441. Bidah

 By Asma Bint Shameem

First of all, it’s an *established fact* that without a doubt, those who go to Dargahs, believe in “peers”, follow certain “Tareeqahs”, etc are *deviant* and *misguided* and are *NOT* upon the way of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and his Sahaabah. 

Bid’ah is a very serious crime and is a total *disrespect* to Allaah and His Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. 

Therefore it is not accepted by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala. 

Secondly, we don’t know what he exactly saw. 

Thirdly, we should keep in mind that a person is in a very strange state in the last few moments of his life. 

He’s put through trial at this crucial moment just before his death and the Shaytaan tries to play tricks on the person’s mind at this time.

So he may appear to the dying person in the form of his parents or angels or anyone else, and try and trick the person so he would disbelieve. 

That’s why when Imaam Ahmad was dying, he could be heard saying, “Not yet, not yet.” 

When he regained consciousness, he was asked about that and he said: 

The Shaytaan was biting his fingertips and saying, 

“You got away from me, O Ahmad.” 

He was biting his fingers out of regret that he had not deceived Imam Ahmad, and Imaam Ahmad said to him, 

“Not yet, not yet” – meaning his soul has not yet departed and he’s still alive. 

In such situations, the Shaytaan tries his best to lead the person astray so he could die as a disbeliever.

May Allaah protect us all. 

That’s why the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam used to ask Allaah for protection from four things in his Salaah very regularly. 

He Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

“When one of you has finished the final tashahhud, let him seek refuge with Allaah from four things: 

from the torment of Hell, 

from the torment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and 

from the evil of the Dajjaal.” (al-Bukhaari, 1311; Muslim, 588) 

Part of the trials of death is the tricks the Shaytaan plays on someone on his dying bed. 

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said: 

“...what is meant by “the trials of death” is what happens at the time of death, in the last moments of life. 

This was mentioned as such – even though it is one of the trials of life – because of its seriousness and importance, just as the fitnah of the Dajjaal is also mentioned even though it is one of the trials of life, but it is also one of the trials of death because it happens close to death, and it is singled out for mention because it is the worst that can happen. That is because when a person is dying and bidding farewell, his destiny will be either happiness or doom. 

The Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“One of you may do the deeds of the people of Paradise until, when there is nothing between him and it but a cubit, the decree overtakes him and he does a deed of the people of Hell.” 

So the fitnah is great indeed. 

The Shaytaan is at his most eager to tempt the son of Adam at this moment, and the one who is truly protected is the one whom Allaah protects. 

He comes to him at this crucial moment which no one can imagine but the one to whom it happens. 

It is a critical situation, when a person is weak, lacking in strength and willpower, feeling anxious, and the shaytaan comes to him to tempt him, to such a point that it is as the scholars said: he may present the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions to a person, appearing the form of his parents who present the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions to him and encourage him to follow Judaism or Christianity. 

The Shaytaan may take on the form of anyone except the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and this is the greatest of trials.  

But this – praise be to Allaah – does not happen to everyone, as was stated by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him). 

Even if the Shaytaan is not able to gain control over a person to such a degree, *there is still fear for him.*”

(Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 3/185-188)

Bottom line:

It’s easily possible that your cousin’s father-in-law saw the Shaytaan in this way. 

No one can really say for sure but anything is possible. 

*WE* must be very *clear* in our minds that the path of the people of Dargahs and peers is a *misguided path* and *opposes* the authentic practice and teachings of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. 

The *only* way to salvation and success is to follow the way of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and his Noble Sahaabah. 

And Allaah knows best