Caution against deifying the awliya and the righteous

Question:
This student, who is from Sudan from Kassala, says: They have the awliya, and the righteous are widespread among them, and these sons believe that they are sons of the awliya and the righteous. He says: And they are alive, so how is it that they are deified or such, while they are alive? He believes that deification is not for the dead.

Answer:
The shaykhs and the awliya whom they call awliya are not deified, even if righteousness and good appear from them. One supplicates for them, seeks mercy for them, and follows their example in good deeds, such as maintaining the prayer, such as increasing in fasting, such as increasing in the remembrance of Allah, and seeking knowledge. One follows their example in good.
And these are called awliya, and they are called shaykhs to be believed in, this is an error. Even the prophets, who are the best of people, are not believed in as those who benefit or harm, or are called upon besides Allah, or sought for aid. No, but the messengers are followed in what they commanded and what they forbade. Their command is obeyed, and their prohibition is avoided, as Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Al-Imran: 31] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Taghabun: 12].
So the messengers, who are the best of people, and the prophets, are not deified with the deification of worship, but they are honored with the honor that Allah prescribed, by loving them and honoring their commands, hastening to what they commanded, and ceasing from what they forbade. Thus, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) Muhammad is the best of people and the best of the messengers, and he is not worshipped besides Allah, but he is loved. It is obligatory that his love be above the love of the self, the family, wealth, children, and all people. But he is not exalted to the point of being worshipped besides Allah, not sought for aid after his death, not called upon after his death, and it is not said that he knows the unseen. All of this is reprehensible, all of this is shirk. In his lifetime, there is no harm in saying: "O Messenger of Allah, supplicate for me, help me with such and such," meaning: help him with something he is able to do, help me with your commander so-and-so from... so-and-so, just as you say to other capable people in his lifetime. And thus on the Day of Resurrection, people will ask him (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) to intercede with Allah, to relieve them from the distress of the standing, and this is permissible.
As for after death, in the state of the barzakh, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is not called upon, nor anyone else who is called awliya and shaykhs, nor anyone else. Worship is the right of Allah alone , as He said : [Adh-Dhariyat: 56] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Bayyinah: 5], [Al-Baqarah: 21].
So worship is the right of Allah, and it is humbling oneself to Him by obeying Him and leaving His prohibitions, through prayer, fasting, charity, Hajj, 'Umrah, and fasting, and the like of all these acts of worship are for Allah. And thus, slaughter is not slaughtered except for Allah, and vows are not made except for Allah. So one does not slaughter for the shaykhs, nor for the prophets, nor for the awliya to draw near to them with sacrifices. They are not called upon besides Allah, vows are not made for them, they are not sought for aid, and it is not said that they know the unseen. All of this is invalid and not permissible. But one seeks mercy for the righteous awliya known for good, seeks mercy for them, supplicates for them, follows their good path, and takes their example in good. But worship is the right of Allah alone. And thus, the messengers are followed and obeyed, but they are not exalted to the point of being worshipped with Allah.
You must understand this, O questioner, and be upon clear insight. So worship is the right of Allah, and the right of the messengers is obedience, following, and love. And the awliya and the good shaykhs, and the awliya from the believing servants of Allah, one seeks mercy for them, supplicates for them with forgiveness and mercy. They are not deified with worship besides Allah, they are not sought for aid, they are not rubbed against, while they are alive, nor is tawassul made through their graves, nor their soil, vows are not made for them, and they are not slaughtered for. But one supplicates for them with forgiveness and mercy, and follows their good path in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and takes their example in maintaining good, preserving times from evil, increasing in the remembrance of Allah, and cautioning against the sins of Allah .
And the wali is the believer, the wali is the believer. The awliya of Allah are the believers. So whoever fears Allah and stands firm upon His command, this is a wali from the awliya of Allah. Allah the Exalted said: [Yunus: 62-63] He made clear that they are people of faith and piety. And He the Exalted said in Surat Al-Anfal: [Al-Anfal: 34] So the one who is pious to Allah is the believer and he is the wali. As for what is related to the Sufis or non-Sufis that the wali is worshipped besides Allah, or that he knows the unseen, or that he acts in the universe, this is false. This is kufr and misguidance, we seek refuge in Allah. This is not a wali. The one who claims that he knows the unseen, or says: "Call upon me besides Allah," or "Slaughter for me," this is not a wali. This is from the awliya of Shaytan. This is a disbeliever, we seek refuge in Allah. And the one who claims to be a wali in this meaning, that he is called upon besides Allah, or that he knows the unseen, or that he is worshipped besides Allah, this becomes a disbeliever, we seek refuge in Allah; because he claimed a claim of kufr, which the Shari'ah has made clear is kufr. We ask Allah for safety and well-being. One should be alert to this matter. Yes.