Salaams.

The question was put forward:

 

 

Thanks for the question. A better way to understand the situation is if we would place the situation of "a phone-call to the doctor" in the same boat with "face-to-face communication" or rather place it alongwith a "faith-based prayer-like calling upon of an entity with no known form of communication"? Which boat would it fall ito?

 

If we examine what face-to-face communication is, we conclude that it is the mechanism of scientific data exchange via the qualities of vision (sight) and speech (voice) that are observable known phenomenon to the people within the domain of nature. Similarly, as man has advanced, our knowledge of leveraging other natural phenomenon has grown and we are able to construct devices that allow transmission of voice and image data across very far distances. These devices do not defy the laws of nature, but rather they employ them.

 

Now lets take the case of Patient calling out to doctor from their home as in "Oh Doctor, hear me! appear and cure me!": It would not be expected for the patient to call out unless following three conditions are fulfilled:

 

1- it is known to the patient that he is under some monitoring device by the doctor that allows a remote transmission of the monitered data of him.

2- if patient knows that the transmission is not simply being relayed somewhere (uselessly), but rather it is also being observed and analyzed by the accepting agency (doctor in this case).

3- that the accepting agent is capable of undertaking an action that will be of benefit to the patient.

 

Which is why the patient is using this 2-way (or even 1-way) monitoring device to call out to the doctor, in belief that this doctor has installed the proper technology to hear and observe patient, that the doctor keeps checking on the status of the patient, and that he is capable and ready to take some action in response that will benefit patient. All this seems nice and fine.

 

But now let us draw the relation towards the topic in question: Calling out to Saintly Personalities. Does the analogy hold? For this to hold and to be able to convince any fair-minded person, the three sets of questions must thereby be answered:

 

1- Is there some device that is being employed by the saintly personalities to be watching over, observing, and monitoring supplicants who would call upon them? Does man have any knowledge of such kind of device? Has the Almighty informed us of this? Was this device created out of growth of human knowledge or was it bestowed by the Almighty? If employment of such device holds such high value and importance for the believers, why is there no mention of it and where are all the fiqhi rulings regarding proper instruction and use of this device on the side of the supplicants? Do we observe such use and employment of such device during the time of the Aimma? For example, when Imam Ali's governers were under attack, was he using such device to know what is going on? Did he therefore know what all acts that people and including his enemies were enacting or plotting against him (and at all times)? Can we say the aimma were aware of all acts of people therefore? So how come the Prophet (sawa) sent out spy-parties? And Masoomeen (as) sent ambasadors to scope out sincerity of people (like Hz. Muslim (as))? And so many other questions are raised up in this domain. Furthermore, if it is said that such device existed (in whatever form), then what was its purpose if it was not being used (for surely it was not being used from the life-histories of the Masoomeen)? So the first question regards the existence of such device.

 

2- If the first stage above ever gets established, then the next step is verifying the theory that the saintly personalities do not only receive such communication (or have access to it), but also that they actively peruse it and go over it, studying and analyzing the supplications made to them. So that it is not only a matter of having access to a super-advanced device or technology, but also it is a regular task of theirs, to sift through the raw data and analyze the appeals of their devotees who are seeking from them. What is the basis for this? And do we know that they are actively making such efficient use of such technology in record time (if it exists at all)? Again, the question comes, that do we have record that this was occuring in the lifetimes of the aimma (i.e. the efficient use of this device by not only collecting appeal data, but also studying and analyzing to have full and solid knowledge of what is transmitted by the device)?

 

3- Lastly, if the above two cases would be fulfilled somehow, then do the saintly personalities answer (give Jawaab to) these pleas and calls? Are they therefore administering to the needs of these 'patients'? Have they been bestowed with authority to manage the affairs of these people whereby they can take actions to benefit these people when these people call upon them? How they manage is irrelevant (whether via invocation to a higher authority, or by means of utilizing other bestowed or created devices or otherwise)- the important issue is that are they amongst those who have charge of their supplicants- those who would plea to them and that they (saintly personalities) would take actions to address the grievances?

 

It is impossible to proceed with the theories of supplication to the saintly personalities until the above concerns can be adequately addressed. Otherwise, work of fiction (especially science fiction) can easily be composed by any sharp mind.

 

Perhaps the need to continue therefore is exhausted-

 

However, to additionally share with you on the flip-side, there are lots of imperative questions from supportive opposite perspective that impact one's convictions such as: What has Qur'an mentioned about governance of Man's affairs? What does deen say regarding responses or answers to pleas of people? What does Islam say regarding putting these pleas before whom? What is the concept of Rabb? and how it relates to administering affairs of subordinates? Also, if there were many people in makkah who believed Allah (swt) was the creator who sent the rain and created earth, sun, moon, everything- then why were these alongside the believers of multiple gods, considered mushrikeen-e-makkah (as has been mentioned by Allamah Shaheed Bahesti)? Does the concept of shirk relate to only essence (Dhat) of godhood, or does it also relate to sharing in administering the affairs of mankind? What is the relation of administering affairs with supplicating for needs? Why does Allah (swt) start the opening and the main surah of Qur'an by saying that he is the Rabb of Aalameen, rather than the ilah (God) of Aalameen? What is the historic relation of believing in divinity of someone compared with that someone having capability of super-natural hearing of all suplicants everywhere, at every instants, all the time? Why are creator gods in the polytheistic religions not worshipped or less worshipped in relation to the sub-ordinates who administer affairs (such as with hindus, ancient greeks, etc...). How is Islam different from other religions in these and similar kinds of issues? And indeed, What is the Islamic concept of Du'a (calling upon / supplication)?

 

I know I may have presented more questions than I have directly answered. But the answers all lie in between the lines. I hope it helps for this first question.

Was-salaam,

~Ali..