Question Summary:
Explanation on Abdāls

Question Detail:

Assalamualaikum,
I have heard that there are 40 special divine saints known as Abdals. Also, I have heard that they are only chosen by Allah and do tawaf every day and then go back to their homes. Pleas confirm this and provide evidence for it.
JazakalluhuKhairun

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The word Abdāl is an Arabic word. It is the plural of Badal which means “replacement”.[1] Abdāl refers to a selected group of personalities who have achieved high ranks and proximity to Allāh Ta’ālā through their spiritual sacrifices and efforts. According to narrations, there are 40 Abdāls in the world at any given time.
The Ulamā have mentioned two reasons why they are termed as Abdāl. They are as follows:
·        Whenever one of the Abdāls passes away, Allāh Ta’ālā replaces him with another [2]
·        They have replaced their evil qualities with beautiful and praiseworthy qualities[3]
 
 The existence of Abdāls is proven through various narrations. Consider the following:
 
عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «يَكُونُ اخْتِلَافٌ عِنْدَ مَوْتِ خَلِيفَةٍ، فَيَخْرُجُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ هَارِبًا إِلَى مَكَّةَ، فَيَأْتِيهِ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ فَيُخْرِجُونَهُ وَهُوَ كَارِهٌ، فَيُبَايِعُونَهُ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَالْمَقَامِ، وَيُبْعَثُ إِلَيْهِ بَعْثٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ، فَيُخْسَفُ بِهِمْ بِالْبَيْدَاءِ بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَالْمَدِينَةِ، فَإِذَا رَأَى النَّاسُ ذَلِكَ أَتَاهُ أَبْدَالُ الشَّامِ، وَعَصَائِبُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ، فَيُبَايِعُونَهُ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَالْمَقَامِ (سنن أبى داؤد، كِتَاب الْمَهْدِيِّ)
Umm Salamah Radhiyallāhu Anhā, the wife of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam narrates that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “There will be dispute upon the Khalīfah’s death. A man (Hadhrat Mahdī Radhiyallāhu Anhu) will escape from the people of Madīnah towards Makkah. The people of Makkah will approach him. They will reveal him against his wish and they will pledge allegiance to him. A group will be sent from Shām (to kill Hadhrat Mahdī Radhiyallāhu Anhu). They will be swallowed up by the earth between Makkah and Madīnah. When people will see this, the Abdāl from Shām and a group from I’rāq will approach him and take the pledge of allegiance on his hands. (Sunan Abū Dāwūd)
 
ذُكِرَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، وَهُوَ بِالْعِرَاقِ، فَقَالُوا: الْعَنْهُمْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. قَالَ: لَا، إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: " الْأَبْدَالُ يَكُونُونَ بِالشَّامِ، وَهُمْ أَرْبَعُونَ رَجُلًا، كُلَّمَا مَاتَ رَجُلٌ أَبْدَلَ اللهُ مَكَانَهُ رَجُلًا، يُسْقَى بِهِمُ الْغَيْثُ، وَيُنْتَصَرُ بِهِمْ عَلَى الْأَعْدَاءِ، وَيُصْرَفُ عَنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ بِهِمِ الْعَذَابُ (مسند أحمد، رقم الحديث 896)
The people of Shām were mentioned in the company of Alī Radhiyallāhu Anhu whilst he was in Irāq (in a negative way). They said to Alī Radhiyallāhu Anhu, “ O Leader of the Believers, curse them.” Alī Radhiyallāh Anhu replied, “Never! I have heard Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam saying, “The Abdāl will be in Shām. They will be a total of 40 men. Whenever one of them passes away, Allāh Ta’ālā replaces him with another. Through their blessings, rain waters descend and they are assisted against the enemies. And punishment is swayed away from the people of Shām because of their blessings. (Musnad Ahmad)[4]
 
عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَنْ تَخْلُوَ الْأَرْضُ مِنْ أَرْبَعِينَ رَجُلًا مِثْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ الرَّحْمَنِ، فَبِهِمْ يُسْقَوْنَ وَبِهِمْ يُنْصَرُونَ، مَا مَاتَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا أَبْدَلَ اللَّهُ مَكَانَهُ آخَرَ (المعجم الأوسط للطبرانى، رقم الحديث 4101)
Anas Radhiyallāhu Anhu reports that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “The earth will never be empty of 40 men who are like Ebrāhīm Alaihissalām, the friend of al-Rahmān. Through them the rains will fall, and through them the people will be assisted. Whenever one of them passes away, Allāh will replace him with another. (al-Mʿujam al-Awsat) [5] 
 
عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَزَالُ أَرْبَعُونَ رَجُلًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي قُلُوبُهُمْ عَلَى قَلْبِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، يَدْفَعُ اللهُ بِهِمْ عَنْ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ، يُقَالُ لَهُمُ الْأَبْدَالُ» ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يُدْرِكُوهَا بِصَلَاةٍ وَلَا بِصَوْمٍ وَلَا صَدَقَةٍ» ، قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، فَبِمَ أَدْرَكُوهَا؟ قَالَ: «بِالسَّخَاءِ وَالنَّصِيحَةِ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ» (المعجم الكبير للطبرانى، رقم الحديث 10390)
It is reported from Ibn Masūd Radhiyallāhu Anhu that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “There will always be 40 men from my Ummah whose hearts will be like the heart of Ebrāhīm Alaihissalām. Allāh will remove difficulty from the people through them. They will be called Abdāl.” Rasūllullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam then said, “They will not attain these ranks (only) because of their Salāh, fasting and Sadaqah.” The companions asked, O Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam, through what will they attain this lofty status.” Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam replied, “Through generosity and well-wishing for the Muslims.” (al-Mʿujam al-Kabīr) [6]
 
We have not come across any narration concerning Abdāls performing Tawāf every day. This is in the complete control of Allāh Ta’ālā alone. If Allāh Ta’ālā wishes, he may facilitate for them to perform Tawāf daily.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Abdul Azīm bin Abdur Rahman,
Student Darul Iftaa
U.S.A.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
 
 
Clarification
 
The Darul Iftaa has received queries regarding Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb’s teaching and affiliation with Madrassah In’aamiyya, Camperdown. The confusion is probably due to the previous Fatawaa and Google searches of Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb issued under the name of Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah, Camperdown.
 
Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb has resigned from Madrassah In’aamiyya two years ago and has no affiliation with Madrassah In’aamiyya, Camperdown.
 
Mufti Saheb has established the Darul Iftaa in Durban that facilitates for post-Ulama courses and training Mufti’s. He teaches Hadeeth at Darul Uloom Nu’maniyyah.
 
Email: darululoomnumaniyyah@gmail.com or
arkhanar@telkomsa.net