and through the blessing of their obedience to the rightly guided caliphs and the blessing of the caliphs’ work among them, Allah would grant them victory and support.

Likewise, Abraham, the intimate friend of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is buried in Greater Syria, yet the Christians took control of those lands for nearly a hundred years, and their inhabitants suffered greatly. Whoever supposes that the dead ward off harm from the living while the living disobey Allah is mistaken.

The same applies to anyone who supposes that a person’s blessing benefits someone who associates that person with Allah and departs from obedience to Allah and His Messenger—for example, imagining that the blessing of prostrating to someone other than Allah, kissing the ground in that person’s presence, and similar acts will bring him happiness, even if he does not obey Allah and His Messenger.

Likewise, someone may believe that this person will intercede for him and admit him to Paradise merely because he loves him and claims affiliation with him. These and similar notions, which contradict the Quran and the Sunnah, belong to the ways of the polytheists and the people of innovation. They are false: it is not permissible to believe in them or rely upon them.

And Allah, glorified and exalted is He, knows best.