The ruling on making a vow to one of the awliya (close friends of Allah) and its consequences
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A woman made a vow to one of the awliya (close friends of Allah), who is deceased. She vowed that whenever she gives birth to a child, whether male or female, she would give him a sheep (a gift). The Shaykh: Give it to whom?The questioner himself: She gives it to the wali (close friend of Allah).
The Shaykh: And he is dead?The questioner: Yes, she slaughters it.
And it has been mentioned that she has already fulfilled two, and the remaining two are yet to be fulfilled. And naturally, this sheep is handed over to a person called the khalifah, meaning: the successor of the deceased wali (close friend of Allah), and he disposes of this sheep as he pleases; if he wishes, he slaughters it for the present ones,And if he wishes, he sells it in the market and takes its value. Our question: Is it permissible for her husband to give her money to fulfill this vow?The Shaykh: Give her money to fulfill it?The questioner: Yes, that is correct.
Or he refuses,Knowing that the wife is holding onto this belief, namely: She holds the firm belief that this deceased wali (close friend of Allah) can benefit and harm. What is the ruling on her husband remaining with her while she is in this state? I hope your Eminence will inform us about this. If the answer is recorded on a tape, that would be best for sending it to many who hold this belief. If a tape is not available, I request the answer by any means. I also ask that you direct us to the names of tapes in libraries that contain admonition for such a problem. May Allah reward you and guide you to all good. Your brother, a Sudanese national, presents this.
The answer to this includes two things: The first thing: He asks: Is it obligatory for her husband to give her money to fulfill the vow?And we say: It is not obligatory for her husband, and it is not permissible for him to give her money to fulfill this vow. Rather, if she persists in the belief mentioned by the questioner: that this wali (close friend of Allah) can benefit and harm, then she is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), and it is not permissible for him to remain with her. He must separate from her; because it is not permissible for a Muslim to marry a mushrikah (female one who associates partners with Allah).
As for the second: So we say to this woman: Your vow is invalid; because it is a sin, and there is no vow in sin. She must expiate with the expiation of an oath for the vow, and she must repent to Allah the Exalted from this belief, and know that none can benefit or harm except Allah Mighty and Majestic. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), who is the master of the awliya (close friends of Allah), He said to him: [al-Jinn: 21-22] Meaning: If Allah the Exalted intends something for me, no one can protect me from Allah, and preserve me from Him, so how can I protect others? And if this is the case with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), how is it with those below him?! And on this basis we say: The awliya (close friends of Allah) do not benefit or harm, and slaughtering for them is shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah Mighty and Majestic, which is a departure from the religion. If she died while in this state, she would be among the people of the Fire.because of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [al-Ma'idah: 72] .
So now tell the brother: First: He must separate from her until she repents from this shirk (associating partners with Allah). If she repents, then she must expiate for her vow with the expiation of an oath.
And secondly: He must admonish this woman and warn her of Allah.And he says: Her action is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and if she died upon it, she would die to the Fire, may Allah protect us from it.
The Shaykh: And he is dead?The questioner: Yes, she slaughters it.
And it has been mentioned that she has already fulfilled two, and the remaining two are yet to be fulfilled. And naturally, this sheep is handed over to a person called the khalifah, meaning: the successor of the deceased wali (close friend of Allah), and he disposes of this sheep as he pleases; if he wishes, he slaughters it for the present ones,And if he wishes, he sells it in the market and takes its value. Our question: Is it permissible for her husband to give her money to fulfill this vow?The Shaykh: Give her money to fulfill it?The questioner: Yes, that is correct.
Or he refuses,Knowing that the wife is holding onto this belief, namely: She holds the firm belief that this deceased wali (close friend of Allah) can benefit and harm. What is the ruling on her husband remaining with her while she is in this state? I hope your Eminence will inform us about this. If the answer is recorded on a tape, that would be best for sending it to many who hold this belief. If a tape is not available, I request the answer by any means. I also ask that you direct us to the names of tapes in libraries that contain admonition for such a problem. May Allah reward you and guide you to all good. Your brother, a Sudanese national, presents this.
The answer to this includes two things: The first thing: He asks: Is it obligatory for her husband to give her money to fulfill the vow?And we say: It is not obligatory for her husband, and it is not permissible for him to give her money to fulfill this vow. Rather, if she persists in the belief mentioned by the questioner: that this wali (close friend of Allah) can benefit and harm, then she is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), and it is not permissible for him to remain with her. He must separate from her; because it is not permissible for a Muslim to marry a mushrikah (female one who associates partners with Allah).
As for the second: So we say to this woman: Your vow is invalid; because it is a sin, and there is no vow in sin. She must expiate with the expiation of an oath for the vow, and she must repent to Allah the Exalted from this belief, and know that none can benefit or harm except Allah Mighty and Majestic. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), who is the master of the awliya (close friends of Allah), He said to him:
(21) Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction." (22) Say, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allah anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge.
قُلْ إِنِّي لا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرّاً وَلا رَشَداً * قُلْ إِنِّي لَنْ يُجِيرَنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَنْ أَجِدَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَداًIndeed, 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 أَنْصَارٍSo now tell the brother: First: He must separate from her until she repents from this shirk (associating partners with Allah). If she repents, then she must expiate for her vow with the expiation of an oath.
And secondly: He must admonish this woman and warn her of Allah.And he says: Her action is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and if she died upon it, she would die to the Fire, may Allah protect us from it.