CHAPTER 12
It is from Shirk to Seek Refuge in
Other than Allaah ﷻ
Seeking refuge is to request protection and security against evil. It is considered a kind of supplication.
Accordingly, it is a worship and therefore it should not be sought from anyone but Allaah ﷻ. Actually
every evidence which mentions singling out Allaah with supplication or worship is a proof for this issue
(seeking refuge).
Keywords Some people might go to
Seeking refuge ()االستعاذةcombines two things: the grave or call upon the
First: The apparent deed of seeking protection. Waliyy from far saying: "I am
Second: The hidden deed of the heart, its in your protection, save me, Read Pages 91-93
attachment, reliance and turning for help. help me". And this means
'I seek refuge in you', even
Thus, seeking refuge is not suitable for any but if he did not say it literally. After studying
this chapter you are
Allaah ﷻaccording to the consensus of the This is still major Shirk.
expected to know:
Muslim scholars.
1. Meaning of seeking
refuge and why it is
Allaah ﷻsaid (interpretation of the meaning): major Shirk to seek
"And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the masculine among the jinns, refuge in other than
but they (jinns) increased them (mankind) in sin and disbelief” (72:6) Allaah ﷻ.
2. Seeking refuge
Keywords contains two parts.
Rahaqa: here means fear and confusion in the Another meaning for Rahaq is "sin" and this is
heart. This Rahaq occurs in the bodies and because seeking refuge with other than Allaah 3. Verdict of seeking
souls and it is a kind of punishment for them is a sin. refuge with one of
because they directed this act of worship to the creation and
other than Allaah ﷻ. the conditions
to make it
General Meaning of the Verse permissible.
The verse refers to a common pre Islamic master of the valley. However, instead of
practice. The Arab pagans used, when passing providing them with safety, the Jinn increased
by a valley at night, to seek refuge in the Jinn the humans' fears.
Q. Is it permissible to
Lessons Drawn from the Verse seek refuge in one of
the creation?
• Seeking refuge with any one other than and weakness.
Allaah is an act of major Shirk. If the heart is attached to
• The verse signifies that seeking refuge with Allaah ﷻ, and he takes
• Seeking refuge with anyone other than Allaah fills man with strength and safety. that creation as means
Allaah ﷻis a major cause of fear, confusion only, then seeking
refuge in someone
It is narrated that Khawlah bint Hakeem said, "I heard Allah’s Messenger saying, living, present and able
to help is permissible.
"Whoever settles at a place and says: I seek refuge with the perfect words of Allaah from the evil of
We should say: A'uothu
what He created, nothing will harm him until he departs from that place of his" [Recorded by Muslim]
billah, thomma bik (I
seek refuge in Allaah
Keywords & Phrases General Meaning of the Hadeeth then by you)
Perfect Words of Allaah: The Noble Qur'an. The Prophet ﷺguides his Ummah to seek refuge Seeking refuge in the
in the sufficient and perfect Words of Allaah, in dead, the Jinn and
from the evil of what He created: Whether this
order to feel secure from all fears and dangers Awliyaa is not allowed
creation is an animal, insect, wind, lightning,
upon landing or staying in any place. and it is major Shirk.
human, Jinn, etc.
Sh. Ibn Baz said: "Whoever settles in a place is encouraged to say this Hadeeth, even if he settles
in an airplane, ship, train, or car temporarily. It is preferable to say this Du'aa' three times.
