The Ruling on Seeking Blessing from Graves and Calling for Aid from the Dead

Question:
He says: What is the ruling on one who stands at a grave thinking that it is a source of blessing? And there are those who come to the grave, then they call upon Allah and say, “O Allah, by the intercession of so-and-so, who is the owner of this grave.” And are the graves of the righteous awliya (close friends of Allah) a source of blessing after their death?

Answer:
Graves are visited for two purposes. The first is to take a lesson and reflect on the state of the dead. The second is to make du'a' (supplication) for the dead and seek forgiveness for them. As for one who seeks blessing from the dead or calls for aid from the dead, he is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah). The one who calls for aid from the dead is a mushrik, and the one who seeks blessing from the dead is a mubtadi' (innovator), as it is a means of shirk (associating partners with Allah). So, do not change the lawful visit into a visit of shirk or a visit of bid'ah (religious innovation), may Allah protect us from that.