Question
Salaam
If it is claimed that the angels convey the salaams to the prophet (p), then why can’t it be argued that they (angels) can also send our request to prophet (p) and then he (p) asks Allah on our behalf? i don’t know about the authenticity of the narration, but many have used the narration of angels carrying salaam to prophet as proof that angels can also carry our du3 request to him, “oh prophet, pray for us” it is like saying, ” it it can do A, then it can do B also even though no where does it say it can do B” let us allow them their argument for argument sake what now? is the prophet (p) or intermediary muhammad MORE trusted than the one who says that He is near and listens?
what was the reason behind the ayah in surah tul baqarah which mentioned the words ” inni Qareeb”? it seems the main reason for that ayah is to ask man about his TRUST in God , the quality of his eman. he (man) should trust Him (Allah) and that Allah is his friend.
Answer
You write:
if it is claimed that the angels convey the salaams to the prophet (p), then why can’t it be argued that they (angels) can also send our request to prophet (p) and then he (p) asks Allah on our behalf?
Communicating our peace and blessings upon the Prophet (pbuh) is a command of God:
Indeed, God and His angels bestow blessings upon the Prophet. Believers, invoke [divine] blessings and [reverent] peace upon him. – Al Ahzab 33:56
This is not merely a directive but a limitation as well, which needs to be considered thoroughly. If God commands us to give our salutations to the Prophet through Him then why would we do the reverse and supplicate the Prophet? Furthermore, the limitation is clearly stated in who we are to ask for these blessings. God is the one who confers His favors and the angels merely convey this message. Throughout the process God is well aware of the communications being made. The angels do not simply bypass God and give our well wishes to the Prophet; rather, the mere thought, before we even utter a word, God is already informed of what we want to express. As human beings we may fail at recognizing our own individual and limited logic and try to apply it to situations where it seems correct but upon deeper reflection find ourselves in error. The argument you pose is like the idiom says, “putting the cart before the horse.” God does not take requests from the angels or from His Prophets. If that were the case, should we supplicate the Prophet to tell God that we asked Him to bless him? As such, why would we request anything of the Prophet when the Benevolent is so close to us that He knows our thoughts?
…and We are closer to him than his [very] jugular veins. – Qaf 50:16
Thus, God is closer to us than the central point between heart and mind and is fully cognizant of our circumstances. Moreover, the Qur’an explicitly states that we are not to call on anyone else except God:
Indeed, those whom you invoke besides God are [mere] servants like you… – Al A’raf 7:194
You write:
i don’t know about the authenticity of the narration, but many have used the narration of angels carrying salaam to prophet as proof that angels can also carry our du3 request to him, “oh prophet, pray for us”
You may be referring to the following hadith (tradition):
‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah has angels who go around on earth, conveying to me the salaam of my ummah.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 1282.
Please see Sahih al-Targheeb p. 1664 by Sheikh Al-Albani for details regarding its classification of it as Sahih (authentic). Regardless of authenticity, the narrative is clearly referring to the peace we were commanded to send upon the Prophet. The “peace” is a result of our prayers to God who then blesses the Prophet. It is not merely an act of saying “hello,” which the angels convey. It is an actual supplication of peace to God for the Prophet. The angels bear nothing more; their function is limited to what God wills and not what is requested of them by others. Besides, the Prophet is not in a position to take any petitions for while he receives blessings from God – when we beseech God – he does not have contact with the material world. We should remember that the Barzakh (divine barrier) stands between this life and the hereafter.
Islam is the religion of God and the individual. Directing ourselves to Him and nothing else is the prescribed method of reaching Him. Only God responds to our requests and only He is there to guide us. This, we repeat so often that it should be ingrained in the very core of our souls. Ask and God will hear.
[Lord,] Only You do we worship and only You do we turn for help. – Al Fatiha 1:5
I hope this helps.
God knows best.