The Prohibition of Invoking Others Besides the One God Please can you explain the following two verses: That (is so) because Allah, He is the True, and that which they INVOKE beside Him is the False, and because Allah, He is the Sublime, the Great. ( Luqmaan 31: 30) Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Have ye thought on all that ye INVOKE beside Allah? ( Al-Ahqaaf 46: 4) Does this mean that phrases such as "Ya Ali" and "Ya Rasul'Allah" are wrong? Or do they not count as invocation? What kind of phrases, constitute "invoking"? Many thanks. Waalaykum assalaam Razwan, UK Reply It is clear from the context and the style of these verses that the 'invocation [1] ' referred to in these verses is one, which is of the category of 'prayer', 'supplication' and 'calling upon'. In other words, the referred invocation is, in fact, the polytheistic practice of invoking other gods, with the belief that such other deities actually exist and that they can help or harm us through their intervention in our lives and circumstances. If seen in the correct perspective, it can easily be derived that it is not the kind of phrase that is used in such 'invocations', which renders them prohibited, but actually the polytheistic belief that such invocations entail. If an invocation entails a polytheistic belief, it would stand prohibited, while any invocations, which do not entail such polytheistic beliefs shall not be covered under this directive of the Qur'an. As far as phrases like "Ya Ali" [2] and "Ya Rasu'l Allah" [3] (or even "Ya Allah" [4] ) are concerned, they absolutely lack any sense and should, therefore, be avoided. All these phrases, as is obvious, are incomplete sentences and do not convey any sense or meaning. I really do not understand why would a person, in his right frame of mind, keep repeating "O God, O God, O God..." (O God... what?). In my opinion, invocations through such incomplete sentences, which do not convey any sense or meaning are not religiously, but logically and linguistically incorrect. In other words, they are not invocations at all. This is precisely the reason why the invocations and supplications taught by the Prophet (pbuh) are of the nature of complete and meaningful sentences. The Prophet (pbuh), for instance, has taught us to say: "Subhaan Allah" (God is absolutely clear of all fault); "Alhamdulillah" (All praise/gratitude is due to God); "Allah Akbar" (God is the greatest authority). Even in supplications, which directly address God, the Prophet (pbuh) (as well as the Qur'an) has never taught us to repeat the phrase "O God, O God, O God..." meaninglessly; but has actually taught us to invoke Him with meaningful prayers and supplications. This should clarify that merely repeating the phrases "Ya Rasu'l Allah" or "Ya Ali" (like "Ya Allah" ) is not a sensible thing to do. However, in case of complete sentences, such phrases may or may not entail polytheistic beliefs. If such phrases entail polytheistic beliefs, then a Muslim should avoid them, while if such phrases do not entail any polytheistic beliefs, then they would not be covered under the stated prohibition in the cited verses. Some people are of the opinion that the mere usage of such phrases is incorrect, as it entails the belief of the omnipresence of the being, that is addressed in such phrases. I do not agree with this opinion. Such phrases may be used merely to imply a personal attachment and a mental presence on behalf of the addresser. For instance, a few years back, while visiting my mother's grave for the first time, I instinctively uttered the words: 'O my mother, may God shower His blessings upon you and enter you in the eternal bliss of paradise'. While uttering these words, not even for a moment did I believe in the omnipresence of my mother or even in her hearing my words. It was just an expression of my feelings for her, an expression of my personal attachment with her and an expression of her presence in my mind. The same shall hold true, in my opinion, for other comparable phrases. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad , Otherwise you may simply Close this Window [1] The word 'invocation' is used in more than one connotation. It may be used to imply: chanting, incantation, prayer, spell, charm, summon, call upon. In the cited verses, the word has been used for prayer and for calling upon other deities besides the one God. [2] Literally meaning: "O Ali,..." (the reference is to the fourth caliph of the Muslims, after Abu Bakr , Umar and Uthmaan (ra). [3] Literally meaning "O Prophet of God,...". [4] Literally meaning: "O Allah (God)...".