What is the ruling on the statement: “If the intention behind circumambulating the grave is to draw near to Allah, then it is a bid'ah (religious innovation)?”

The questioner:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner asks: What is the ruling on this statement from the one who says that the one who circumambulates the grave is in one of two states: either he intends by the circumambulation to draw near to Allah, in which case it is a bid'ah (religious innovation), or he intends to worship the occupant of the grave, in which case it is shirk (associating partners with Allah)?

The Shaykh:
There is no need for this talk, because this makes the matter easy for people and makes this issue seem light. You say, “The grave, circumambulating the grave, is not permissible, because Allah has not prescribed for us circumambulation except of the Ancient House, and there is nothing on earth that is circumambulated except the Ancient House. So the one who circumambulates other than the Ancient House has legislated a religion that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has not legislated.”

The presenter:
What Allah willed, you are wasting the time.

The Shaykh:
This distinction, this is what made the matters easy for the common people and for people in general. What is the need for this distinction? When you explain a thing and distinguish it, it becomes light in the eyes of people, so they become lax in it.