Ruling on drawing near to Allah by slaughtering at the shrines of the awliya (close friends of Allah) and praying beside them
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His Eminence the respected Shaykh, Abdul Aziz ibn Baz.
Your brother in Allah—from the Tunisian Republic—peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. After that:
All my hope is in Allah, then in you, O honorable Shaykh, that you answer my questions through my beloved magazine [Al-Da'wah]. Thank you in advance.
First question:
I went to the countryside once, and it happened that the day of 'Id al-Adha (the festival of sacrifice) arrived. I saw the people, men and women, hastening to a cemetery to visit the graves. It alarmed me on the morning of the 'Id that everyone who was present established the prayer in the cemetery. An elderly man led them, and he prayed with all of them, except that I remained in confusion and astonishment at what I saw, and I did not pray with them that prayer which they called the 'Id prayer.
My question: What is the ruling in Islam regarding this prayer? Knowing that the rural people I am referring to have neither a mosque nor a congregational mosque, as they live in tents scattered apart from one another.
Note: (When I say that they prayed in the cemetery, I mean beside it, far away from the graves).
Second question:
I visit my family and relatives every now and then after a separation that sometimes lasts six months, and sometimes a full year. When I arrive home, the women, young and old, welcome me with a modest and shy kiss. To tell the truth, this is a very widespread custom among us, and it means nothing to my relatives, as it does not represent, in their opinion, a forbidden act that is committed. But I, who have acquired a decent Islamic culture, praise be to Allah, remained in confusion and astonishment at this matter.
My question: How can I avoid kissing the women? Knowing that if I shook hands with them, they would be extremely angry and would say, "He does not respect us, he hates us, and he does not love us." The love that binds individuals, not the love that binds a young man and a young woman. And would I have committed a sin if I kissed them? Knowing that I do not have a malicious intention in that.
Third question:
Drawing near to Allah by slaughtering sheep at the shrines of the righteous awliya (close friends of Allah) still exists among my relatives. I forbade it, but they only became more stubborn. I said to them: "It is shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah." They said: "We worship Allah with true worship, but what is our sin if we visit His awliya (close friends of Allah) and say to Allah in our supplications: 'By the right of Your righteous wali (close friend of Allah) so-and-so... heal us, or remove from us such-and-such distress...'" I said: "Our religion is not a religion of intermediation." They said: "Leave us to our own state."
My question: What solution do you see as suitable for treating these people? What should I do toward them, and how do I fight bid'ah (religious innovation)? And thank you.
A1- Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace upon the noblest of messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions and the Tabi'un (the generation after the Companions) with excellence until the Day of Judgment. The 'Id prayer is only established in cities and villages, and it is not prescribed to establish it in the desert or while traveling. This is how the Sunnah came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is not recorded of him (peace and blessings be upon him) or of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that they prayed the 'Id prayer while traveling or in the desert. He performed Hajj of Farewell, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, and he did not pray Jumu'ah (the Friday prayer) at 'Arafah, and that day was the Day of 'Arafah, and he did not pray the 'Id prayer at Mina. In following him (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) lies all good and happiness. And Allah is the guarantor of success.
A2- It is not permissible for a Muslim to shake hands with or kiss anyone other than his wife and his mahram (a relative one may not marry). Rather, that is among the forbidden things and among the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and the exposure of lewd acts. It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sunan Ibn Majah 2874Sahih (Darussalam) All of that is forbidden by the consensus of Muslims, and it is among the greatest means to the occurrence of forbidden lewd acts.
So it is obligatory for the Muslim to be cautious of that, and to convince all the women accustomed to that, whether relatives or others, that it is forbidden even if people are accustomed to it. It is not permissible for a Muslim, male or female, to do it even if their relatives or the people of their land are accustomed to it. Rather, it is obligatory to deny that and warn the society against it, and one should suffice with speech in the greeting without shaking hands or kissing.
A3- It is known by the evidence from the Book and the Sunnah that drawing near to Allah by slaughtering for other than Allah, whether for the awliya (close friends of Allah), the jinn, idols, or other created things, is shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah and among the deeds of the jahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic age of ignorance) and the mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah). Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [Al-An'am: 162-163]. And the nusuk is: slaughtering. The Exalted clarified in this verse that slaughtering for other than Allah is shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah, just as praying for other than Allah is.
And He said, the Exalted: [Al-Kawthar: 1-2]. Allah, the Exalted, commanded His Prophet in this noble surah to pray to his Lord and to slaughter, in contrast to the people of shirk (associating partners with Allah) who prostrate to other than Allah and slaughter for other than Him. And He said, the Exalted: [Al-Isra: 23]. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Bayyinah: 5]. And the verses in this meaning are many. And slaughtering is an act of worship, so it must be made sincere for Allah alone. And in Sahih Muslim, from the Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) , he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1978b.
As for the saying of the one who says, "I ask Allah by the right of His awliya (close friends of Allah), or by the status of His awliya (close friends of Allah), or by the status of the Prophet," this is not shirk (associating partners with Allah), but it is bid'ah (religious innovation) according to the majority of the scholars, and it is among the means to shirk (associating partners with Allah); because du'a' (supplication) is worship, and its manner is from the matters of tawqif (restricted to what is established in the texts). And it is not established from our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) anything that indicates the permissibility or lawfulness of tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by the right or status of any of His creation. So it is not permissible for a Muslim to innovate a tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) that Allah, the Exalted, has not prescribed; because of the saying of Allah, the Exalted and Sublime: [Ash-Shura: 21].
And the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1718a, agreed upon for its authenticity. And in a narration by Muslim, and al-Bukhari suspended it in his Sahih with certainty Sahih Muslim 1718b. And the meaning of his saying "it is returned" is that it is returned to its owner and not accepted from him. So it is obligatory for the people of Islam to adhere to what Allah has prescribed and to be cautious of the bid'ah (religious innovation) that people have innovated.
As for the prescribed tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means), it is tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by the names of Allah and His attributes, and by His tawhid (the oneness of Allah), and by righteous deeds, and by faith in Allah and His Messenger, and by loving Allah and His Messenger, and the like of that of deeds of righteousness and good. And attached to the prescribed tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) is tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by the du'a' (supplication) of the living and his shafa'ah (intercession), as established in Sahih al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) : "When they were in drought, he sought rain by al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib and said: 'O Allah, we used to seek rain from You by our Prophet, and You gave us rain. And we seek nearness to You by the uncle of our Prophet, so give us rain.' And they were given rain." End. And Allah is the guarantor of success.
Your brother in Allah—from the Tunisian Republic—peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. After that:
All my hope is in Allah, then in you, O honorable Shaykh, that you answer my questions through my beloved magazine [Al-Da'wah]. Thank you in advance.
First question:
I went to the countryside once, and it happened that the day of 'Id al-Adha (the festival of sacrifice) arrived. I saw the people, men and women, hastening to a cemetery to visit the graves. It alarmed me on the morning of the 'Id that everyone who was present established the prayer in the cemetery. An elderly man led them, and he prayed with all of them, except that I remained in confusion and astonishment at what I saw, and I did not pray with them that prayer which they called the 'Id prayer.
My question: What is the ruling in Islam regarding this prayer? Knowing that the rural people I am referring to have neither a mosque nor a congregational mosque, as they live in tents scattered apart from one another.
Note: (When I say that they prayed in the cemetery, I mean beside it, far away from the graves).
Second question:
I visit my family and relatives every now and then after a separation that sometimes lasts six months, and sometimes a full year. When I arrive home, the women, young and old, welcome me with a modest and shy kiss. To tell the truth, this is a very widespread custom among us, and it means nothing to my relatives, as it does not represent, in their opinion, a forbidden act that is committed. But I, who have acquired a decent Islamic culture, praise be to Allah, remained in confusion and astonishment at this matter.
My question: How can I avoid kissing the women? Knowing that if I shook hands with them, they would be extremely angry and would say, "He does not respect us, he hates us, and he does not love us." The love that binds individuals, not the love that binds a young man and a young woman. And would I have committed a sin if I kissed them? Knowing that I do not have a malicious intention in that.
Third question:
Drawing near to Allah by slaughtering sheep at the shrines of the righteous awliya (close friends of Allah) still exists among my relatives. I forbade it, but they only became more stubborn. I said to them: "It is shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah." They said: "We worship Allah with true worship, but what is our sin if we visit His awliya (close friends of Allah) and say to Allah in our supplications: 'By the right of Your righteous wali (close friend of Allah) so-and-so... heal us, or remove from us such-and-such distress...'" I said: "Our religion is not a religion of intermediation." They said: "Leave us to our own state."
My question: What solution do you see as suitable for treating these people? What should I do toward them, and how do I fight bid'ah (religious innovation)? And thank you.
A1- Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace upon the noblest of messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions and the Tabi'un (the generation after the Companions) with excellence until the Day of Judgment. The 'Id prayer is only established in cities and villages, and it is not prescribed to establish it in the desert or while traveling. This is how the Sunnah came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is not recorded of him (peace and blessings be upon him) or of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that they prayed the 'Id prayer while traveling or in the desert. He performed Hajj of Farewell, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, and he did not pray Jumu'ah (the Friday prayer) at 'Arafah, and that day was the Day of 'Arafah, and he did not pray the 'Id prayer at Mina. In following him (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) lies all good and happiness. And Allah is the guarantor of success.
A2- It is not permissible for a Muslim to shake hands with or kiss anyone other than his wife and his mahram (a relative one may not marry). Rather, that is among the forbidden things and among the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and the exposure of lewd acts. It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
But I do not shake hands with women.
إني لا أصافح النساءSo it is obligatory for the Muslim to be cautious of that, and to convince all the women accustomed to that, whether relatives or others, that it is forbidden even if people are accustomed to it. It is not permissible for a Muslim, male or female, to do it even if their relatives or the people of their land are accustomed to it. Rather, it is obligatory to deny that and warn the society against it, and one should suffice with speech in the greeting without shaking hands or kissing.
A3- It is known by the evidence from the Book and the Sunnah that drawing near to Allah by slaughtering for other than Allah, whether for the awliya (close friends of Allah), the jinn, idols, or other created things, is shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah and among the deeds of the jahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic age of ignorance) and the mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah). Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :
(162) Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. (163) No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims."
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ * لا شَرِيكََ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَAnd He said, the Exalted:
(1) Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar. (2) So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ * فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْAnd your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him
وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلا تَعْبُدُوا إِلا إِيَّاهُAnd they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَAllah cursed him who sacrificed for anyone besides Allah
لعن الله من ذبح لغير اللهAs for the saying of the one who says, "I ask Allah by the right of His awliya (close friends of Allah), or by the status of His awliya (close friends of Allah), or by the status of the Prophet," this is not shirk (associating partners with Allah), but it is bid'ah (religious innovation) according to the majority of the scholars, and it is among the means to shirk (associating partners with Allah); because du'a' (supplication) is worship, and its manner is from the matters of tawqif (restricted to what is established in the texts). And it is not established from our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) anything that indicates the permissibility or lawfulness of tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by the right or status of any of His creation. So it is not permissible for a Muslim to innovate a tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) that Allah, the Exalted, has not prescribed; because of the saying of Allah, the Exalted and Sublime:
Or have they other deities who have ordained for them a religion to which Allah has not consented?
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنْ بِهِ اللَّهُAnd the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملًا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردAs for the prescribed tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means), it is tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by the names of Allah and His attributes, and by His tawhid (the oneness of Allah), and by righteous deeds, and by faith in Allah and His Messenger, and by loving Allah and His Messenger, and the like of that of deeds of righteousness and good. And attached to the prescribed tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) is tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) by the du'a' (supplication) of the living and his shafa'ah (intercession), as established in Sahih al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) : "When they were in drought, he sought rain by al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib and said: 'O Allah, we used to seek rain from You by our Prophet, and You gave us rain. And we seek nearness to You by the uncle of our Prophet, so give us rain.' And they were given rain." End. And Allah is the guarantor of success.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.