Did Prophet (pbuh) Call Ali for Help

Question

My question is that our Prophet called Hazrat Ali for help various times, for example at the time of battle of Khyber. Then why should we not call him for help? I myself whenever called him, I found help from him. Please justify and try yourself also.

Response

The difference is between calling a dead and someone alive. I can call my father or brother to help me so long as they are alive because I know they can physically help me. However, if any of them is dead and I call him then I am actually saying that he is still alive, i.e. he will be alive forever – that is a trait of God Almighty only. Humans are mortals and as soon as they’re dead, they cannot listen to us or help us in any way whatsoever.

Secondly, it is a historical fact that prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did not only call on Hazrat Ali but also on various other companions of him. He asked help of various personalities in different events – he prayed to God for conversion of some people who later became his companions because he wanted their help in propagation of faith. That does not make them immortals and eligible for our supplications. Our supplications must be directed towards God only and there is no mediator between man and God. Quran says thus:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ

And when My servants question thee about Me, I am near; I answer the call of the caller when he calls to Me, so let them respond to Me, and let them have faith in Me, that they may go aright. (Quran 2:186)

God has promised that he shall answer the call of the caller and by calling Him, we practice having faith in Him. In light of God telling me that He answers my call when I call him and not anyone else and that I should have faith in Him, then under what premise should I call anyone else? It is after all God’s word that asks me to do this!