The Ruling on Vows Made for the Dead and Drawing Near to Them

Question:
The question asks, Your Eminence: What is the ruling in the Shari'ah regarding wealth that is vowed to the awliya (close friends of Allah) and placed in the boxes at their shrines? And does anyone have a right to it by virtue of his lineage to this wali (close friend of Allah)?

Answer:
This wealth that is vowed for the dead and used to draw near to them consists of vows of shirk (associating partners with Allah) that are invalid. Whoever does this must repent to Allah, turn to Him, and seek His forgiveness, the Exalted; for vows are an act of worship, just as prayer and slaughter are all acts of worship. Therefore, the one who vows to the people of graves, or to idols, or to the jinn is like the one who calls upon them and seeks their aid, and like the one who slaughters for them; all of this is shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah .
It is obligatory to be cautious of this. This wealth that is placed in the boxes from vows must be taken by the one in authority and distributed in the causes of righteousness and good, such as charity to the poor, or in charitable projects. It must be strictly prohibited. If the Muslim one in authority finds it, he should remove it, prevent people from this matter, and inform them that this is not permissible. What is found in it should be distributed in the causes of good, as mentioned. It is not permissible to allow this box to remain; rather, it must be prohibited. The keepers of shrines who call people to this must be punished in a way that deters them and their like. It must be announced to the people in the mosques, in the sermons, and in the local newspapers that this is shirk (associating partners with Allah) and that it is not permissible, until people are deterred and come to know this. It is obligatory for the scholars to do this.
It is obligatory for the people of knowledge in every place to remove this confusion from the people through kind words on the radio, in the press, on television, so that the people may be on clear guidance and insight. Allah, (Exalted and Majestic is He), says in His great Book: [Surah al-Nahl: 125]. And He, the Exalted, says: [Surah Yusuf: 108]. And He, , says: [Surah Fussilat: 33].
Calling to Allah is among the most important matters, and it is a collective obligation (fard kifayah) upon the Muslims. If those who are sufficient perform it, the obligation falls off the rest. If the scholars and callers leave it, they all sin. Therefore, it is obligatory for the people of knowledge in every town and every village to spread knowledge, and to make clear to the people what Allah has made obligatory upon them, such as calling to Allah, sincerity to Allah, the oneness of worship, and not directing it to other than Allah, whoever it may be, and the prohibition of shirk (associating partners with Allah), whether little or much, small or great.
And likewise, the remaining commands and prohibitions should be clarified to the people: the obligation of prayer and performing it in congregation, the obligation of zakah (the obligatory alms), the obligation of fasting Ramadan, Hajj (the major pilgrimage) to the House if one is able, dutifulness to parents, maintaining family ties, truthfulness in speech, enjoining good and forbidding evil, and other things that Allah has made obligatory.
It is also obligatory for them to make clear to the people what Allah has forbidden, such as shirk (associating partners with Allah), leaving prayer, or being lax with it, undutifulness to parents or one of them, severing family ties, consuming riba (usury or interest), backbiting and talebearing, killing souls without right, false testimony, and other things that Allah has forbidden.
This is the duty of the scholars, and Allah will question them about what they concealed and about the knowledge they possess. This is the time for spreading knowledge. This is the time of estrangement now, and before this year for many times. The estrangement of Islam is great and widespread, and the scholars are few. The scholars of Allah and His religion, the people of insight, are few. Therefore, it is obligatory for them, despite their fewness, to spread knowledge and to fear Allah in all countries: in the Muslim countries and in the Muslim minorities, and in every place. It is obligatory for them to spread knowledge and to teach the people through the means of media. Allah has made easy for the people today the means of media through radio, press, television, oratory, and other possible matters, such as advice in societies and gatherings, and the like of what is facilitated for the student of knowledge when he gathers with his brothers, or at a wedding feast, or a wedding celebration, or other types of gatherings.
The believer utilizes opportunities, and the scholar utilizes opportunities until he spreads knowledge, and until he clarifies to the people what Allah has made obligatory upon them, and until he explains to the people what Allah has forbidden. By doing so, his conscience is cleared, knowledge spreads, the argument is established, and he receives from the rewards the like of the rewards of those whom Allah guided through his hands. This is from the favor of Allah .
He, (peace and blessings be upon him), says in the authentic hadith: .
And he, (peace and blessings be upon him), says: .
And the opposite is the opposite; there is no power and no strength except with Allah. He, (peace and blessings be upon him), says: .
And he, (peace and blessings be upon him), said to 'Ali , the Commander of the Faithful, when he sent him to Khaybar to call the Jews and fight them if they refused. He said to him, (peace and blessings be upon him): . Thus the Chosen One, (peace and blessings be upon him), said to his cousin, the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Rightly Guided Caliph, the fourth of the Caliphs, and one of the ten promised Paradise . The Prophet, (peace and blessings be upon him), said to him: "By Allah" — he swears, and he is the truthful one, and even if he did not swear, it is for emphasis. It is not befitting for a student of knowledge or a scholar to be lax in this matter, given the severe need and necessity for knowledge. Rather, it is obligatory for him to roll up his sleeves wherever he is, to fear Allah, to watch over Him, and to spread knowledge, seeking what is with Allah of reward, seeking to guide the people and to direct them and to save them from the falsehood in which they are, and to bring them out of the darknesses into the light, following the example of the Messenger of Allah, (peace and blessings be upon him), and acting upon his command. We ask Allah for guidance and success for everyone.

The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, and He has answered your supplication.