Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brothers in Islam Assalaam`u Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu Could you please tell me refrence that doing niyaz is not jaaez. please reply Your sister in Islam

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Answer:

Is Niyaaz important in Islam?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verses 161-163:

161 Say: "Verily my Lord hath guided me to a way that is straight: a religion of right, the path (trod) by Abraham, the true in faith, and he (certainly) joined not gods with Allah."

162 Say: "Truly my prayer, and my service of sacrifice, my life, and my death, are (all) for Allah the Cherisher of the Worlds:

163 No partner hath He: this am I commanded and I am the first of those who bow to His Will.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verse 2-3:So worship Allah Alone, making your religion His exclusively. Beware! Religion is the Exclusive Right of Allah. As for those who have taken other ‘auliyas’ (guardians) with Allah (and justify their this conduct by saying): “We serve them only that they may bring us closer to Allah.” Allah will surely judge between them concerning all that in which they differ. Allah does not show guidance to any liar and denier of the Truth.

Worship is the exclusive Right of Allah Subhanah Alone! Niyaz, sacrifice, prayer, etc. are all acts of worship and they must be done for Allah Subhanah Alone.

Thus if one does Niyaz for Allah Subhanah, it is absolutely permissible; and the person doing the Niyaz will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah. But if one does niyaaz for someone other than Allah Subhanah, or in the name of some other, or to gain the pleasure and good will of any other than Allah Subhanah Alone, he will be guilty of sharing the exclusive Right of Allah with another and thus be guilty of the heinous crime of ‘shirk’.

Niyaz is permissible only for Allah Subhanah Alone, and absolutely no one else.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan