The Story of a King and the Prayer of Istighotsah

 

The Story of a King and the Prayer of Istighotsah

In Saudi Arabia, there is a king who once invited scholars. There was one thing he wanted to ask them, but the answer was expected to be in accordance with your majesty's wishes.

Until at the appointed time, the scholars were brought before the king, then asked one by one.

"What is the ruling on istighotsah (asking for help) to the dead?" so asked the king.

Among the scholars present, all knew that what the king wanted was the answer " shirk ". And the scholars also answered with the same sentence " shirk". But in their hearts they answered further, " Indaka ". This means that the ulama answered "Yes, asking for help from the dead is shirk (in your opinion)". They answered that because there was intimidation that they would be killed, and it turned out that the threat had succeeded in making the ulema say what they expected. With that answer, the king was overjoyed.

Until it was Shaykh Abdullah Asy Syinqithy's turn to be confronted by the king and then asked "What do you think about the law of istighatsah to the dead?"

While preparing the shroud that Ash Syinqithy had brought from home, he then replied " Hadza kafani " This is my shroud.

"Why, why do you answer like that?"

"Yes king, I have prepared this. If your majesty wants to kill me, I will prepare my shroud from home."

"No, no, what do you mean?"

"Yes king, I believe that my answer will result in the death penalty for me"

"Indeed, what answer do you wish to convey?"

"The law of istighatsah to the dead can even become obligatory"

"Why, how can that be, how?"

“Yes, when we pray, we are advised to deliver shalawat to Rasulullah Muhammad SAW. That's mandatory by law. What is expected by people who pray besides hoping for intercession?. Well, the Messenger of Allah is dead, but we are required to pray to him every prayer. Isn't that wishing nothing for the dead?'

Rajapun lost with this argument. However, Shaykh Ash Syinqithy was not killed. He was only told to leave the Arab country with enough pocket money.

Excerpted from Mauidzah KH Thoifur Mawardi at the Haul Masyayikh Pesantren Al Muayyad Mangkuyudan event, Surakarta.