What is the ruling on the practice of those who seek blessing from the shrines in Algeria, and what do you advise those Algerians who wish to strive in the path of Allah?

The questioner : The first question, for example, we are in Algeria, and we have shrines in the capital. Specifically, we have shrines, and in these shrines, people seek blessing from the dead. Are these people associating partners with Allah or not? And secondly, what is your advice to the Algerian youth who want to strive in the path of Allah?

The Shaykh : Do you mean striving in the path of Allah, meaning fighting the disbelievers?

The questioner : Fighting the disbelievers, yes.

The Shaykh : As for this, the answer has already been given.

The questioner : A general advice, O Shaykh, what do you advise the Algerian youth?

The Shaykh : We advise them to purify themselves and to be educated. This topic is finished. This topic is finished. Your first question clarifies to us, or confirms to me personally at least, that there is no way except through purification and education. I am asking now: when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent, were there people who worshipped idols and worshipped the dead and the graves or not? There is no doubt that they existed. So, after the Meccan period ended, did any of the Muslims who said "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" remain who sought help from the dead other than Allah? My question is not clear, it seems? I say

Another questioner : None remained.

The Shaykh : None remained. So, the Algerian people are a Muslim people, how did many, if not most, remain in this state? I do not mean to criticize the Algerian people, because the Syrian people are like them, and the Egyptians are like them, and so on. But how did this that you are asking about remain in the Muslim society? Is it associating partners with Allah or not? How did this remain in the Muslim society?

Another questioner : Perhaps that is due to the media, such as television and radio.

The Shaykh : No, that is a mistake. The media was not mentioned when the mosques were built over the graves.

The questioner : Your words are clear.

The Shaykh : I know, but we want to take a lesson, may Allah reward you.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : We want, if we adopt an opinion, a thought, or a belief, to be upon clear knowledge. We say that the Muslim people in any country will never rise up and will not be able to establish the state of Islam in their land except through correct knowledge, and this is what we call purification. And not only with this knowledge, but also with education upon it. The Algerian people are like the Syrian people, like the other peoples; they still live as Muslims in name and as those who associate partners with Allah in reality. So, how can this associating partners with Allah be eliminated? It is by what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did. How did he do it? By calling to Allah And I return to confirm that today we have very big problems that were not in the first period. I told you just now that a problem exists today that did not exist before. Knowledge at that time was pure, fresh, and new. Today it is a mixture: something correct, something incorrect, something weak, and something invalid, and so on. So, it is necessary to carry out the process of purification. Who carries out the process of purification? This is all part of the details of the lecture I was delivering under these two words: "purification and education." Who performs the purification? There is no doubt that they are the people of knowledge, in your belief. Can one scholar keep up with a million Muslims regarding the Book and the Sunnah? So, O people, how are we to make a fuss and rise up to establish the state of Islam, when we, as callers, have not yet known what Islam is, let alone sit down to establish this Islam and found it with individuals who respond to this Islam? Therefore, purification and education are necessary. And therefore, we never approve any gathering that is based on mere gathering and assembly like the foam of a flood, but rather on purification and education. These are the ones who may one day achieve what all Muslims desire. Those who live upon clear knowledge and those who do not live upon clear knowledge, all of them, and praise be to Allah, agree on the necessity of establishing the Muslim state. And I believe that if the Muslim state were truly established, it would be found among these very Muslims that there are those who would fight it. And this is a very serious word. What is your opinion? But our Algerian brother is not with me, it seems.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good and prolong your life in a way that benefits Islam and the Muslims.