and Most Merciful.

That is to say: had they, when they wronged themselves by what they concealed in their innermost hearts, come to you and begged Allah for pardon—meaning, had they implored Him for forgiveness—and had you then sought forgiveness for them, they would indeed have found Allah Ever-Relenting, Most Merciful. Instead, God protect us, they remained mired in their hypocrisy and stubborn defiance.

The advocates of grave-worship, who address the dead and ask them for forgiveness, have tried to use this verse as proof for their practice. They argue: because Allah said to His Prophet, “If, when they had wronged themselves, they had come to you and sought Allah’s forgiveness, and the Messenger had sought forgiveness for them, they would surely have found Allah Ever-Relenting, Most Merciful,” it therefore follows—so they claim—that whenever you sin you should go to the Prophet’s grave, seek Allah’s forgiveness there, and the Messenger will then intercede for you.

But such people have wandered far astray, for the verse is perfectly explicit. Allah says, “if, when (idh) they had wronged themselves,” not “whenever (idhā) they wrong themselves and come to you.” The wording refers to an incident in the past that has already ended: had they, at the very time they committed their offense, then come to you during your lifetime, sought Allah’s pardon, and had the Messenger prayed for their forgiveness, they would have found Allah Ever-Relenting, Most Merciful. After the Messenger’s death, however, he can no longer seek forgiveness for anyone, for his own deeds have ceased, as he himself said: “When a human being dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: an ongoing charity, knowledge from which people benefit, or a righteous child who prays for him.”

Thus the Prophet’s personal actions after his death are not possible, although every act of obedience performed by the ummah is recorded to his credit, because he is the one who taught us. This falls under the clause “knowledge from which people benefit.”

In sum, the verse offers no support whatsoever to those who call upon the Prophet’s grave.

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—next cites the verse: “But no, by your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge concerning whatever has arisen between them, then find in themselves no discomfort regarding your decision, and submit in full submission” (al-Nisāʾ 4:65). He mentions this immediately after Allah’s words: “And whatever