We know that visiting graves for the purpose of seeking help and calling for aid from them is forbidden and shirk (associating partners with Allah), but what should I do when my family offers sacrificial animals every year to the occupants of the graves with the aim of drawing near to them?
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh says: We know, and praise be to Allah, that visiting graves for the purpose of seeking help and calling for aid from them is forbidden and shirk (associating partners with Allah). But what should I do when my family offers sacrificial animals every year to the occupants of the graves with the aim of drawing near to them? We have advised them many times, but to no avail, as they claim that they are awliya (close friends of Allah) and righteous people. So I said to them: If they are righteous, they are righteous only for themselves, and they are dead and cannot benefit you. My question is: Should I remain in the house with them, knowing that they pray? And is their prayer accepted?
The Shaykh : We are with you in advising your family about this shameful act, which is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that Allah does not forgive, and about which Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:72] And I say to your family: Fear Allah in yourselves, for if you die upon that, you will become among the companions of the Fire, and you will be eternal in it, made to abide therein, and Allah has forbidden Paradise to you, may Allah protect us from that. They are polytheists, eternal in the Fire, even if they pray, fast, perform Hajj, and perform 'Umrah (the lesser pilgrimage). Their prayer is not accepted, their Hajj is not accepted, and their charity is not accepted, because they are disbelievers, may Allah protect us from that. My advice to these relatives is to seize the matter before it is too late, that they repent to Allah the Mighty and Majestic before the term of death arrives, for repentance after the arrival of the term of death is not accepted. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said: [An-Nisa 4:18] I say to your family: Save yourselves from the Fire, save yourselves from the Fire, save yourselves from the Fire. And these dead people whom you visit, first, do you testify that they are awliya (close friends of Allah)? They may be awliya (close friends of Allah) according to their appearance, but their inner selves are in ruins, and we do not know. And if we assume the best to the utmost limit, let them be among the awliya (close friends of Allah), but if they are among the awliya (close friends of Allah), then they are lifeless corpses who do not possess for themselves any benefit or harm, and they do not possess for others any benefit or harm. Allah the Exalted said: [Saba 34:22-23] And Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said: [Fatir 35:13-14] And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ahqaf 46:5-6] And let your family and others who call upon the dead know that these dead do not respond, do not benefit, and do not harm, and that they themselves are in need of someone to pray for them. I ask Allah to illuminate our hearts with tawhid (the oneness of Allah), sincerity, and faith. Indeed, He is Capable of all things.
The questioner : May Allah preserve you, honorable Shaykh. Honorable Shaykh Muhammad.
The Shaykh : We are with you in advising your family about this shameful act, which is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that Allah does not forgive, and about which 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 أَنصَارٍBut repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "Indeed, I have repented now," or of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.
وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّي تُبْتُ الأنَ وَلا الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُوْلَئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا(22) Say, [O Muhammad], "Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allah." They do not possess an atom's weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant. (23) And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits.
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلا فِي الأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِنْ شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ ظَهِيرٍ * وَلا تَنفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُAnd those whom you invoke other than Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed. (14) If you invoke them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they heard, they would not respond to you. And on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your association. And none can inform you like [one] Acquainted [with all matters].
وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِنْ قِطْمِيرٍ * إِنْ تَدْعُوهُمْ لا يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ وَلا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ(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.
وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ يَدْعُو مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَنْ لا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَهُمْ عَنْ دُعَائِهِمْ غَافِلُونَ * وَإِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُوا لَهُمْ أَعْدَاءً وَكَانُوا بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَافِرِينَThe questioner : May Allah preserve you, honorable Shaykh. Honorable Shaykh Muhammad.