The Ruling on Asking a Dead Person to Make Supplication

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned in the *Fatawa* that asking a dead person to make supplication for you before Allah is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that the Salaf did not practice, and that it is not considered disbelief (kufr) or associating partners with Allah (shirk), but rather it is among the innovations. Is this report from him correct?

Answer:
As long as you say it is in the *Majmu'*, the *Majmu'* contains, if Allah wills, only what is correct and relied upon. However, he did not say that asking the dead person for supplication is permissible. He said it is an innovation and not permissible. Whether it is shirk or not is a matter that requires detailed explanation regarding the state of the one making the supplication and the one asking. Is he ignorant? Or is he not ignorant? We say: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Nothing is asked of the dead person, because his deeds have ended. Supplication is an act. To ask the dead person for something he is unable to do is impossible. The dead person is unable to make supplication, and he is unable to seek forgiveness. The sins he is burdened with, he is unable to seek forgiveness for them. How can he seek forgiveness for you and return to it? Yes. He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He is in need of having the punishment lightened for him, the punishment of the grave, and he is unable to call upon Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because he is unable to make supplication; his deeds have ended.