The Ruling on Circumambulating Graves and Worshipping Them Instead of Allah
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In many Islamic countries, there are shrines that are circumambulated and worshipped instead of Allah. In some villages, there are main shrines that are circumambulated daily, and in some villages, there are about ninety-nine shrines. People make pilgrimages to these and circumambulate them. One of my brothers mentioned that he circumambulated them from the Fajr prayer until the Zuhr prayer until he completed the circumambulation. In these villages, there are mosques where the prayers are established, and yet the call to the oneness of Allah has reached them. What is the ruling on these prayers? And what is the ruling on these acts of worship?
Whoever circumambulates the shrines—Meaning: the graves—calls upon the occupant of the grave, seeks aid from him, and seeks help from him, he is one who associates partners with Allah in major shirk.And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ma'idah: 72] And if these people pray in the mosques while they are persisting in this shirk—I mean: calling upon the occupants of the shrines and seeking aid from them—then their prayer is not accepted from them and does not benefit them with Allah.because of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Tawbah: 54] .
But it is obligatory for the people of knowledge in those lands to intensify the call, and to go to these people to explain the truth to them, and not to despair of the spirit of Allah. And if it is not possible for us to call them openly in a general manner;Because some people say: if I went to these common people and called them and said to them: "Your action is shirk," they might kill me. It is possible to choose one of their leaders, invite him to his home, or visit him in his home, and speak with him calmly, explaining to him the merits of sincerity, and explaining to him—also—that these dead people do not respond to him.As Allah the Exalted said: [Fatir: 14] And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Hijr: 5-6] So let them intensify the call with them; because those who frequent the shrines and call upon them are considered in the status of the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. Therefore, it is necessary to call them and intensify the call with them, and perhaps Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) will guide them through the hands of our righteous brothers.
Whoever circumambulates the shrines—Meaning: the graves—calls upon the occupant of the grave, seeks aid from him, and seeks help from him, he is one who associates partners with Allah in major shirk.And Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.
إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍAnd what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend except while they are unwilling.
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَنْ تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَى وَلا يُنْفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَBut it is obligatory for the people of knowledge in those lands to intensify the call, and to go to these people to explain the truth to them, and not to despair of the spirit of Allah. And if it is not possible for us to call them openly in a general manner;Because some people say: if I went to these common people and called them and said to them: "Your action is shirk," they might kill me. It is possible to choose one of their leaders, invite him to his home, or visit him in his home, and speak with him calmly, explaining to him the merits of sincerity, and explaining to him—also—that these dead people do not respond to him.As Allah the Exalted said: