What is the ruling on one who believes that a certain wali (close friend of Allah) can benefit and harm, and what is the ruling on drawing near to him through sacrifices, and what is your advice for him?
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The questioner : In one of the villages near us, there is a grave with a structure built over it, a room with flags fluttering above it. Some people come with sacrifices and food, believing that the owner of this grave can benefit or harm. In their opinion, he heals their sick and provides them with children. When we advise them or try to change this evil, they warn us against it, saying that this is a famous wali (close friend of Allah), and that whoever harms him will be harmed and afflicted by him. What is your opinion on this? And what is your advice for these people?
The Shaykh : Our opinion in this matter is that it is obligatory to demolish this dome or this room, and to remove its markers, because they are markers of shirk (associating partners with Allah), may Allah protect us from it. Then we say to those who go to this room, slaughter sacrifices there, and ask it to ward off harm and bring benefit: We say, these people are mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) in rububiyyah (lordship) and uluhiyyah (worship), because they worshipped this grave by slaughtering for it, and because they believed that its owner can benefit or harm, which is not the case. And because they called upon the owner of this grave, and calling upon is a form of worship, so they committed major shirk (associating partners with Allah) in rububiyyah and uluhiyyah. It is the duty of the scholars of the Muslims to clarify to these common people that this is shirk (associating partners with Allah), and to warn them. And remaining silent about such matters in lands where domes over graves, slaughtering for them, and traveling to them are common—remaining silent about this is undoubtedly a great responsibility for those scholars. It is well known that the common people trust the words of their scholars more than they trust the words of scholars from other lands, as is apparent. Therefore, it is obligatory upon the scholars of the Muslims in all Muslim lands to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and to clarify to their common people the danger of these matters, and that they are from the major shirk (associating partners with Allah) which Allah (Mighty and Majestic) does not forgive, and for which Allah has decreet eternal abode in the Fire:[Al-Ma'idah 5:72]. And these common people who warn about this wali (close friend of Allah), their warning is not correct and is not a reality. Let people try this matter, warn against this forbidden, shirk-based act, and see if anything happens to them or not? All of this is a false warning, and it is from Shaytan (Satan). It is not permissible to believe in it, because it is a lie and falsehood. And whoever believes in it believes in something that has no reality at all.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Our opinion in this matter is that it is obligatory to demolish this dome or this room, and to remove its markers, because they are markers of shirk (associating partners with Allah), may Allah protect us from it. Then we say to those who go to this room, slaughter sacrifices there, and ask it to ward off harm and bring benefit: We say, these people are mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) in rububiyyah (lordship) and uluhiyyah (worship), because they worshipped this grave by slaughtering for it, and because they believed that its owner can benefit or harm, which is not the case. And because they called upon the owner of this grave, and calling upon is a form of worship, so they committed major shirk (associating partners with Allah) in rububiyyah and uluhiyyah. It is the duty of the scholars of the Muslims to clarify to these common people that this is shirk (associating partners with Allah), and to warn them. And remaining silent about such matters in lands where domes over graves, slaughtering for them, and traveling to them are common—remaining silent about this is undoubtedly a great responsibility for those scholars. It is well known that the common people trust the words of their scholars more than they trust the words of scholars from other lands, as is apparent. Therefore, it is obligatory upon the scholars of the Muslims in all Muslim lands to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and to clarify to their common people the danger of these matters, and that they are from the major shirk (associating partners with Allah) which Allah (Mighty and Majestic) does not forgive, and for which Allah has decreet eternal abode in the Fire:
Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.
إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍThe questioner : Yes, may Allah bless you.