UNIVERSAL MYTHS MISTAKEN AS UNIVERSAL REALITIES (11th Myth "Spiritual power of the Dead") BY GHULAM AHMED PARWEZ,

Myth 11: Spiritual power of the Dead

As mentioned, mystics became popular mainly because of the 'miracles' they perform. This ability elevates them in the eyes of the public and enhances the intake of offerings. But the problem was that this set-up discontinued with the death of a 'spiritual leader.' One way out was to have the dead leader succeeded by a living one. To make the continuation of the system certain, they invented the belief that spiritual leaders never die; their spiritual powers remain potent as before. Consequently, we find the tombs of dead mystics more crowded with devoted visitors than are the seats of the living ones. Thus, these graves become regular estates.

The Quranic View
The Quran negated this myth too, when it announced that no man has the power to harm or benefit another. Every individual action of man bears its own result according to God's determined, unchanging laws.  That is why the Prophet, the greatest spiritual leader, announced:
'Say, "I cannot harm or benefit my own self (let
alone others) save by the Will (Law) of Allah...",'As far as miracles are concerned, the Qman reports at several places that the Prophet, when challenged to perfonn a miracle, always stated that his miracle was the Quran, or his own personal character. Therefore, anyone who claims to have the power of perfonning miracles puts himself above the Prophet. The 'miracles' perfonned by the mystics have absolutely nothing to do with ad-Deen (the Quranic code of life). As to the dead, the Quran very clearly states:
'If you call out to them, they don't hear your call;
and even if they did, they would not respond to
you .. .'
And also:
' ... and they are unaware of their invocation.'

That is why God told men, ' ...and don't invoke (anyone) other than Allah; they cannot benefit or harm you ... ' because harm and benefit come to men according to the Laws of Allah.
What Muslims did
Despite the Quran saying all that Muslims did exactly the opposite -they readopted the spellbinding myths of old, mistaking them as their religion.

CONCLUSION

I started with just a few topics in mind but had to include many more. In a nutshell, then, ad-Deen was simple some permanent values and unchanging principles given to Man by God; these were to be implemented in human society as an all-encompassing system. The result was to be man's real freedom -freedom from kings, capitalists, priests, spiritual leaders, and even his own animalistic urges. Man was to evolve into a better being. He was also warned to beware of 'magic weavers.' But alas, the magicians have succeeded in making Muslims addicts to the opium of (traditional) religion. Sad'ly, Muslims also believe that addiction to opium -or any other addiction, for that matter .-is incurable. That, of course is another myth as we know that it is not true and addictions are curable. Let me cite you the example of China which shed off the opium habit It happened as follows:
It is reported that, after the Chinese Supreme Council had passed the Opium Prohibition Law, it was sent to the prime minister for final signing. He was an addict himself. Putting the paper aside, he flung away the opium box he had, got into a boat and went out to a secluded stretch of open sea. He stayed in the boat for a month. He returned when he was confident that he had kicked the habit and signed the bill into law.
That is exactly what the Quran says:
'It is a big vice when you say to people what you (yourselves) don't do.'

That is the only way to deal with an addiction .. the rulers must do it first