The Ruling on Placing Vows in Grave Boxes

Question:
The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, there are donation boxes at the grave of al-Badawi, and these donations are distributed to the poor. What is the ruling on the one who says, “I vow to Allah” or “I make a vow to Allah that, if I succeed in this job, for example, I will place such-and-such an amount in these boxes or in al-Badawi’s boxes”? And is this shirk (associating partners with Allah)? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
This action is not permissible, because it involves giving reverence to this grave. Placing vows, even if the vows are for Allah, in the boxes of graves involves giving reverence to the graves on one hand, and on the other hand, it misleads the common people. When they see the vows being placed in these boxes, their hearts become attached to the grave. So this is an advertisement for the worship of graves, even if the one placing them claims that he does not worship the grave, but rather worships Allah by placing them there.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade praying at graves. Even if the one praying prays for Allah the Exalted and Majestic, this is part of blocking the paths that lead to shirk (associating partners with Allah). So placing vows, even if they are for Allah, in the boxes of graves is one of the means of shirk that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade. His prohibition (peace and blessings be upon him) of praying at graves and circumambulating graves, even if the one praying and the one circumambulating intends nothing but Allah the Exalted and Majestic—prayer is prescribed, but circumambulation is not prescribed except at the Ka'bah.