we ask for help.”

Do you not see that if two people attended a funeral, and one stood to supplicate for the deceased, saying:

“O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him well-being, and pardon him. Grant him an honourable welcome, make his resting place spacious, and wash him with water, snow, and hail. Cleanse him of sins and transgressions as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Replace his home with a better home and his family with a better family. Protect him from the punishment of the Fire and the punishment of the grave. Make his grave spacious for him and illuminate it for him,”

and made similar supplications for him, while the other stood and said:

“O my master, I complain to you of my debts, my enemies, and my sins. I seek your rescue and your protection. Come to my aid!”

and said similar things, then the first would be worshipping Allah, showing kindness to His creation, and doing good to himself by worshipping Allah and benefiting His servants. The second, however, would be associating partners with Allah, causing harm, acting unjustly, transgressing against the deceased, and wronging himself.

These are some of the differences between “innovated visitation” and “prescribed visitation.” The point is that when the one who practises “prescribed visitation” says:

“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help,”

he is speaking truthfully, for he has worshipped none but Allah and sought help from none but Him. As for the one who practises “innovated visitation,” he has worshipped someone other than Allah and sought help from someone other than Him.

This is part of what demonstrates that “al-Fātihah,” the Mother of the Quran, contains an explanation of the two disputed issues: “the issue of volitional attributes” and “the issue of the distinction between prescribed visitation and innovated visitation.”

It is Allah Most High whom we ask to guide us and all our brothers to His straight path—the path of those upon whom He has bestowed His favour: the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. What excellent companions they are!