Depicting Graves and Their Worship, and the Reason for the Prohibition of Depiction

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: I saw, when I traveled to one of the countries of East Asia, photographs placed above the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah), and people prostrate to them, light candles at them, and worship them instead of Allah. Is this not sufficient reason to prohibit depiction? And why have many students of knowledge in this blessed land overlooked this matter and its consequences?

Answer:
This involves two forbidden matters. First, the depiction; first, the depiction. And second, which is more severe, is the worship of these images. This indicates that the reason for the prohibition of depiction is that it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). If these images were not depicted, this excess would not have occurred. These images encouraged them to worship them.
This is evidence that depicting the dead, especially the righteous, scholars, and kings, is a close means to shirk, may Allah protect us from it.
And we saw them in Africa; we saw that when you approach the cemetery, you think there are people standing in it, but they are statues. Every grave has a statue of its owner placed on it, so that when you approach, you say, "What are these people gathered for a funeral?" And if you look at them, they are statues of men and women. There is no power or might except with Allah. Yes.
It is obligatory for students of knowledge and scholars to denounce this thing. They should teach people that this is not permissible. They should teach them with gentleness and wisdom. They should teach them these matters. Yes, they do not remain silent about them, saying, "This is a normal thing." They are neither obedient nor... No, this is not permissible. Explain it to the people, explain it to the people, call Yes.