The Ruling on Making Du'a at Shrines
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Q190: The questioner asks: What is the ruling on frequently visiting shrines and making du'a at them? Does this compromise the belief of a Muslim when he frequents these shrines?
A190: There is no doubt that frequently visiting shrines with the intention of seeking blessing from their occupants, calling upon them for aid, and asking them for one's needs is an invalid act, major shirk—may Allah protect us from it—and du'a to other than Allah. As for the legislated visitation and making du'a for the deceased—not for the sake of calling upon them for aid, but rather for the sake of making du'a for them—this is prescribed, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it, saying:Sunan Ibn Majah 1569Sahih (Darussalam). And because he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to visit the graves, make du'a for the deceased, and greet them, this is the prescribed visitation. There is a distinction between the prescribed visitation and the prohibited visitation. As for his statement that he makes du'a at them or prays at them, this is also forbidden; because it is a means to shirk. Du'a and prayer are to be performed in mosques and in places free of graves. As for graves, one does not make du'a at them, nor does one pray at them; because this is a means to shirk. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who take graves as mosques, meaning those who pray at them, even if a mosque is not built on them. If a mosque is built on them, the matter becomes more severe and more dangerous. This is the practice of the Jews and the Christians. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 703Sahih (Darussalam). And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
A190: There is no doubt that frequently visiting shrines with the intention of seeking blessing from their occupants, calling upon them for aid, and asking them for one's needs is an invalid act, major shirk—may Allah protect us from it—and du'a to other than Allah. As for the legislated visitation and making du'a for the deceased—not for the sake of calling upon them for aid, but rather for the sake of making du'a for them—this is prescribed, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it, saying:
Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.
زوروا القبور، فإنها تذكر بمالموتMay Allah curse the Jews and Christians, for they took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.
لعنة الله على اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجدIndeed, some eloquence is sorcery, and the worst of people are those who are alive when the Hour strikes, and those who take graves as mosques.
إن من البيان سحرا، وشرار الناس من تدركهم الساعة أحياء، والذين يتخذون القبور مساجد
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.