Is there a guiding word for those who believe in the deceased awliya (close friends of Allah) and their blessings?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you. Is there a guiding word for those people who believe in the awliya (close friends of Allah) who have passed away, that they have karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person) that remains?
The Shaykh : Yes, we say: The dead, even if we know of their righteousness before their death and that they were among the awliya (close friends of Allah) who believed and were mindful of Allah, their tangible effects have certainly gone. However, a person may have spiritual effects that count among his karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person), such as the acceptance of his books and writings. For example, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him); there is no doubt that people’s acceptance of his books and their benefit from them is a karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person) from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for this man. This is a lasting karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person). But a tangible karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person), in the sense that blessing descends through his mention or the like, this is not permissible. And pay attention to the phrase "the awliya (close friends of Allah) who believed and were mindful of Allah," because some of those who claim to be awliya (close friends of Allah) are actually enemies and not among the awliya (close friends of Allah). We have heard that there are people among the Sufis and non-Sufis who say: "We are awliya (close friends of Allah) of Allah," yet they are enemies of Allah. You find one who sees himself in the station of Lordship, and sees that some of the awliya (close friends of Allah) are better than the prophets, and sees that their imams have a status that no angel brought near and no messenger sent can reach, and the like of that. Do we count this among the awliya (close friends of Allah) or among the enemies of Allah?
This is among the enemies of Allah without doubt, even if he claims to be a wali (close friend of Allah), even if it is assumed that Allah caused extraordinary things to happen through his hands, they are either from the Shayatin (Satan) or a trial from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Because the measure in being a wali (close friend of Allah) or an enemy is what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) mentioned in His saying:[Yunus 10:62-63] This is the measure. And how excellent is what Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said, two phrases taken from this verse. He said: "Whoever is a believer and mindful of Allah is a wali (close friend of Allah) of Allah", and he said: "Through patience and certainty, leadership in religion is attained", taken from the saying of Allah the Exalted: [As-Sajdah 32:24]. So these are two great principles and two measures that are not diminished. Who is the wali (close friend of Allah)?
The questioner : The believer.
The Shaykh : No, the believer who is mindful of Allah. Who is the imam?
The questioner : The patient one.
The Shaykh : The patient one who is certain of the verses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner : Shaykh, regarding tangible belief, they still seek blessing from effects that do not benefit anything.
The Shaykh : Like what?
The questioner : Such as coming to the grave and rubbing against the dirt and the like of that.
The Shaykh : This is tangible.
The questioner : With the dirt and the like of that.
The Shaykh : This is tangible, this is not permissible.
The questioner : Yes, indeed.
The Shaykh : Seeking blessing from the dirt of the grave is ignorance and misguidance. First, the dirt of the grave did not touch this buried man; he is above it, it has no connection to him.
And second, dogs urinate on this dirt, how can one seek blessing from it?!
And third, this does not benefit, and if it does benefit, it is a test from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, we say: The dead, even if we know of their righteousness before their death and that they were among the awliya (close friends of Allah) who believed and were mindful of Allah, their tangible effects have certainly gone. However, a person may have spiritual effects that count among his karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person), such as the acceptance of his books and writings. For example, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him); there is no doubt that people’s acceptance of his books and their benefit from them is a karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person) from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for this man. This is a lasting karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person). But a tangible karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person), in the sense that blessing descends through his mention or the like, this is not permissible. And pay attention to the phrase "the awliya (close friends of Allah) who believed and were mindful of Allah," because some of those who claim to be awliya (close friends of Allah) are actually enemies and not among the awliya (close friends of Allah). We have heard that there are people among the Sufis and non-Sufis who say: "We are awliya (close friends of Allah) of Allah," yet they are enemies of Allah. You find one who sees himself in the station of Lordship, and sees that some of the awliya (close friends of Allah) are better than the prophets, and sees that their imams have a status that no angel brought near and no messenger sent can reach, and the like of that. Do we count this among the awliya (close friends of Allah) or among the enemies of Allah?
This is among the enemies of Allah without doubt, even if he claims to be a wali (close friend of Allah), even if it is assumed that Allah caused extraordinary things to happen through his hands, they are either from the Shayatin (Satan) or a trial from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Because the measure in being a wali (close friend of Allah) or an enemy is what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) mentioned in His 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
ألاّ إنّ أولياء الله لا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون الذين آمنوا وكانوا يتّقونAnd We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs.
وجعلناهم أئمّة يهدون بأمرنا لمّا صبروا وكانوا بآياتنا يوقنونThe questioner : The believer.
The Shaykh : No, the believer who is mindful of Allah. Who is the imam?
The questioner : The patient one.
The Shaykh : The patient one who is certain of the verses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner : Shaykh, regarding tangible belief, they still seek blessing from effects that do not benefit anything.
The Shaykh : Like what?
The questioner : Such as coming to the grave and rubbing against the dirt and the like of that.
The Shaykh : This is tangible.
The questioner : With the dirt and the like of that.
The Shaykh : This is tangible, this is not permissible.
The questioner : Yes, indeed.
The Shaykh : Seeking blessing from the dirt of the grave is ignorance and misguidance. First, the dirt of the grave did not touch this buried man; he is above it, it has no connection to him.
And second, dogs urinate on this dirt, how can one seek blessing from it?!
And third, this does not benefit, and if it does benefit, it is a test from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes.