The Ruling on the Worship of Graves
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q: It is said that the first polytheists used to acknowledge that they did not worship their gods except to bring them closer to Allah, and they used to worship idols. So how do you rule that those you call "grave worshippers" are committing shirk (associating partners with Allah), when they do not worship idols, nor did they say that they worship, but rather they seek blessing?
A: Worship is not defined by the opinions of people, but rather by the ruling of Allah . The first polytheists had their objects of worship divided into categories: some worshipped idols, some worshipped the prophets, some worshipped the righteous, some worshipped trees and stones, and some worshipped other things. They were not all the same, and Allah declared them all disbelievers until they entered into the religion of Allah and worshipped Allah alone. He the Exalted said: [Al-Imran: 80], making the worship of the prophets and the angels disbelief if they do not submit to the truth.
It is well known that the people of Ta'if worshipped al-Lat, who was a righteous man, so Allah declared them disbelievers until they entered Islam, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fought them until they entered Islam. Likewise, the Christians worship Jesus and his mother; Jesus is a prophet and his mother is a righteous woman, yet they are disbelievers because of this. Similarly, the Jews worshipped their rabbis and monks, and they worshipped Uzair, saying that he is the son of Allah, and they are disbelievers because of this. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said in the clear, decisive revelation: [Al-Isra: 56-57]. He (Glorified is He) informed about some of the polytheists that they worship righteous people seeking a means of approach to their Lord, hoping for His mercy and fearing His punishment. So He denied their worship of anyone other than Allah, and clarified that they do not possess the power to remove harm from their worshippers or to avert it.
The scholars of tafsir (exegesis) said regarding this verse: It was revealed concerning Jesus and his mother, and Uzair, and every righteous man or prophet. Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "It was revealed concerning some humans who used to worship some of the jinn. The jinn became Muslims, but the humans persisted in their worship." So the conclusion is that it was revealed concerning the righteous and the prophets, and Allah declared their worshippers disbelievers because of this, and informed that they do not possess the power to remove harm from their worshippers or to avert it.
And Allah the Exalted said: [Fatir: 13-14]. He called their supplication to them shirk (associating partners with Allah), even though they did not call upon them except because they were intercessors. They did not call upon them because they possessed the power of harm and benefit, or because they create or provide sustenance. Rather, Allah said about them: They said: [Az-Zumar: 3]. And they said: [Yunus: 18]. So He declared them disbelievers because of this, even though they did not believe except that they were intercessors and those who bring close, and they did not claim that they create or provide sustenance, or benefit or harm.
And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Mu'minun: 117]. He called them disbelievers, even though they did not worship them because they benefit or harm, or because they independently bring benefit or avert harm, or because they create. Rather, they worshipped them because, in their claim, they bring them closer to Allah and intercede for them with Him.
And He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: [Al-Hajj: 5-6]. This is general for prophets, the righteous, and others. The point is that the scholars, without exception, have agreed that whoever worships other than Allah—whether an idol, a prophet, a righteous person, a jinn, or anything else—is a disbeliever absolutely, even if the worshipped object is a prophet or a righteous person. This is the consensus of the scholars without exception, and the evidence for this from the words of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and the words of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is clear, and some of it has been mentioned previously. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) is the one who grants success.
A: Worship is not defined by the opinions of people, but rather by the ruling of Allah . The first polytheists had their objects of worship divided into categories: some worshipped idols, some worshipped the prophets, some worshipped the righteous, some worshipped trees and stones, and some worshipped other things. They were not all the same, and Allah declared them all disbelievers until they entered into the religion of Allah and worshipped Allah alone. He the Exalted said:
Nor could he order you to take the angels and prophets as lords. Would he order you to disbelief after you had been Muslims?
وَلا يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَنْ تَتَّخِذُوا الْمَلائِكَةَ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ أَرْبَابًا أَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَIt is well known that the people of Ta'if worshipped al-Lat, who was a righteous man, so Allah declared them disbelievers until they entered Islam, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fought them until they entered Islam. Likewise, the Christians worship Jesus and his mother; Jesus is a prophet and his mother is a righteous woman, yet they are disbelievers because of this. Similarly, the Jews worshipped their rabbis and monks, and they worshipped Uzair, saying that he is the son of Allah, and they are disbelievers because of this. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said in the clear, decisive revelation:
(56) Say, "Invoke those you have claimed [as gods] besides Him, for they do not possess the [ability for] removal of adversity from you or [for its] transfer [to someone else]." (57) Those whom they invoke seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them would be nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared.
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ فَلا يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ الضُّرِّ عَنْكُمْ وَلا تَحْوِيلًا * أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُThe scholars of tafsir (exegesis) said regarding this verse: It was revealed concerning Jesus and his mother, and Uzair, and every righteous man or prophet. Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "It was revealed concerning some humans who used to worship some of the jinn. The jinn became Muslims, but the humans persisted in their worship." So the conclusion is that it was revealed concerning the righteous and the prophets, and Allah declared their worshippers disbelievers because of this, and informed that they do not possess the power to remove harm from their worshippers or to avert it.
And Allah the Exalted said:
That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs sovereignty. And 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.
ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِنْ قِطْمِيرٍ * إِنْ تَدْعُوهُمْ لا يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْWe only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position
مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَىThese are our intercessors with Allah
هَؤُلاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِAnd Allah the Exalted said:
And whoever invokes besides Allah another deity for which he has no proof - then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.
وَمَنْ يَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ لا بُرْهَانَ لَهُ بِهِ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ إِنَّهُ لا يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُونَAnd He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:
(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 كَافِرِينَ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.