Karamah of the Guardians

Fatwa Sheikh Muhammad Ali Farkus

Question:

Are the karamah of the saints true? And does every extraordinary event that deviates from custom demonstrate the righteousness of the person who did it? Please explain in detail, Jazakumullah khairan.

Answer:

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Shalawat and greetings are poured out to the Messenger of Allah who was sent as a mercy to the whole world, to his family, friends and followers until the day of judgment. But not.

Karamah is an extraordinary thing that Allah shows through the hands of some of His faithful saints, in terms of knowledge, Excuse me (revelation), ability, and influence, which is not accompanied by a claim to prophethood and is not a precursor to it.

Extraordinary events (miracles) in Karamah were only revealed by Allah Exalted to people who outwardly appear to be believers, do good deeds, and are committed to following the Prophet who is burdened with sharia. Therefore, karamah will not occur unless with the blessing of following the Prophet. Therefore, the karomah of the saints – in fact – is part of the miracles of the Prophets.

As for extraordinary events that arise through the hands of experts in lies, error, and deviations in morals and beliefs – such as people who worship God other than Allah, claim to know the secrets of nature and claim to know the occult, or people who pray for the dead, living jinn, and humans who believe they can provide benefits and harm, such as shamans, sorcerers, psychics, and the like -; then all of that is a satanic state and extraordinary things that are satanic in nature, not including karamah at all. [1]

With the previous standard (differentiation), there are also miracles that Allah shows through the hands of the Apostles and Prophets who convey news from Allah, and challenge humans with miracles to justify it, acknowledge their preaching, and the teachings they bring.

Based on this, extraordinary events themselves do not necessarily show the truth or virtue of the person who carried them out. Maybe that’s the case istidraj (delaying punishment by giving pleasure) or deception, and can also be considered a test, so that there are people who are happy and there are those who are in misfortune.

An example of Karamah in the field of science and kasyaf (revelation) is: The story of Khidhir [2] with Moses ‘alaihissalamand the extraordinary event shown by God through His hand that made Moses ‘peace be upon him wonder: destroying ships, killing children, and repairing walls. And also like the news from Abu Bakar May Allah bless him and grant him peace that his wife was pregnant with a baby girl, then Allah confirmed his prediction and made it a blessing for him [3]and Umar bin Al-Khaththab’s call May Allah bless him and grant him peace when he was on his pulpit in Medina, “O Sariyah bin Zunaim, (protect yourself with) mountains!” even though Sariyah was in Iraq at the time, and she heard the call. [4]

Examples of karamah in terms of ability and influence are: stories Ashabul Kahfi who lived in a cave for three hundred years plus nine years, and the story of Mary who was given winter fruits in summer, and summer fruits in winter. Then Zachariah was surprised by that and said,

Oh Mary, how did you get this? He said, “It’s from God.”

“O Maryam, where did you get this (food)?” He answered, “It is from Allah.” (QS. Ali ‘Imran: 37)

And the story of Sarah, wife of Ibrahim al-Khalil (beloved of Allah) ‘alaihissalamwho was given good news by the apostles (angels) about (the birth of) Ishaq. Allah Exalted said,

And his wife stood up and laughed, so We told her the good news about Isaac, and after Isaac, Jacob. She said, “Woe is me, should I give birth when I am old, even though it is my husband who is old. This is a strange thing.” They said: Are you surprised at Allah’s command? May Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you, Householders. Indeed, He is Most Praiseworthy and Most Glorious.

“And his wife stood up and she smiled. So We told her the good news about (the birth of) Ishaq, and after Ishaq (was about to be born) Ya’qub. She (Sarah) said, ‘O, woe is me! Will I give birth to a child, even though I am already old, and my husband is also old? Truly, this is truly a very miraculous thing.’ They (the angels) said, ‘Do you wonder about Allah’s decree? That is Allah’s mercy and blessings poured out on you, O ahlulbayt (family)! Indeed, He is the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.’” (QS. Hud: 71-73)

Likewise in the story of the person who had knowledge from the Book with Solomon ‘alaihissalam. Allah Exalted said,

The person who has knowledge of the Book says, “I will bring it to you before your party returns to you.” When he saw it had been accomplished, he said, “This is from the grace of my Lord.” So that they test me, whether I am grateful or disbelieving. And whoever is grateful is only grateful to himself, and whoever disbelieves, then indeed my Lord is the Most Rich, the Most Generous.

“Say to the person who has knowledge from the Book, ‘I will bring it (Queen Bilqis’ throne) to you before your eyes blink.’ So when he (Sulaiman) saw the throne lying in front of him, he said, ‘This is part of the grace of my Lord to test me, whether I am grateful or deny (His blessings). And whoever is grateful, then truly he is grateful for (goodness) himself. And whoever disobeys, then indeed my Lord is the Most Rich, the Most Glorious.’” (QS. An-Naml: 40)

And there are many more similar examples [5]and the karamah of the saints will continue until the day of judgment. This shows that in addition sunnatullah (natural laws) and the causes that produce the various effects that have been determined upon them, exist sunnatullah Other (laws) that are beyond the reach of human knowledge and cannot be achieved by their efforts and endeavors.

As for ahlus sunnah wal jama’ah it is mandatory to believe in the karamah of the saints which is valid (proven) and that it is the truth. Meanwhile, if the karamah is not proven (its validity), the law is to refrain (tawaqf) in determining or denying it, but still admitting the possibility of its occurrence without confirming or denying it. So, they (ahlus sunnah wal jamaah -pent.) is different from the Mu’tazilah and anyone who agrees with them in denying the karamah of the saints. [6]

And knowledge (real) only exists with Allah Ta’ala. The closing of our prayer is all praise to God, the Lord of the worlds. May God bless our Prophet Muhammad, his family, friends and followers until the Day of Judgment.

***

Translator: Fauzan Hidayat

Article Muslim.or.id

Source: https://www.ferkous.app/home/index.php?q=fatwa-1010

Footnote:

[1] Look Qaidah fi al-Mu’jizat wa al-Karamat, by Ibn Taimiyah (11:311), and see his treatise, Al-Furqan by Auliya’ ar-Rahman wa Auliya’ ash-Syaithan in the Majmu’ al-Fatawa (11:276-282).

[2] This is if it has been established that Khidhir was a saint and not a Prophet, which is the opinion of the majority of scholars. Look Majmu’ al-Fatawa, the work of Ibn Taimiyah (4:497) and Tafsir Ibn Kathir (4:187).

[3] Narrated by Malik in Al-Muwattha (2:752), Al-Baihaqi in As-Sunan Al-Kubra (no. 11948), Ath-Tahawi in Syarh Ma’ani Al-Atsar (4:88), and Al-Lalika’i enters Sharh Ushul Al-I’tiqad (9: 124), from Aisyah radhiyallahu ‘anha. Al-Albani said Al-Irwa’ (6:62), “This is an authentic sanad according to the conditions (criteria) Shaikhin (Bukhari-Muslim).”

[4] Narrated by Al-Baihaqi in Al-I’tiqad (314), Abu Nu’aim enters Dala’il An-Nubuwah (2: 579), and Al-Lalika’i enters Sharh Ushul Al-I’tiqad (9:128), from Ibn Umar May Allah bless him and grant him peace. This hadith is assessed hasan by Ibn Hajar in Al-Ishabah (2: 3) and Al-Albani in As-Silsilah Ash-Sahihah (3:101).

[5] To see the events of the saints’ sermons, you can refer to the related ninth (9) section Karāmat Auliyā’illāh in the book Syarh I’tiqād Ahlis Sunnah wal Jamā’ah, by Abu Al-Qasim Al-Lalika’i God bless

[6] Look Sharh Al-‘Aqidah Ath-Tahawiyyah, the work of Ibn Abi Al-‘Izz (pp. 558-564).