Visiting the graves of the righteous, slaughtering animals for them, and making du'a to them
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 4297 ):
Q2: What is the ruling of the Islamic Shari'ah regarding visiting graves - specifically the graves of the righteous - where a man goes to the grave of a righteous person, accompanied by his family and relatives, including women, and they take a sheep with them to slaughter near the grave. Then they place food, eat and drink, and stay at this grave for a day or part of a day, and sometimes until early morning. This grave is at least 20 km away from the house, or more or less. Then they take some of the meat to their friends and relatives
in another place, intending that this meat is a gift or charity, and it is known that the name of Allah was mentioned over this slaughtered animal when it was slaughtered, and we have heard some people say: that this meat is exactly like pork, meaning: that it is religiously forbidden, and Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says:[Al-An'am 6:118]even though this journey, from its beginning to its end, was intended for nothing but drawing near to Allah by visiting the grave of this righteous person, making supplication at it, seeking blessing from it, and seeking nearness to Allah through it. And if two people disagree, they swear oaths at the grave of this righteous person and hold annual mawlid celebrations at their place. And it is our custom that if one of us falls ill, he goes to the graves of the righteous, and if one of us is afflicted with madness or a severe illness, his relatives take him to the grave of the righteous person, and sometimes he is cured of his illness or madness because of his visit to that righteous person. What is the view of Islam regarding this? Please inform us, may Allah have mercy on you.
A: First: It is not permissible to travel specifically to visit graves; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 827d . Second: It is prescribed to visit graves for men, not women, if it is within the town - meaning: without traveling specifically - for the sake of taking a lesson and making du'a for them if they are Muslims; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Musnad Ahmad 1236, 1237Sahih, because of corroborating evidence; this is a da'eef isnad because of the weakness of Ali bin Zaid and Rabee'ah bin an-Nabighah and his father are unknown], Sahih because of corroborating eviden (Darussalam)
and following his example (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) in his visiting the people of al-Baqi' and the martyrs at Uhud and greeting them and making du'a for them. Third: Making du'a to the dead, or calling upon them for aid, or seeking help from them, or slaughtering animals for them, and believing that they possess the power to bring benefit or ward off harm, or cure a sick person, or return an absent person - all of this and its like is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion of Islam. Fourth: Slaughtering for Allah at graves, seeking blessing from their inhabitants, aiming to make du'a at them, and prolonging one's stay there hoping for the blessing of their inhabitants, or seeking nearness to Allah through their status or their right, or the like - these are newly invented innovations, and indeed means of major shirk. It is forbidden to do them, and it is obligatory to advise those who do them. Fifth: As for the slaughtered animal at graves, aiming for the blessings of their inhabitants, it is a denunciation and an innovation, and it is not permissible to eat it; in order to cut off the material of shirk and its means, and to block the means to it. And if the intention behind the slaughtered animal is to draw near to the owner of the grave, it becomes major shirk with Allah, even if the name of Allah is mentioned over it; because the action of the hearts is more eloquent than the action of the tongue, and it is the foundation in acts of worship. Sixth: As for what may happen to some sick people who connect with or come to the graves, there is no proof in it for the permissibility of this act; because the cure may
coincide with that time by the decree of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, so the ignorant think that it is because of the righteous man in the graves. And because the worshippers of idols and jinn may have some of their needs fulfilled by Satan, and that was not a proof for the permissibility of their act, but their act is shirk with Allah, even if their needs are fulfilled; because the devils may deceive them with that to persist in shirk; and because that may coincide with the decree of Allah regarding the cure. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q2: What is the ruling of the Islamic Shari'ah regarding visiting graves - specifically the graves of the righteous - where a man goes to the grave of a righteous person, accompanied by his family and relatives, including women, and they take a sheep with them to slaughter near the grave. Then they place food, eat and drink, and stay at this grave for a day or part of a day, and sometimes until early morning. This grave is at least 20 km away from the house, or more or less. Then they take some of the meat to their friends and relatives
in another place, intending that this meat is a gift or charity, and it is known that the name of Allah was mentioned over this slaughtered animal when it was slaughtered, and we have heard some people say: that this meat is exactly like pork, meaning: that it is religiously forbidden, and Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says:
So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned
فَكُلُوا مِمَّا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِA: First: It is not permissible to travel specifically to visit graves; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Do not set out on a journey (for religious devotion) but for the three mosques-for this mosque of mine (at Medina) the Sacred Mosque (at Mecca), and the Mosque al-Aqsa (Bait al-Maqdis)
لا تشد الرحال إلاَّ إلى ثلاثة مساجد: مسجدي هذا، والمسجد الحرام ، والمسجد الأقصىI used to forbid you to visit the graves, but now visit them, for they remind you of the Hereafter.
كنت نهيتكم عن زيارة القبور فزوروها، فإنها تذكركم الآخرةand following his example (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) in his visiting the people of al-Baqi' and the martyrs at Uhud and greeting them and making du'a for them. Third: Making du'a to the dead, or calling upon them for aid, or seeking help from them, or slaughtering animals for them, and believing that they possess the power to bring benefit or ward off harm, or cure a sick person, or return an absent person - all of this and its like is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion of Islam. Fourth: Slaughtering for Allah at graves, seeking blessing from their inhabitants, aiming to make du'a at them, and prolonging one's stay there hoping for the blessing of their inhabitants, or seeking nearness to Allah through their status or their right, or the like - these are newly invented innovations, and indeed means of major shirk. It is forbidden to do them, and it is obligatory to advise those who do them. Fifth: As for the slaughtered animal at graves, aiming for the blessings of their inhabitants, it is a denunciation and an innovation, and it is not permissible to eat it; in order to cut off the material of shirk and its means, and to block the means to it. And if the intention behind the slaughtered animal is to draw near to the owner of the grave, it becomes major shirk with Allah, even if the name of Allah is mentioned over it; because the action of the hearts is more eloquent than the action of the tongue, and it is the foundation in acts of worship. Sixth: As for what may happen to some sick people who connect with or come to the graves, there is no proof in it for the permissibility of this act; because the cure may
coincide with that time by the decree of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, so the ignorant think that it is because of the righteous man in the graves. And because the worshippers of idols and jinn may have some of their needs fulfilled by Satan, and that was not a proof for the permissibility of their act, but their act is shirk with Allah, even if their needs are fulfilled; because the devils may deceive them with that to persist in shirk; and because that may coincide with the decree of Allah regarding the cure. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.