Why the Prostration of Respect is Prohibited
Q: Please discuss those who visit the shrines of saints because Prophet Mohammad said not to visit shrines after his demise, and to only ask God for help.
Going to the shrine is good but sir, many people are crying in front of grave instead of crying in front of God.
Yes, that is true.
With the passage of time, people added their own opinions to the religion as a result of which there were modifications made in the religion.
For example, people do say that the grave must not be solidified [as per the Prophet's instructions],
but Prophet Mohammad also said that the mosques should not be extravagant.
The mosques should be simple and plain.
Whereas, the mosques today are like palaces.
An incident happened with me.
When I was a child, my father would take me for taraweeh recitals to a Memon mosque in Karachi during the month of Ramadan.
Have you heard of it?
Have you heard of the Memon mosque?
So during Ramadan we would go there for taraweeh recitals.
I really liked that mosque.
The special thing about the mosque was that it would be aired on TV
So I would go there eagerly with the thought that my friends would see me offering Salat on TV.
It was a beautiful building.
And the mosque of my neighbourhood was very plain and simple.
I began to think that I should offer Salat in the other mosque as it's better because it was beautifully embellished.
Whereas, I didn't enjoy going to the plain mosque in my neighbourhood.
However, once I met His Divine Eminence and my heart was initiated, I began to enjoy going to the plain mosque and the other embellished mosque seemed ostentatious.
Similarly, when it comes to visiting the shrines, one must first ascertain the intention of the person going there; why are they going there?
If somebody is going there to prostrate, of course, it is understood that prostration is only done to God.
No one for except God is the recipient to your prostrations.
But the other thing is that those who begrudge Saints and Sufism tend to exaggerate what people who visit the shrines do; they spice it up.
Visiting shrines is not wrong.
What needs to be sussed out is your purpose for visiting the shrines: what do you do there?
Mr Imran Khan also visited a shrine before the Pakpattan elections. He kissed the shrine of Baba Farid.
Many of his opposers spoke up against this.
And they said, 'Look at this, he prostrated to a shrine.'
In response, Imran Khan said, 'Kissing the shrine of the Spiritual Guide is not prostration.'
So those who spread these things have ill intentions.
But you should keep in mind that there are two types of prostrations.
One is Sajda-e-Raboobiyat (Prostration to the Creator) in which one bows before the Creator.
The other is Sajda-e-Tazeemi (Prostration of Respect).
Prophets, Messengers, Saints and Sualiheen have been the recipients to this kind of prostration.
An example for this is mentioned in the Koran: when God told the archangels to bow before Adam.
Obviously, that was not the prostration which is done to the Creator.
Which prostration did God give the order for?
The Prostration of Respect.
The Prostration of Respect was a command of God, too.
Since it was proven to be a custom of God, the messengers and prophets that came also allowed it.
For example, Prophet Yusuf saw in a dream that the stars were prostrating to him and his 9 brothers also bowed before him.
Obviously, this was not Prostration to the Creator.
It was the Prostration of Respect.
When Prophet Mohammad arrived, in his own Sharia (religious law), he -
Firstly, you should know that Sharia is one part of Islam.
Repeat it.
Sharia is not the complete Islam.
Sharia is only one part of Islam.
Sharia is not the complete Islam.
Do you understand?
When Prophet Mohammad realised how the nation of Bani Israel had exploited the Prostration of Respect -
- shall I say it again?
When Prophet Mohammad noticed the way the nation of Bani Israel had exploited the Prostration of Respect
that is when, to be on the safe side, Prophet Mohammad declared the Prostration of Respect to be forbidden in his Sharia.
This was because the nation of Bani Israel had started to prostrate to the shrines of their prophets.
Therefore, Prophet Mohammad needed a deterrent for this particular custom of that nation.
At the time of Prophet Mohammad's arrival there were only Jews and Christians present
and they had this flaw in them that of prostrating to the shrines.
Had Prophet Mohammad not declared it to be prohibited, then the custom of the nation of Bani Israel that of prostrating to shrines would have become a part of Islam.
Therefore, the act of Prostration of Respect was declared prohibited by Prophet Mohammad in his own Sharia.
There were many reasons behind this.
One reason being that the Arab nation was incredibly arrogant and ignorant.
A tribal system was in place back then.
Each tribal leader would have his people bow before him.
They enjoyed being praised and worshipped.
What would happen in the Kaaba back then?
The tribes would go to the Kaaba and tell stories of their ancestors zealously.
'I am Qureshi!'
'My grandfather was like this! My grandfather's father was like that!'
'My great-great-great grandfather was like this and that!'
An example for this is in the Koran. ''Invoke upon God with the same intensity and passion as you would call upon your ancestors.''
So this nation relished being praised and worshipped.
Now, if the Prostration of Respect was also permitted then everyone would force people to prostrate to them.
Therefore, the reason behind Prophet Mohammad's very important decision was to prevent the emergence of a wrong custom.
The concept of Prostration of Respect among the Bani Israel had already been destroyed.
There are many things in Islam which pre-existed Islam, for example, Hajj and the circumambulation of the Kaaba; even the Infidels practised this.
You understand?
And the reverence of the Holy Black Stone, too.
It's not as if the Holy Black Stone was only revered after Islam was established.
The Holy Black Stone was revered even before Islam.
In his youth, Prophet Mohammad - he announced his Prophethood much later [in life] -
- at that time, he was young: about 20-25 years of age.
When it came time during Prophet Mohammad's youth for the Holy Black Stone to be fitted [in Kaaba],
there was disagreement among the tribes there.
Every tribe wanted the honour of being the one to fit the Holy Black Stone in its place.
They were unable to make a decision [as to who would do it].
Therefore it was said that whoever entered the Kaaba the next morning would be the one who would place the Holy Black Stone in its rightful place.
The next morning when everybody entered the Kaaba, they saw that Prophet Mohammad was already standing there.
He was already there.
So then everyone said that Prophet Mohammad should be the one to set the Holy Black Stone in its place.
So then he said, 'I will do it but I also will not keep you deprived of [this honour].'
The Holy Black Stone was then put on a sheet and the 4 tribe leaders were told by the Prophet to hold onto a corner of that sheet.
They each held onto a corner and then Prophet Mohammad picked up the Holy Black Stone and fit it in its place.
So to revere and kiss the Holy Black Stone is a custom that predates Islam.
The tradition of circumambulating the Kaaba is one that predates Islam.
In the same way, Sajda-e-Tazeemi (The Prostration of Respect) is an act that predates Islam.
There was no problem with revering the Holy Black Stone, therefore Prophet Mohammad continued [this custom].
This tradition predates Islam and it also became part of Islam.
Hajj predates Islam but it also became part of Islam.
However, Prophet Mohammad saw the dangers in [The Prostration of Respect] therefore, he forbade it.
How was it forbidden? Partially.
In Islam, The Prostration of Respect is partially forbidden.
What part of [Islam] is it forbidden in?
For example, movies have adult ratings.
If a movie has been rated 'universal', then it means it is suitable for all audiences - young and old.
There is nothing in such movies that would require an age restriction.
Some movies have an age rating of 12+.
Meaning that nobody under the age of 12 should watch it.
So it is forbidden partially.
If somebody is under the age of 12, they cannot watch those movies.
And if someone is 12 years of age or older, they can watch the film.
Then there are movies which have a rating of 15+.
They would be movies that have strong language - so a 15+ age restriction is put on them.
And then there is another age restriction, some movies have a rating of 18+.
So it is partially forbidden.
But those over the age of 18 can watch those films.
In the very same way, the Prostration of Respect is partially forbidden in Islam.
However for those who progress from Sharia to Tariqat (spirituality), it is permissible.
Because after entering spirituality, whoever they bow before will have the presence of God in them.
[God is not to be found] in the people of Sharia.
He is in the people of Tariqat (spirituality).
If somebody went to Pakpattan and bowed their head [before Baba Farid], then they did so before the Lord.
It may be a shrine made of wood, but it is the court of God.
If somebody bows before Abdul Qadir Jilani's shrine - you only see Abdul Qadir Jilani -
- however, [his shrine] is a threshold of God.
If somebody bows before the shrines of Data or Khwaja, then they didn't bow before a shrine; they bowed before God.
Because the Lord [lives] in the practitioners of spirituality.
The Prostration of Respect is forbidden in Islam up until it is determined whether the one bowing has the Lord in him or not.
[God's presence is not found] in the practitioners of Sharia, therefore [for them] it is forbidden.
The practitioners of spirituality have the Lord in them, therefore they have permission to perform the Prostration of Respect.
One day, I asked His Divine Eminence Gohar Shahi:
'We want to prostrate ourselves in Your feet but you do not allow us.'
His Divine Eminence did not give me a reply.
Then I referred to Sultan [Haq Bahu].
I said, 'My Lord, [Sultan Haq Bahu] said that a Divine Lover prostrates in the feet of his Spiritual Guide.
So then He said:
'It is permissible in spirituality.'
It is permissible in spirituality.
'However, when common people are sitting [with us], then at that time, the laws of spirituality are not implemented; rather, the laws of Sharia apply.'
'It is permissible in spirituality but only when all the people present are practitioners of spirituality.'
If only people of spirituality are present, then you may prostrate before your Spiritual Guide. It is allowed.
And if the Spiritual Guide is sitting with the public, then not all the people there practise spirituality, right?
You practise spirituality - you can perform the [Prostration of Respect]. However if someone who practises Sharia wants to do it, then he will lose his faith.
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