Can we use the word “Gaus” as a title for pious people?
Question
Gaws means "Faryaad rass" According to this meaning, this applies to only Allah , so why do people call Molana Abdul Qadir Jilaanin Gaws?
Isn't this wrong? Is it ok to say, That pious person was at a stage of Gaws?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.
As-salaamu `alaykum wa-ramatullahi wa-barakatuh.
The word Gaus which is spelt as غوث in Arabic has many meanings. One meaning is the chief of the Saints[1]. This is a title given to Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilaani (rahmatullah alayh). Faryaad rass is a Persian term meaning to complain.
People go beyond the limits and start making dua to the saints/ awliya and present their complains to them. This is totally haram. Help and assistance should be sought from Allah Alone.[2]
And Allah Ta`ala Knows Best.
Hussein Muhammad.
Student Darul Iftaa
Arusha, Tanzania
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
[1]
http://www.sufiwiki.com/Al-Ghawth_al-A'zam
[2]
سنن الترمذي ت بشار (4/ 248)
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا لَيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، وَابْنُ لَهِيعَةَ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ الحَجَّاجِ (ح) وحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الوَلِيدِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي قَيْسُ بْنُ الحَجَّاجِ، الْمَعْنَى وَاحِدٌ، عَنْ حَنَشٍ الصَّنْعَانِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمًا، فَقَالَ: يَا غُلاَمُ إِنِّي أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ، احْفَظِ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ، احْفَظِ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَكَ، إِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللَّهَ، وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الأُمَّةَ لَوْ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَكَ، وَلَوْ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ، رُفِعَتِ الأَقْلاَمُ وَجَفَّتْ الصُّحُفُ.
هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
Majmoo`ah Maqaalaat, Vol 2, Pg 114.
Fatawa Mahmoodiyya, Vol 3, Pg 110. Maktaba Mahmoodiyya
- Answered by
- Hussein Muhammad
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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