Imam al Qurtubi on Calling upon Anbiya.
al Qurtubi said under the verse 14 of surah fatir:
([035:014] If ye invoke them, they will not listen to your call, and if they were to listen, they cannot answer your (prayer). On the Day of Judgment they will reject your “Partnership”. and none, (O man!) can tell thee (the Truth) like the One Who is acquainted with all things.)
Al Qurtubi commented:
أي إن تستغيثوا بهم في النوائب لا يسمعوا دعاءكم؛ لأنها جمادات لا تبصر ولا تسمع
Meaning is If you Call them for help in hard situations then they cannot hear you because they are Jamadaat, they cannot see nor hear.
ثم يجوز أن يرجع هذا إلى المعبودين مما يعقل؛ كالملائكة والجن والأنبياء والشياطين؛ أي يجحدون أن يكون ما فعلتموه حقاً، وأنهم أمروكم بعبادتهم؛
كما أخبر عن عيسى بقوله:
{ مَا يَكُونُ لِيۤ أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ
This is Possible that this verse is for Angels, Jinn, Prophets and Shayateen as they will deny (all) what you have done and that they asked them to worship them, Like Eesa Peace be upon him will say “It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say)”. (end quote)
Imam-Qurtubi states in the commentary of 40 : 60:
فدل هذا على أن الدعاء هو العبادة. وكذا قال أكثر المفسرين
‘Your Lord said: Call upon Me, and I will respond to you!’, this proves that invocation is the act of worship, and this is what most of the mufassirin are upon’. (end quote)
In short according to him invocation is an act of worship and when you invoke Anbiya and Saliheen they will deny this invocation on the day of Judgment.
He also said:
قوله تعالى: { قُلِ ٱدْعُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِهِ } لما ابتليت قريش بالقَحْط وشَكُوا إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنزل الله هذه الآية أي ادعوا الذين تعبدون من دونه وزعمتم أنهم آلهة. وقال الحسن: يعني الملائكة وعيسى وعزيراً. ٱبن مسعود: يعني الجن. { فَلاَ يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ ٱلضُّرِّ عَنْكُمْ } أي القحط سبع سنين، على قول مقاتل. { وَلاَ تَحْوِيلاً } من الفقر إلى الغنى ومن السَّقَم إلى الصحة.
The Almighty says:
“Say: Call upon those whom you claim (to be gods) besides Him.”
This verse was revealed when the Quraysh were afflicted with drought and complained to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Allah revealed this verse, meaning:
“Call upon those you worship besides Allah, whom you claim are gods.”
Al-Hasan commented:
“It refers to the angels, Jesus, and Ozair.”
Ibn Mas’ud said:
“It refers to the jinn.”
“For they (Jinn, Angels, Ozair, Isa) have no power to remove harm from you.”
Referring to:
– The seven-year drought according to Muqatil.
“Nor can they transfer (harm)”
From:
– Poverty to wealth
– Sickness to health
Tafsir al Qurtubi, al Isra verse 57.
Allah is the only one who responds to our dua.
Allah says:
(2 : 186. When My servants ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about Me: I am truly near. I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me.
Al Qurtubi commented:
فمن شَرْط الداعي أن يكون عالماً بأن لا قادر على حاجته إلا الله.
The condition (so that Allah may listen to the invocation) of the supplicant is that he is aware that NO ONE is capable of fulfilling his need except Allah.
(Tafsir al Qurtubi 2 : 186)