From `Abdul`Aziz ibn `Abdullah Ibn Baz to the respected brother ... May Allah grant him success.
I have received your kind letter in which you asked the following question: "There are some people in my country who repeat the following supplications which have no basis in the religion. Some of these are innovated and others are forms of Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah). Moreover, they attribute these supplications to the emir of the believers, `Aly Ibn Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) and others. They recite these supplications in sessions of remembering Allah or in Masjids (mosques) after AlMaghrib (sunset) Prayer claiming that they draw them nearer to Allah (Exalted be He), such as: 'By the right of Allah, O men of Allah, provide us with the aid of Allah and be the help sent to us from Allah.' They say: 'O Aqtab (sing. Qutb; a Sufi title denoting a "Perfect Master"), O Awtad (pikes), O masters, respond. O supporters, intercede with Allah on behalf of this servant who stands at your door because he is afraid of his negligence. Help, O Messenger of Allah. You are my only resort and you are the only one to ask. You (people we call) are the best of the pious because of Hamzah, the master of martyrs, and from whom else could we seek help? Help, O Messenger of Allah.' They say: 'O Allah, invoke peace and blessings on the one whom You made as the reason of revealing Your Mighty Secrets and the eminence of Your Merciful Light, who became the deputy of the Divine Presence and the vicegerent of Your Divine Secrets.'Could you please explain what is Bid`ah (innovation in religion) and what is Shirk? Is offering Salah behind an Imam who repeats such supplication valid?"
The answer: All Praise is due to Allah and peace be upon His Messenger, his family, Companions and those who follow their guidance until the Day of Recompense.
Let it be known, may Allah grant you success, that Allah (May He be Exalted) has created all things and sent His messengers (peace be upon them) in order to worship Him alone and not to associate others in worship with Him. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).
Worship means to obey Allah (Exalted be He) as well as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by doing what Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) commanded and abandoning what they prohibited, believing in and being sincere to Allah and His Messenger in actions. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him.
All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).