Is Calling Imams for Help Shirk?

Question

About "Ya Ali Madad" being valid or invalid, and is it Shirk (ascribing partners to God):

And We ASSIGNED from among them some Imams who GUIDE by Our authority since they were patient and believed firmly in Our Signs." (Quran 32:24)

Doesn't this give you some light?

Response

The word 'Imam' in the context in which it occurs in the verse simply means 'leader'. That is why the leader of a prayer is called 'Imam'. As an example, consider the following verse of Quran:

وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ

And We made them Imams who call to the fire, and on the day of resurrection they shall not be assisted.. (Quran 28:41)

If you look at this very verse, Quran has talked about some people who were made 'Imams' and they called others to fire. Therefore, we cannot unconditionally apply a verse that calls someone an Imam without understanding what exactly the verse implies. Let us look at the verse that you have quoted in context with the previous verse:

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ فَلَا تَكُن فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَائِهِ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ * وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ

And certainly We gave the Book to Moses, so be not in doubt concerning the receiving of it, and We made it a guide for the children of Israel. And We made of them Imams to guide by Our command when they were patient, and they were certain of Our communications.. (Quran 32:23-24)

If you look at these verses, it is being said that the children of Israel were made 'Imams' or otherwise leaders to guide other communities to the path of God. I fail to appreciate how this verse can be applied to anyone after prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when it was essentially spoken for the children of Israel.

I am not sure how is this verse related to calling the dead or saying 'Ya Ali madad'? However, Quran has categorically condemned those who called dead for help as attributing partners to God. You might want to read one of my responses that addresses the issue of calling the dead for help.

Dear brother, I am not against my Shi'ite brothers. I do not wish to hurt you in anyway whatsoever, I am merely presenting you the word of God. I may be incorrect or may be correct. I do not hold my beliefs above Quran, rather my beliefs are subjugated to it. I sincerely recommend that you also take Quran in your hand, read and understand without any biases, with an open mind and go wherever it leads you.

Brother, God is above all, above Ali, above Muhammad (pbuh), above any Imam. If Quran tomorrow leads you to say Ya Ali Madad, do it. If it condemns it, you are merely putting yourself into God's beliefs, not mine, not someone else's, not even yours.

This is the best approach. You will see that my website almost always quotes Quran for any issue for the same reason.