The Ruling on Saying “Ya ‘Ali, Remover of Difficulties”

Question

I have commonly heard people say, “Ya ‘Ali Mushkil-kusha!” In my view, mushkil-kusha means “one who resolves difficulties”, and the resolver of difficulties is Allah the Exalted and none other; so is it permissible to call Hazrat ‘Ali ﵁ “the remover of difficulties”? A certain poet composed a couplet in honour of Hazrat ‘Ali as follows — is it correct?

Answer

Calling upon Hazrat ‘Ali ﵁ for the resolving of difficulties, and holding the belief that difficulties are resolved thereby, is wrong and resembles shirk; repentance and caution regarding it are necessary. The couplet written for this purpose is also wrong.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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