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am i doing shirk by asking other than Allah in duas

Q:

Greetings, I’m a young Shia guy, so it’s a bit all new to me, I’m trying to understand the whole sect as I go. I follow it mainly because of my parents but recently I’ve been searching about it and had some questions. When making dua, I usually say ya allah, ya Muhammed, ya Ali. Would this be considered shirk, since both the prophet and the imam have passed away, meaning they are no longer here to ask them for help. And saying that might mean that im asking for help from someone other than allah (swt), that is no longer here, so would that imply I believe they have powers to help me. And would that be considered shirk.

A:

Waalykum salam

Thank you for your Question

I must praise your efforts you put into knowing your faith very well. InshaAllah you Prosper into it.

It is important for one to know that when asking you are only asking Allah (az) to fulfill your wishes. And when we take names of Prophet Mohammad (s) and Imam Ali(s) or any other Imam for the matter, we are asking them to interceded (put a word on our behalf) in front of Allah (az). It doesn’t at all mean that we are asking the Prophet (s) or Imam (s) to grant us our wish. Hence, Shirk never takes place here.
In the Quran as well, ALLAH (az) says (Surah Maeda:35)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

Meaning: O you who have faith! Be wary of Allah, and seek the means of recourse to Him, and wage jihad in His way, so that you may be felicitous.

And the ‘means’ that is meant in the Ayah are the Aimah (s).

Death is a transition from this world to the next. And pertaining to our faith there is no difference between the state of the M’asum (s) being Alive or dead. Death does not change their Lofty position infront of Allah (az) and they are able to make dua or Istighfar for the person who has approached them (s).

Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
N.S.Jaffery