We have some customs in our village, such as visiting the graves of some awliya (close friends of Allah) and asking them for good and sustenance, fulfilling vows for them, and slaughtering animals for them. Is this permissible or not?
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The questioner : In the village where I reside, there are some customs that are likely to lead us into great danger. Among them is visiting the graves of some people who died long ago, whom our ancestors claim to be righteous awliya (close friends of Allah). In addition to this, they ask them for good and sustenance.
The Shaykh : We seek refuge in Allah.
The questioner : Such as children, without asking Allah the Exalted and Almighty. They also make vows to them, as if one of us would say, "If I pass the exam, I will slaughter a ram and offer it as a sacrifice to that righteous wali (close friend of Allah)."
The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah.
The questioner : And they call it by his personal name. In fact, they do fulfill the vow. Is this permissible or not? And what is your advice to them?
The Shaykh : Our advice to these people and their like is that a person should return to his intellect and reasoning. These graves, which are claimed to contain awliya (close friends of Allah), need to be proven to be graves in the first place, as something resembling a grave may be constructed and it is said, "This is the grave of so-and-so," as has happened.
Second, if it is established that they are graves, it is necessary to prove that those buried in them were awliya (close friends of Allah) for Allah, because we do not know whether they are awliya (close friends of Allah) for Allah or awliya (close friends of Allah) for the Shayatins (devils).
Third, if it is established that they are among the awliya (close friends of Allah), it is not ... for the sake of seeking blessing from visiting them, or supplicating to them, or calling for aid from them, or seeking their help in these matters. Rather, they are visited as others are visited, solely for the purpose of making du'a' (supplication) for them. However, if there is fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) in visiting them, then visiting them is not permissible. If, for example, there is a fear of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) through exaggeration regarding them, then visiting them is not permissible, in order to prevent the prohibited and avert harms.
So, my brother, use your intellect. These three matters I mentioned must be ... the establishment of the grave, the establishment that he is a wali (close friend of Allah), and third, the visit is not for the sake of seeking their help, but for the sake of making du'a' (supplication) for them, because they are in need, no matter who they are. They are in need of du'a' (supplication) for them, while they themselves are dead, corpses that do not benefit or harm. Then we said that visiting them for the sake of making du'a' (supplication) for them is permissible, as long as it does not entail a prohibited matter. If it entails a prohibited matter such that people are deceived by them, then visiting them is not permissible. As for one who visits them in the manner described by the questioner, to call for aid from them, or makes a vow to them and slaughters for them, then this is shirk akbar (major shirk) that takes one out of the religion, making its doer a kafir (disbeliever) who will be eternally in the Fire.
The Shaykh : We seek refuge in Allah.
The questioner : Such as children, without asking Allah the Exalted and Almighty. They also make vows to them, as if one of us would say, "If I pass the exam, I will slaughter a ram and offer it as a sacrifice to that righteous wali (close friend of Allah)."
The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah.
The questioner : And they call it by his personal name. In fact, they do fulfill the vow. Is this permissible or not? And what is your advice to them?
The Shaykh : Our advice to these people and their like is that a person should return to his intellect and reasoning. These graves, which are claimed to contain awliya (close friends of Allah), need to be proven to be graves in the first place, as something resembling a grave may be constructed and it is said, "This is the grave of so-and-so," as has happened.
Second, if it is established that they are graves, it is necessary to prove that those buried in them were awliya (close friends of Allah) for Allah, because we do not know whether they are awliya (close friends of Allah) for Allah or awliya (close friends of Allah) for the Shayatins (devils).
Third, if it is established that they are among the awliya (close friends of Allah), it is not ... for the sake of seeking blessing from visiting them, or supplicating to them, or calling for aid from them, or seeking their help in these matters. Rather, they are visited as others are visited, solely for the purpose of making du'a' (supplication) for them. However, if there is fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) in visiting them, then visiting them is not permissible. If, for example, there is a fear of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) through exaggeration regarding them, then visiting them is not permissible, in order to prevent the prohibited and avert harms.
So, my brother, use your intellect. These three matters I mentioned must be ... the establishment of the grave, the establishment that he is a wali (close friend of Allah), and third, the visit is not for the sake of seeking their help, but for the sake of making du'a' (supplication) for them, because they are in need, no matter who they are. They are in need of du'a' (supplication) for them, while they themselves are dead, corpses that do not benefit or harm. Then we said that visiting them for the sake of making du'a' (supplication) for them is permissible, as long as it does not entail a prohibited matter. If it entails a prohibited matter such that people are deceived by them, then visiting them is not permissible. As for one who visits them in the manner described by the questioner, to call for aid from them, or makes a vow to them and slaughters for them, then this is shirk akbar (major shirk) that takes one out of the religion, making its doer a kafir (disbeliever) who will be eternally in the Fire.