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Gaspard writes:
Is calling upon an absent a form of polytheism?
In najdi theology calling upon an absent is considered a form of polytheism. Three reasons are generally given to justify this conclusion.
1-To do so implies ascribing knowledge of the unseen to other than Allah
2-To do so implies ascribing a sight similar to the sight of Allah
3-To do so implies ascribing a hearing similar to the hearing of Allah
As for the first reason, it is based on a misunderstanding of the concept of the unseen. The unseen which is negated to other than Allah in the qur'an is that which is not be perceived by any creature according to Al-Nassafi and Al-Qushayry. A person on the face of the earth is perceived by other creatures, himself included. To believe that a person called upon is informed through kashf or by Allah making him hear the request is then not a negation that Allah is the sole knower of the unseen.
As for the second and the third reason, they are based on a misconception about the nature of assimiliationism (التمثيل). In order to attribute a partner to Allah in his sight or hearing one must believe that something or someone hears in the same way as Allah. This is because assimilationism is similarity in modality (الكيفية) according to many linguists like Al-Raghib.
Unless one believes that a creature has a sight or a hearing which is independent of Allah, or which is unlimited in scope or perfection, one can not be accused of having given an equal to Allah in his hearing and sight. A creature with a dependent, limited, and imperfect sight or hearing can not be said to be an equal of Allah.
So in essence the najdi position is based on nothing but fallacies. While the practice in question is repulsive, in the end we have to judge it according to principles of the shari'a and not our own feelings.
Here are the quotes by Al-Nassafi and Al-Qushayri
Al-Qushayri writes in his tafseer:
الْغَيْبَ ما لا يطّلع عليه أحد، وليس عليه للخلق دليل، وهو الذي يستأثر بعلمه الحقّ
"The unseen is that which no one can uncover, about which creation has no evidence and it is that which is the sole propriety of Allah's knowledge.”
Al-Nassafi writes in his tafseer:
والغيب وهو ما لم يقم عليه دليل ولا أطلع عليه مخلوق
"And the unseen is that about which there is no evidence and which no creature has uncovered.”