The ruling on visiting the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah) to seek blessing from them while ignorant
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A listener from Cairo, Mahmoud Ahmad 'Amirah, sent a question and said: Is a person excused for his ignorance? For example, a man visited the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah) with the intention of seeking blessing from them, even though he did not know that this act is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). Please clarify and explain the evidence from the Book and the Sunnah. May Allah reward you with good?
Answer: Matters of creed that pertain to tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and shirk (associating partners with Allah) are not excused by ignorance. When one is among the Muslims, hears the Qur'an and the hadiths, and is able to ask, he is not excused for calling upon the graves, seeking aid from the dead, or similar acts. Rather, it is obligatory for him to learn and understand the religion, and he has no right to be lax in this matter. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked his Lord to seek forgiveness for his mother, who had died in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, but he was not permitted to do so. He said:Sahih Muslim 203, when a man asked him about his father. He said: Sahih Muslim 203, saying: They died in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance.
A group of scholars said: That is only because they died with knowledge of the Shari'ah of Ibrahim and the Shari'ah of Ibrahim is the prohibition of shirk (associating partners with Allah). Perhaps his mother had reached that knowledge, which is why he was prohibited from seeking forgiveness for her. And perhaps his father had reached that knowledge, which is why he said:Sahih Muslim 203. If his father (peace and blessings be upon him) and his mother were not excused while they were in a state of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, how about the one who is among the Muslims, has scholars, hears the Qur'an, and hears the hadiths?
The conclusion is that those who cling to the graves and seek aid from the dead are not excused. Rather, it is obligatory for them to understand the religion, to ask the people of knowledge, and not to remain in their bad state, for the verses encompass them and the hadiths do as well. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: Matters of creed that pertain to tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and shirk (associating partners with Allah) are not excused by ignorance. When one is among the Muslims, hears the Qur'an and the hadiths, and is able to ask, he is not excused for calling upon the graves, seeking aid from the dead, or similar acts. Rather, it is obligatory for him to learn and understand the religion, and he has no right to be lax in this matter. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked his Lord to seek forgiveness for his mother, who had died in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, but he was not permitted to do so. He said:
Verily my father and your father are in the Fire.
إن أبي وأباك في النارVerily my father and your father are in the Fire.
إن أبي وأباك في النارA group of scholars said: That is only because they died with knowledge of the Shari'ah of Ibrahim and the Shari'ah of Ibrahim is the prohibition of shirk (associating partners with Allah). Perhaps his mother had reached that knowledge, which is why he was prohibited from seeking forgiveness for her. And perhaps his father had reached that knowledge, which is why he said:
Verily my father and your father are in the Fire.
إن أبي وأباك في النارThe conclusion is that those who cling to the graves and seek aid from the dead are not excused. Rather, it is obligatory for them to understand the religion, to ask the people of knowledge, and not to remain in their bad state, for the verses encompass them and the hadiths do as well. 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.