Details of the Types of Circumambulation Around Graves
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The questioner says: I read in a book that the prohibited circumambulation around graves is of two types. The first is if the intention behind circumambulating the graves is that this is a matter commanded by Allah the Exalted, and that it is an act of worship for Allah, while the person is ignorant. In this case, it is not major shirk (associating partners with Allah), but rather a sin and a bid'ah (religious innovation). The second is if he circumambulates with the intention of glorifying the grave, or if the circumambulation is accompanied by supplicating to the deceased or seeking his help. This is major shirk. Is this distinction correct?
Answer:
Yes, the distinction is correct. This is the statement of the people of truth. Circumambulating around graves, if the intention is to worship Allah, is a bid'ah (religious innovation), because Allah has not commanded this. If the intention is to worship the grave, it is shirk (associating partners with Allah). Is that clear? Yes.
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The questioner says: I read in a book that the prohibited circumambulation around graves is of two types. The first is if the intention behind circumambulating the graves is that this is a matter commanded by Allah the Exalted, and that it is an act of worship for Allah, while the person is ignorant. In this case, it is not major shirk (associating partners with Allah), but rather a sin and a bid'ah (religious innovation). The second is if he circumambulates with the intention of glorifying the grave, or if the circumambulation is accompanied by supplicating to the deceased or seeking his help. This is major shirk. Is this distinction correct?
Answer:
Yes, the distinction is correct. This is the statement of the people of truth. Circumambulating around graves, if the intention is to worship Allah, is a bid'ah (religious innovation), because Allah has not commanded this. If the intention is to worship the grave, it is shirk (associating partners with Allah). Is that clear? Yes.
Source
شرح إغاثة اللهفان من مصائد الشيطان لابن القيم، فصل ومن أعظم مكايده التي كاد بها أكثر الناس — islamhouse.com (56:16)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.