Is the request from others rather than Allah polytheism?
Answer: from the wisdom point of view and as per revelation logic, all the humans even all the creatures as in their creation are needy to Allah, in their affection also they are needy to Allah.
The holy Qur’an in this regard says:
O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allâh, but Allâh is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of all praise. (Fatir (Al Malaeka)-15)
In other place, it excluding all the victories to Allah and says:
And there is no victory except from Allâh, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. (A’al Imran – 126)
As per this definite pillar of Islam, in all our prayers we recite this verse:
You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). (Fatihat Al-Kitab-5)
Now to clarify the above question let’s continue as following:
We may imagine the request of else rather than Allah in two ways:
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First one appeal somebody or something in a manner that it is independent on its existence or performance and on the way of helping us is needless of Allah.
It is obvious that that this kind of appeal of else not Allah is the mere polytheism as holey Qur’an in the following verse explains that it is unfounded:
Say: "Who is he who can protect you from Allâh if He intends to harm you, or intends mercy on you?" And they will not find, besides Allâh, for themselves any Walî (protector, supporter, etc.) or any helper. (AlAhzab-17)
2. Second one is to ask for assistance from other human while consider him created and needy to Allah, has no independence and its influence has granted by Great Allah to resolve some problems of Allah’s servants.
As per this taught the mean that we ask for help is an intermediate that great Allah has ___selected him to fulfill some needs. This way of request in real is appealing Allah because he is the one that has created these means and has granted them the ability to fulfill others needs. Fundamentally the human life is based on getting help of the means, and without this kind of help, the life will get turmoil. So if we look at them in this manner that they are the realization of Allah’s help and both their existence and affection are sources from Allah, then this help request would be no conflict to monotheism.
If a Unitarian farmer, receives help of means like ground, climate and sun to implant the seeds, in reality he has appealed Allah’s help as all the other means has taken the power and talent of him.
It is obvious that this way of recourse to others is completely conforming to soul of monotheism. Even the holy Qur’an orders us to this kind of recourses from phenomena’s like “stability and pray” when says:
O’ you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salât (the prayer). (Al Baqara-153)
It is obvious that patience and stability are human acting and we ordered to get help of them and meanwhile this help has no conflict to the exclusion to Allah in “… and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything) “
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