Ruling on Visiting the Shrines of the Awliya and the Righteous
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Question:
He says in a question of his: If visiting graves is forbidden, how can people visit the shrines of the righteous awliya (close friends of Allah)?
Answer:
Visiting graves is a recommended practice (sunnah); it is not forbidden, but only if done in the manner prescribed by the Shari'ah. There are two types of visiting: an innovated one and a recommended one.
The visit whose purpose is to make supplication for the dead, to seek mercy for them, and to remember the Hereafter and death is required; it is a recommended practice and an act of drawing near to Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it and said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1569Sahih (Darussalam) In another wording: He used to teach his Companions (peace and blessings be upon him) that when they visited graves, they should say: Sunan Ibn Majah 1547Sahih (Darussalam) and make supplication for them, saying: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1053Da'if (Darussalam) Sahih Muslim 974a.
This is how the believer greets them and makes supplication for them. As for calling upon them alongside Allah, saying: "O my master, fulfill my need, help me," this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). "O my master, help us against so-and-so and so-and-so, help us against the disbelievers, aid me, cure my sick one, I am under your protection and guardianship"—this is an abomination, this is among the forbidden acts of shirk, and it is not permissible. This is the practice of the first polytheists. We ask Allah for safety from it. This is an innovated, shirky visit.
Similarly, if he visits them and circumambulates their graves, this is also major shirk if he is circumambulating to draw near to them through it. However, if he thinks that circumambulating their graves is a means of drawing near to Allah, then this is an innovation (bid'ah) and is not permissible. Similarly, praying at their graves is an innovation, and sitting there to recite is an innovation.
As for making supplication to them, making supplication to the dead, calling for aid from the dead, making vows for them, and slaughtering for them, this is major shirk. We ask Allah for safety from it. The believer should, indeed, it is obligatory upon him to be discerning, and to ask the people of knowledge of the Sunnah, the people of good creed, about what is difficult for him, and to beware of what Allah has forbidden him. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. It seems our brother, Your Eminence the Shaykh, mixed up the ruling between women and men?
The Shaykh : Women do not visit graves. Graves are for men; only men visit graves. As for women, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the women who visit graves because they are a trial (fitnah) and their patience is little; therefore, it is not permissible for them to visit graves. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
He says in a question of his: If visiting graves is forbidden, how can people visit the shrines of the righteous awliya (close friends of Allah)?
Answer:
Visiting graves is a recommended practice (sunnah); it is not forbidden, but only if done in the manner prescribed by the Shari'ah. There are two types of visiting: an innovated one and a recommended one.
The visit whose purpose is to make supplication for the dead, to seek mercy for them, and to remember the Hereafter and death is required; it is a recommended practice and an act of drawing near to Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it and said:
Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.
زوروا القبور؛ فإنها تذكركم الآخرةThey remind you of death
تذكركم الموتAs-salamu ‘alaykum ahlad-diyar minal-mu’minina wal- muslimin, wa inna insha’ Allah bikum lahiqun, nas’alul-laha lana wa lakumul-‘afiyah
السلام عليكم أهل الديار من المؤمنين والمسلمين، وإنا -إن شاء الله- بكم لاحقون، نسأل الله لنا ولكم العافية، يرحم الله المستقدمين منا والمستأخرينMay Allah forgive us and you
يغفر الله لنا ولكمO Allah, grant forgiveness to the inhabitants of Baqi' al-Gharqad.
اللهم اغفر لأهل بقيع الغرقدThis is how the believer greets them and makes supplication for them. As for calling upon them alongside Allah, saying: "O my master, fulfill my need, help me," this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). "O my master, help us against so-and-so and so-and-so, help us against the disbelievers, aid me, cure my sick one, I am under your protection and guardianship"—this is an abomination, this is among the forbidden acts of shirk, and it is not permissible. This is the practice of the first polytheists. We ask Allah for safety from it. This is an innovated, shirky visit.
Similarly, if he visits them and circumambulates their graves, this is also major shirk if he is circumambulating to draw near to them through it. However, if he thinks that circumambulating their graves is a means of drawing near to Allah, then this is an innovation (bid'ah) and is not permissible. Similarly, praying at their graves is an innovation, and sitting there to recite is an innovation.
As for making supplication to them, making supplication to the dead, calling for aid from the dead, making vows for them, and slaughtering for them, this is major shirk. We ask Allah for safety from it. The believer should, indeed, it is obligatory upon him to be discerning, and to ask the people of knowledge of the Sunnah, the people of good creed, about what is difficult for him, and to beware of what Allah has forbidden him. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. It seems our brother, Your Eminence the Shaykh, mixed up the ruling between women and men?
The Shaykh : Women do not visit graves. Graves are for men; only men visit graves. As for women, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the women who visit graves because they are a trial (fitnah) and their patience is little; therefore, it is not permissible for them to visit graves. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.