There are basically two schools of thought, one that says that calling upon the Holy Prophet(SAW) is 'shirk' and that any Muslim proclaiming 'Ya Rasulullah' in factgoes outside the pale of Islam and becomes a mushrik. Thus, such a person needs to take the 'shahadah' again in order to became a Muslim or he remains a 'mushrik'.

The following statements make clear the beliefs and ideology of this school of thought:

1."Most people call out to the spiritual guides, the Prophets, the Imams, the martyrs, the angels, the devils and the fairies in times of distress and ask them to redress their needs. They also give them offerings for this purpose. Thus they indulge in polytheism.(Taqwiyat-ul-Imaan,P5-6, by Ismail Dehlvi)

2."How can anyone be the redresser of needs, the solver of difficulties and holder of one's hand? People holding such beliefs are out and out polytheist. They cannoteven be allowed to get married to Muslims. And those people who are informed about their evil thoughts and even then do not call them 'apostates and polytheist'are polytheists themselves in the same degree. (Jawaahir-ul-Quraan, P147, by Ghulam Khan, Rawalpindi)

3."He who seeks help from anyone except Allah is, in fact, a thorough polytheist. There is none in the world as bad as he. Curse be upon such a person from all(creatures) in the world." "To ask for fulfilment of ones needs and invoke them(i.e. Prophets & Saints) is the way of the polytheist". (Tazkeer-ul-Akhwaan,P83 &P343, by Ismail Dehlvi).

The above statements belong to the Wahhabi/ Deobandi/ Tabligh Jamaat scholars according to whom it is a great sin to proclaim 'Ya Rasulullah' with the intentionthat the Holy Prophet(SAW) can hear such a call for help. Also seeking the 'waseela'(intercession) of the Holy Prophet(SAW) is deemed as polytheism by this school of thought.

Let us now examine the beliefs of the other school of thought, namely the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, who believe it is permissible to proclaim 'Ya Rasulullah'according to Islamic Law. The following proofs have been forwarded by this school of thought in their support:

1. Imam Bukhari(RA) in his Kitaabu Adaabul Mufrad has written that Hazrat Adullah ibn Omar(RA) once suffered from cramp. Someone advised him to rememberthe person whom he loved most. The great Companion then proclaimed loudly: "Ya Muhammad", it is recorded that he was immediately relieved of the cramps.

2. Imam Tabraani(RA) in his Muh'jam records the following incident: "A person in dire need once visited Ameerul Mu'mineen Hazrat Uthman Ghani(RA). The Caliphthough, due to other work, did not pay much heed to this man. The person thereafter went to Hazrat Uthman bin Hanif(RA) and complained about the matter.
Hazrat Uthman bin Hanif(RA) ordered the man to perform Wudhu, enter the Masjid and offer two rakaats of Nafil Salaah, he was then to recite the following Du'a:

"O Allah, I beg of you and I seek your Assistance, with the Waseela of Your Beloved Prophet(SAW) who is the Prophet of Mercy. O Muhammad!, I turn to Allahwith your Waseela so that my needs be fulfilled!.

The man was then told to mention his need. After completion he and Hazrat Uthman bin Hanif(RA) both visited the august court of the Caliph. The man wassuccessful in his encounter with the Caliph and thanked Hazrat Uthman bin Hanif(RA) for mentioning him to the Caliph. But Hazrat Uthman bin Hanif (RA) repliedthat he had not approached the Caliph at all, he then stated:

"By Allah, I saw the Holy Prophet (SAW) teaching the very same Du'a to a blind man. Miraculously the blind man then approached us before we could even complete our conversation, and he appeared as if he had never been blind".

3. Imam-e-Mujtahid Sayyidi Abdur Rahman Masoodi(RA) was the grandson of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Masood(RA). He was also a very great Jurist and a Taabieen of high rank. It is said he used to wear a long hat on which were inscribed the words "Muhammad, Ya Mansoor".Substantiating this, Imam Hasheem bin Jameel Az Zaaki(RA) who was among the great Ulema and Muhaddatheen of the time states: "I saw him (i.e. Hazrat Abdur Rahman Masoodi) place a long hat on his head, onit were inscribed the words "Muhammad, Ya Mansoor".

4. Sayyidi Jamal bin Abdullah bin Omar Makki(RA), in his Fatawa states that he was questioned about those people who proclaim in times of difficulty: "YaRasulullah, Ya Ali, Ya Shaikh Abdul Qadir" as to these proclamations being permissible in Islam. The great Scholar replied "Yes, these proclamations are permissible, to call upon them is permissible including using their names as Waseelas(intercessions). This is permissible in the light of shari'ah. Such an act is desirableand approved. Only those individuals who are stubborn and arrogant would oppose or question this reality, and they verily are unfortunate and deprived of theBarakaat of the Awliya Allah".

5. Imam Allama Chairmen Ramble(RA), the illustrious teacher of Islamic scholars and the writer of one of the most authentic book on Islamic Jurisprudence "DourMukhtar" states in his Fatawa Khayria: "People who proclaim, Ya Abdul Qadir are merely emulating a call, what therefore is the reason for it not to be permissible?".

There are numerous occasions when the great and ordinary people have called upon the Holy Prophet(SAW) and received help, we have but quoted a few instances. The following great personalities deem it permissible to proclaim "Ya Rasulullah" whether in the life time of the Holy Prophet(SAW) or after, in Medina orin Deoband!

1. Hazrat Uthman bin Hanif(RA)
2. Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas(RA)
3.Imam Bukhari(RA)
4. Imam Muslim(RA)
5. Imam Tabraani(RA)
6. Imam Khayrudeen Ramli(RA)
7. Sayyidi Jamal Makki(RA)
8. Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilaani(RA)
9. Imam Ghazali(RA)

In fact the list is endless, and with such great personalities, that even the opponents of the proclamation of "Ya Rasulullah" can ill afford to ignore. Having forwardedboth points of view, we shall now quote an independent source dating some 600 years before the advent of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa(SAW) on thisEarth.

A crowd of more then 5,000 were addressed by Isa(AS) who told them about the coming of the great Prophet Muhammad(SAW), on hearing his words the crowd reacted as follows: "Then the crowd lifted their voices saying: 'O' God, send us thy messenger. 'O'(Ya) Muhammad, come quickly for the salvation of the world." (Gospel of Barnabas, Chapter 97).

Now Isa(AS), who is one of the great Prophets of Allah, did not reprimand his followers for saying "Ya Muhammad". Nor did he brand his followers as 'mushriks'.Then who are these Wahhabi/Deobandi/Tableeghi mullahs to brand Muslims, who proclaim 'Ya Muhammad', as mushriks. Perhaps these mullahs consider themselves greater in knowledge then Isa(AS). At the end of the day it is up to you to decide upon your beliefs but bear in mind a few points.

1. Until the end of the Khalifat and the dominance of the Wahhabi movement some 70 years ago, no Khalifa of Islam passed a law banning people from proclaiming"Ya Rasulullah".

2. No Mahdhab of the Sunni school of thought gave a fatwa of 'shirk' upon those who proclaim "Ya Rasulullah".

3. If you still believe in the Wahhabi /Deobandi/Tablighi school of thought, then you are, in fact, declaring that all your fathers and forefather who used to proclaim"Ya Rasulullah" and hold Milad-un-Nabi ceremonies, were 'mushriks'. So, if you are prepared to hold your fathers & forefathers as 'mushriks', then so be it. But if you are men of integrity, then come out fighting for the truth and establish the truth in your Mosques. Stand up to the evil Wahabi/Deobandi/Tablighi mullahs and Allah will reward you.

May Allah give us the courage and strength to establish the truth. May He protect our Iman from the evil scholars of shaitan. Ameen.