Is visiting the awliya (close friends of Allah) permissible or not? And if it is permissible, how is the visit conducted, and how are we to seek mercy for them?
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The questioner : This is a listener from the Kingdom of Morocco who says in this question: Is visiting the awliya (close friends of Allah) permissible or not? And if it is permissible, how is the visit conducted, and how are we to seek mercy for them?
The Shaykh : Yes. First, we must know who the awliya (close friends of Allah) are. Is the wali (close friend of Allah) one who grows his hair long, enlarges his turban, and increases the beads of his prayer beads, or something similar to what those who claim to be awliya (close friends of Allah) practice? Or is it something else? The answer to this is to say that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has defined the wali (close friend of Allah) in His Book, saying:[Yunus 10:62-63] So the wali (close friend of Allah) in reality is the one who believes in Allah (Mighty and Majestic), who believes in everything that must be believed in, and who is mindful of Allah. Taqwa (mindfulness of Allah) is taking precautions against the punishment of Allah by doing His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. So if we know that a man has this description, he is one who is mindful of Allah, and visiting him, if he is alive, is not a problem; rather, it may be required because of the good in sitting with him. For the believing, mindful wali (close friend of Allah) is a good companion. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged sitting with him and said (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 2628.
As for visiting their graves, if a person visits them for the sake of seeking blessing from them, then that is a religious innovation (bid'ah) and a means to associating partners with Allah (shirk). But if he visits them to make du'a' (supplication) for them, then there is nothing wrong with it. For visiting graves to make du'a' (supplication) for the people of the graves is permissible, and it is an act of excellence in worship (ihsan) toward them. But if he visits them, meaning he visits the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah) to call upon the awliya (close friends of Allah) and seek their aid, then that is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion. No prayer, charity, fasting, or Hajj (major pilgrimage) is accepted from its doer because he is one who associates partners with Allah (mushrik) with major shirk (associating partners with Allah). For Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:[Ghafir 40:60] And He (Glorified and Exalted is He) says: [Al-Ahqaf 46:5-6] And He (Mighty and Majestic) says: [Ash-Shu'ara 26:213] and other verses indicating the warning against calling upon other than Allah, and that it is disbelief (kufr) and shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion. So visiting these awliya (close friends of Allah) is of three types: visiting to make du'a' (supplication) for them and to take a lesson from their conditions, and this is permissible, rather required; visiting to seek blessing from them, and this is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah); and visiting to call upon them and seek their aid, and this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion.
Then, as for the second category, which is seeking blessing from them, if one believes that these people place blessing in his efforts, his family, and his wealth because of visiting them, then that is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion. For these people are not able to do this; they are dead, not alive, so they are not able to benefit anyone in this world by removing hardship or bringing benefit. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Yes. First, we must know who the awliya (close friends of Allah) are. Is the wali (close friend of Allah) one who grows his hair long, enlarges his turban, and increases the beads of his prayer beads, or something similar to what those who claim to be awliya (close friends of Allah) practice? Or is it something else? The answer to this is to say that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has defined the wali (close friend of Allah) in His Book, saying:
(62) Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve (63) Those who believed and were fearing Allah
ألا إن أولياء الله لا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون الذين ءامنوا وكانوا يتقونAbu Musa reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one (iron-smith) blowing bellows, and the owner of musk would either offer you free of charge or you would buy it from him or you would. smell its pleasant odour, and so far as one who blows the. bellows is concerned, he would either burn your clothes or you shall have to smell its repugnant smell.
مثل الجليس الصالح كحامل المسك إما أن يحذيك وإما أن يبيعك وإما أن تجد منه رائحة طيبةAs for visiting their graves, if a person visits them for the sake of seeking blessing from them, then that is a religious innovation (bid'ah) and a means to associating partners with Allah (shirk). But if he visits them to make du'a' (supplication) for them, then there is nothing wrong with it. For visiting graves to make du'a' (supplication) for the people of the graves is permissible, and it is an act of excellence in worship (ihsan) toward them. But if he visits them, meaning he visits the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah) to call upon the awliya (close friends of Allah) and seek their aid, then that is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion. No prayer, charity, fasting, or Hajj (major pilgrimage) is accepted from its doer because he is one who associates partners with Allah (mushrik) with major shirk (associating partners with Allah). For Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.
وَقالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادعوني أَستَجِب لَكُم إِنَّ الَّذينَ يَستَكبِرونَ عَن عِبادَتي سَيَدخُلونَ جَهَنَّمَ داخِرينَ(5) And who is more astray than he who invokes besides Allah those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they, of their invocation, are unaware. (6) And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship.
وَمَن أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدعو مِن دونِ اللَّهِ مَن لا يَستَجيبُ لَهُ إِلى يَومِ القِيامَةِ وَهُم عَن دُعائِهِم غافِلونَ * وَإِذا حُشِرَ النّاسُ كانوا لَهُم أَعداءً وَكانوا بِعِبادَتِهِم كافِرينَSo do not invoke with Allah another deity and [thus] be among the punished.
فَلا تَدعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلهًا ءاخَرَ فَتَكونَ مِنَ المُعَذَّبينَThen, as for the second category, which is seeking blessing from them, if one believes that these people place blessing in his efforts, his family, and his wealth because of visiting them, then that is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion. For these people are not able to do this; they are dead, not alive, so they are not able to benefit anyone in this world by removing hardship or bringing benefit. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.