

وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَنْ يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ وَلَكِنْ لَّا تَشْعُرُونَ

And do not say about them who are slain in the path of Allah as dead. Rather they are alive, yes, you are unaware.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Al-Baqarah, verse 154)