The Ruling on Supplication at the Graves of the Awliya (Close Friends of Allah)
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
The Shaykh: He says: What is the ruling on making du'a' (supplication) at the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the righteous? And do these supplications benefit them? And what is the ruling on that? May you be rewarded.
Answer:
If the questioner’s intention is that he is making du'a' (supplication) for them when he visits them, this is prescribed and good. This benefits them, and Allah benefits them through it. If he visits them by greeting them and making du'a' (supplication) for them with forgiveness and mercy, this benefits them if Allah accepts it. However, if the questioner’s intention is to make du'a' (supplication) at the graves, and he comes expecting a response there, this is bid'ah (religious innovation), and it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). If he is calling upon Allah at the graves, seeking a response, this is bid'ah (religious innovation), and it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). But if he is calling upon the dead person himself, seeking aid from him, this is shirk akbar (major shirk), and it is a departure from the religion, may Allah protect us from it. And this is the reality of many grave worshippers and those deluded by graves.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh: He says: What is the ruling on making du'a' (supplication) at the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the righteous? And do these supplications benefit them? And what is the ruling on that? May you be rewarded.
Answer:
If the questioner’s intention is that he is making du'a' (supplication) for them when he visits them, this is prescribed and good. This benefits them, and Allah benefits them through it. If he visits them by greeting them and making du'a' (supplication) for them with forgiveness and mercy, this benefits them if Allah accepts it. However, if the questioner’s intention is to make du'a' (supplication) at the graves, and he comes expecting a response there, this is bid'ah (religious innovation), and it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). If he is calling upon Allah at the graves, seeking a response, this is bid'ah (religious innovation), and it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). But if he is calling upon the dead person himself, seeking aid from him, this is shirk akbar (major shirk), and it is a departure from the religion, may Allah protect us from it. And this is the reality of many grave worshippers and those deluded by graves.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 03/230 — archive.org (10:44)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.