The Ruling on Visiting the Awliya (Close Friends of Allah) and the Righteous, and Visiting Their Graves

Question:
What is your opinion, Honorable Shaykh, on visiting the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the righteous, and visiting their graves? Also, there are many people who crowd around the graves of the awliya and the righteous, weeping and kissing the graves as well?

Answer:
The graves of Muslims, whether they are from the awliya and scholars or from the general Muslims, visiting graves is of two types: a prescribed type and a forbidden type. As for the prescribed type, it is visiting graves for the sake of taking a lesson from the matters of the Hereafter, remembering death, and preparing for it through righteous deeds, as well as making du'a (supplication) for the dead, seeking forgiveness for them, and sending blessings upon them. If the intention behind the visit is what we mentioned of taking a lesson, receiving admonition, and making du'a for the dead, then this is a prescribed visit. The saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Visit the graves, for they remind you of the Hereafter." And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would pass by the graves, making du'a for them and greeting them, saying: "Peace be upon you, people of the abode of the Muslims and the believers. Tomorrow we will be delayed, and we will be with you. May Allah have mercy on those of us who have gone before and those who come after. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you. O Allah, do not deprive us of their reward, and do not tempt us after them. And forgive us and them." This is a prescribed visit, and in it there is reward and good for the living and the dead. The living takes a lesson and exerts effort, and the dead is made du'a for and forgiveness is sought for him, for He is near and responsive. However, if the intention behind the visit is seeking blessing from the dead, calling upon them for aid, kissing their shrines, and rubbing against them seeking blessing, then this is an innovative, shirky (associating partners with Allah) visit, forbidden, because it is either shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah (Mighty and Majestic) if one asks the dead to fulfill needs, relieve distress, calls upon them for aid, or seeks blessing from them, then this is a shirky visit. Or it is a means to shirk, so it is a forbidden and prohibited visit that is not lawful, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to do it, even if they are the graves of the awliya and the righteous. Yes, the graves of the awliya and the righteous, we love them because Allah loves them, and we follow their example in doing good, but it is not permissible for us to worship them besides Allah, or ask them to fulfill needs or relieve distress. And they are dead and have moved to the Hereafter, if it is established that they are awliya.
So, wilayah (close friendship with Allah) is not established except by evidence. One does not rule that someone is a wali (close friend of Allah) for Allah unless evidence is established that he is so, from the Book or the Sunnah. As for one for whom evidence is not established that he is a wali for Allah, we do not assert wilayah for him, but we hope for the doers of good, and we fear for the doers of evil, without asserting this. Yes. May Allah reward you with good.