The Ruling on Seeking Aid from the Ashraf and the Awliya
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What is your opinion regarding Muslims who seek aid from the Sada, the awliya (close friends of Allah), and others?
If a person is in a land of Islam where the oneness of Allah is manifest, and there is nothing of the symbols of disbelief, and he lives among them, then he is not excused for it; because there is no cause there that leads to shirk (associating partners with Allah). But in lands of Islam where there are symbols of shirk, as is the case in most Islamic lands at the present time, where there are graves that are worshipped besides Allah and from which aid is sought, then that may be excused due to ignorance; because he may be a common person who knows nothing at all, living in this village while they turn to so-and-so the Sayyid and so-and-so the wali (close friend of Allah) and seek aid from him, so he was with them and no one alerted him to it, then this is excused due to his ignorance and he is judged by the apparent state of his affairs.
Then, if there is something hidden from us, his matter is with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. As for in this world, he is judged by the apparent state of his affairs, which is Islam; because if he believed that this was shirk, he would not have done it; because he professes Islam, testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishes the prayer, gives the zakah, performs Hajj to the House, and fasts, but he is among a people who grew up with this and became old with it, and they do not know that this is shirk, so there is no doubt that he is excused;Because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: [At-Tawbah: 115] And He said: [An-Nisa: 115] And the verses in this meaning are many,And Allah the Exalted said: [Ibrahim: 4] So clarification is necessary, and knowledge is necessary, and Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is too noble to punish one who does not know that this is a sin.
If a person is in a land of Islam where the oneness of Allah is manifest, and there is nothing of the symbols of disbelief, and he lives among them, then he is not excused for it; because there is no cause there that leads to shirk (associating partners with Allah). But in lands of Islam where there are symbols of shirk, as is the case in most Islamic lands at the present time, where there are graves that are worshipped besides Allah and from which aid is sought, then that may be excused due to ignorance; because he may be a common person who knows nothing at all, living in this village while they turn to so-and-so the Sayyid and so-and-so the wali (close friend of Allah) and seek aid from him, so he was with them and no one alerted him to it, then this is excused due to his ignorance and he is judged by the apparent state of his affairs.
Then, if there is something hidden from us, his matter is with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. As for in this world, he is judged by the apparent state of his affairs, which is Islam; because if he believed that this was shirk, he would not have done it; because he professes Islam, testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishes the prayer, gives the zakah, performs Hajj to the House, and fasts, but he is among a people who grew up with this and became old with it, and they do not know that this is shirk, so there is no doubt that he is excused;Because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: