The Ruling on Vowing Money to Be Spent on the Custodians of Graves

The questioner:
Benefits from the explanation of the book *Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim li-Mukhalafat Ahl al-Jahim* by Ibn Taymiyyah. And likewise, if one vows money, whether currency or otherwise, for the custodians or the residents who perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) in that area?

The Shaykh:
And likewise, if one vows money to be spent on the servants of these graves, or these caves, or these polytheistic sites, if one vows for the custodians, or vows or gives charity with money to renovate and repair them, this is establishing these places which Allah has commanded to be demolished and removed, and this renovates them and spends on them. This is hostility toward Allah and His Messenger. Yes.

The questioner:
For these custodians have a resemblance to the custodians who were for al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat, ,

The Shaykh:
Because these graves which are worshipped besides Allah, like al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat, are idols and statues, and likewise those who serve them and are called custodians, these are like the custodians of idols, exactly the same. So just as it is not permissible to give charity to the custodians of idols or vow for them, so it is not permissible to vow for the custodians of graves and the servants of the graves that are venerated, because this is cooperation in sin and transgression. Yes.

The questioner:
and they shall not be .

The Shaykh:
Yes, these people who devote themselves to them do so to draw near to them, and this is worship of other than Allah. Also, they do this in order to consume the wealth of people wrongfully, namely those who give them charity and make donations to them. So they make these places traps for the wealth of the naive, the ignorant, and the misguided people. These are like the priests of ; there is no difference between them.