The Ruling on Seeking Nearness to Allah Through Slaughter of Sacrifices and Distributing Money at Shrines
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Q192: The questioner asks: What is the ruling on visiting graves, seeking nearness to Allah through shrines, and slaughtering sacrifices and distributing money to seek nearness through them?
A192: Visiting graves is divided into two categories: a legislated visit, which is commanded by the Shari'ah and carries virtue. This is visiting graves for the sake of taking a lesson and being admonished by the state of the dead, and for the sake of making du'a' for the deceased, sending salam upon him, benefiting the deceased through du'a', and seeking forgiveness for him, perhaps it will benefit him. This is prescribed, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it, saying:Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 14:141 It is prescribed for men only, as for women, they do not visit graves, due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Jami` at-Tirmidhi 320Da'if (Darussalam) This is the legislated visit.
The second type is the innovative, shirky visit; it is that in which the visitor intends to draw near to the dead, to call upon the dead, to seek aid from them, to seek blessing from their soil, and the like of that. This is an innovative, shirky visit. And if he takes with him a sacrificial animal to slaughter it to draw near to the deceased, this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah); because slaughter in the manner of drawing near is worship, and worship is not for anyone but Allah. He, Mighty and Majestic, said:[Al-Kawthar 108:2] And He, the Exalted, said: [Al-An'am 6:162-164] This is an innovative, shirky visit, refuge with Allah, and it is that which is performed by the superstitious and the worshippers of graves.
A192: Visiting graves is divided into two categories: a legislated visit, which is commanded by the Shari'ah and carries virtue. This is visiting graves for the sake of taking a lesson and being admonished by the state of the dead, and for the sake of making du'a' for the deceased, sending salam upon him, benefiting the deceased through du'a', and seeking forgiveness for him, perhaps it will benefit him. This is prescribed, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it, saying:
I used to forbid you from visiting graves, but now visit them, for they remind one of the Hereafter
إني كنت نهيتكم عن زيارة القبور ألا فزوروها فإنها تذكر الآخرةAllah's Messenger cursed the women who visit the graves, and those who use them as Masajid and put torches on them.
لعن الله زوارت القبور، والمتخذين عليها المساجد والسرجThe second type is the innovative, shirky visit; it is that in which the visitor intends to draw near to the dead, to call upon the dead, to seek aid from them, to seek blessing from their soil, and the like of that. This is an innovative, shirky visit. And if he takes with him a sacrificial animal to slaughter it to draw near to the deceased, this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah); because slaughter in the manner of drawing near is worship, and worship is not for anyone but Allah. He, Mighty and Majestic, said:
So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ(162) Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. (163) No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims." (164) Say, "Is it other than Allah I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ."
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (162) لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ (163) قُلْ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِي رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَلاَ تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلاَّ عَلَيْهَا وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.