What is the ruling on holding a celebration at the grave of a wali, offering the most delicious foods, and compelling some people to offer sacrifices?
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Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner says: In many Muslim countries today, a celebration is held at the grave of a wali, where the most delicious foods are offered, and some people are compelled to offer sacrifices. Those who do not offer them are threatened with the anger of the wali. What is the ruling on this act? And is it permissible to attend it?
Answer:
This act is apparent shirk (associating partners with Allah), and I seek refuge in Allah from it. This is shirk. Attending the grave of the wali for the sake of drawing near to him, calling upon him for aid, slaughtering for him, making vows to him, and believing that he will harm whoever does not attend—this is major shirk that takes one out of the religion. It is obligatory for anyone afflicted with any of this to repent to Allah the Exalted and Majestic, return to the truth, and not follow people in falsehood.
Even if they threaten him that it will harm him, it will not harm him. Harm and benefit are in the hand of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Previously, the polytheists threatened the Prophet of Allah, Hud (peace be upon him), and they said to him:[Hud 11:54]. [Hud 11:54-56]. It did not harm him. He made this declaration before a stubborn nation, the people of 'Ad, who were stubborn, and he was just one man. He made this declaration and it did not harm him. So the Muslim declares his disavowal of these things and that he relies upon Allah the Exalted and Majestic, and they will not harm him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
He says: "Say: 'Call upon your partners.'" Allah tells him to say to the polytheists:[Al-A'raf 7:195-196]. And so the prophets, the righteous, and the pious do not care about these graves and these false beliefs. Rather, they disavow them and openly declare their enmity toward them. They are not harmed, praise be to Allah. Rather, it increased them in strength and faith. Indeed, when the polytheists threatened the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) after the Battle of Uhud and threatened the Muslims: [Ali 'Imran 3:173].
They turned to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and relied upon Him, and nothing harmed them:[Ali 'Imran 3:174]. So the Muslim relies upon Allah and does not pay attention to these matters. He does not attend them except for the purpose of disapproval, if he attends in order to disapprove and call to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. As for attending and remaining silent, this is not permissible. And more severe than that is eating from their food and their slaughtered animals, because this is shirk. These slaughtered animals are haram (forbidden). The slaughtered animals of polytheists are haram; it is not permissible to eat them. That which is dedicated to other than Allah—Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, mentioned among the prohibited slaughtered animals that which is dedicated to other than Allah. And these are slaughtered for the graves, so they are among that which is dedicated to other than Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
May Allah reward you. The questioner says: In many Muslim countries today, a celebration is held at the grave of a wali, where the most delicious foods are offered, and some people are compelled to offer sacrifices. Those who do not offer them are threatened with the anger of the wali. What is the ruling on this act? And is it permissible to attend it?
Answer:
This act is apparent shirk (associating partners with Allah), and I seek refuge in Allah from it. This is shirk. Attending the grave of the wali for the sake of drawing near to him, calling upon him for aid, slaughtering for him, making vows to him, and believing that he will harm whoever does not attend—this is major shirk that takes one out of the religion. It is obligatory for anyone afflicted with any of this to repent to Allah the Exalted and Majestic, return to the truth, and not follow people in falsehood.
Even if they threaten him that it will harm him, it will not harm him. Harm and benefit are in the hand of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Previously, the polytheists threatened the Prophet of Allah, Hud (peace be upon him), and they said to him:
We only say that some of our gods have possessed you with evil.
إِن نَّقُولُ إِلَّا اعْتَرَاكَ بَعْضُ آلِهَتِنَا بِسُوءٍHe said, "Indeed, I call Allah to witness, and witness [yourselves] that I am free from whatever you associate with Allah (55) Other than Him. So plot against me all together; then do not give me respite. (56) Indeed, I have relied upon Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds its forelock. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight."
قَالَ إِنِّي أُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ وَاشْهَدُوا أَنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ مِن دُونِهِ فَكِيدُونِي جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ لَا تُنظِرُونِ إِنِّي تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّي وَرَبِّكُم مَّا مِن دَابَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍHe says: "Say: 'Call upon your partners.'" Allah tells him to say to the polytheists:
Say, [O Muhammad], "Call your 'partners' and then conspire against me and give me no respite. (196) Indeed, my protector is Allah, who has sent down the Book; and He is an ally to the righteous.
قُلِ ادْعُوا شُرَكَاءَكُمْ ثُمَّ كِيدُونِ فَلَا تُنظِرُونِ إِنَّ وَلِيِّيَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّى الصَّالِحِينَThose to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs."
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُThey turned to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and relied upon Him, and nothing harmed them:
So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty, no harm having touched them. And they pursued the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.
فَانقَلَبُوا بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَّمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ وَاتَّبَعُوا رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم إقامة احتفال عند ضريح الولي وتقديم أشهى المأكولات وإلزام بعض الناس بتقديم قرابين؟ — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.