The Ruling on Directing Many Acts of Worship to Those Called Awliya

This is a letter that reached us from Muhammad Barir Malik al-Shaykh al-Tayyib from Sudan. The brother Muhammad speaks in his letter about a problem prevalent in some of their villages, where he says: There are people who believe that certain men are the awliya (close friends of Allah), the righteous ones, so they call upon them and ask them for help, they swear by them, and they claim that they know the unseen. They turn to them instead of Allah in every big and small matter. What also happens is that when one meets his shaykh, he removes his turban and his sandals, sits down, places his knees on the ground, and kisses this man’s hand, thinking that this is respect for the righteous awliya who are close to Allah and who know what is in the heart of the seeker who loves them and who fulfill his needs. Then he lists matters of this kind that are abominable, and he says: We find some scholars who approve of these actions from them. So he asks about the status of these people and the status of their prayer and fasting?
Answer: These are great, serious, and dangerous abominations, and such actions are not permissible. The awliya of Allah are the people of faith; they are not specific people other than the people of faith who are the awliya of Allah. The awliya of Allah are the believers, they are the Muslims. Allah the Exalted said: [Yunus: 62-63] And He the Glorious and Exalted said: [Al-Anfal: 34] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So the awliya of Allah, the awliya of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the awliya of the believers are the believers, they are those who fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), from all people, from Arabs and non-Arabs, from males and females, from scholars and non-scholars. These are the awliya of Allah. So believing that the believers, or some of those called the awliya of Allah, know the unseen, or that they are called upon alongside Allah, or that they are called for aid, or that vows are made to them, or that sacrifices are slaughtered for them and they are approached with these sacrifices, this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is the shirk of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, the shirk of the first polytheists, whether they are alive or dead. If it is believed about this shaykh that he knows the unseen, that he heals the sick, and that he acts in the universe, this is major shirk, I seek refuge in Allah. Likewise, if his grave is intended, if he is dead, and he is called upon alongside Allah, called for aid, a vow is made to him, and help is sought from him as is done with al-Badawi or with al-Husayn or with Ibn Arabi or with others among people, this is major shirk. Or with the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), calling upon him and seeking aid from him after his death (peace and blessings be upon him), all of this is major shirk.
So it is obligatory to be alert to this matter and to guard against it and to warn people. And whoever approves of them in this, among those called scholars, is ignorant, not a scholar. He is like them, an ignoramus like them. As for the scholars who know Allah and His religion, they do not approve of this; rather, they forbid it and teach that it is major shirk. Likewise, the fact that when he intends to visit him he throws off his turban or removes his sandals, all of this is ignorance with no basis and is invalid. The Muslims used to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Companions used to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and they did not throw off their turbans nor remove their sandals. All of this is ignorance and misguidance.
So it is obligatory for the people of knowledge who are aware of Allah and His religion to guide people and to direct them to the truth, and to teach them the religion of Allah. For worship is the right of Allah [Al-Isra: 23] .. [Az-Zumar: 2-3] .. [Al-Fatihah: 5] .. [Al-Bayyinah: 5]. Prayer is worship, prostration is worship, slaughtering is worship, making vows is worship, supplication is worship, and calling for aid is worship.
So the believer and the believing woman must be alert to this matter and must devote worship to Allah alone. As for the believers and the scholars, they are loved for the sake of Allah, they are obeyed in good if they call to good, they are given advice, and they are treated kindly if they are poor. But to worship them instead of Allah is a great abomination and a heinous disbelief. So it is obligatory to guard against that, and it is obligatory to be alert to this matter, and it is obligatory to warn people against it.
And it is obligatory for the scholars, wherever they are, to warn people against this shirk, and to make it clear to them that this is contrary to the Shari'ah of Allah, and that it is obligatory for the scholars to be an example in good, not an example in evil. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you, and may Allah reward you with good.