The Ruling on Rubbing Against Graves and Seeking Intercession and Relief from Distress from Them

Question:
The questioner says: A resident of the Kingdom says: In our country, it is the custom of everyone to go to the graves and rub against them, and to seek help and assistance from them. Is there any doubt in the creed regarding this?

Answer:
This is shirk (associating partners with Allah), it is not merely doubt; this is shirk with Allah because it diverts worship to other than Allah. The one who goes to the graves seeking intercession from them, or seeking the fulfillment of needs, or the relief of distress, is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), committing major shirk, because he is seeking needs from other than Allah. The dead do not possess anything. When a person dies, his deeds are cut off, so they do not possess anything for themselves, how can they possess it for others? The dead are in need of the living to seek forgiveness for them, to give charity on their behalf, and to do good deeds for them. The dead are in need of the living, so how can the living be in need of the dead? It is the opposite. Yes.