Polemik Istighathah Dengan Nabi Saw Setelah Kewafatan Baginda: Penilaian Dan Ulasan Terhadap Hadis Mālik Al-Dār

The Polemics of Istighāthah with the Prophet SAW After His Passing: A Critical Assessment of the Ḥadīth of Mālik al-Dār

Abstract

The practice of istighāthah with the Prophet Muhammad PBUH after his passing represents a form of tawassul that has long been the subject of contradictory interpretations among scholars. Some permit it, provided that it is accompanied by the conviction that only Allah SWT possesses the power to grant benefit or harm, while others regard it as a form of shirk, as it resembles seeking aid from beings other than Allah in matters ghaibiyyāt. The hadith of Mālik al-Dār is often cited as the primary evidence by those who advocate the permissibility of this practice. The narration describes a man who approached the Prophet’s grave during the caliphate of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb RA to seek rain. However, the authenticity of its sanad and the understanding of its matn have generated divergent interpretations among scholars. Some consider its chain sound and indicative of the permissibility of istighāthah, whereas others question the accuracy of its transmission and the contextual implications of the event. These differences have led to scholarly polemics and public confusion, particularly when discussions are influenced by sectarian and ideological sentiments. Therefore, this study aims to re-evaluate the hadith objectively and academically, providing a more balanced understanding grounded in the authentic disciplines of hadith and Islamic theology. A qualitative library based methodology is employed, utilizing the methods of takhrīj al-hadīth, sanad and matn analysis, and a comparative evaluation of scholarly perspectives from various disciplines. The data are analyzed thematically and critically to identify the strengths of arguments and the contextual factors shaping interpretive differences. The findings are expected to offer a balanced and authoritative assessment of the hadith of Mālik al-Dār, thereby clarifying the true position of istighāthah within the framework of sound Islamic creed. This study also contributes to contemporary hadith scholarship by emphasizing the importance of critical and interdisciplinary analysis in addressing religious issues of polemical nature.