The Ruling on Visiting Graves, Making Vows to Them, and Celebrating Birthdays
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Our brother also says: I ask you about the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah); the righteous friends of Allah, such as the Mosque of al-Husayn and al-Sayyid al-Badawi, and there are many of them. Celebrations are held for each one, and vows are made to them, and no one rebukes the people. I ask the Shaykh to guide the people to what is good, and if possible, let the guidance be in writing, as it may be beneficial.
Answer: There is no doubt that this matter is prevalent among the people, and it is one of the greatest calamities, one of the greatest major sins; indeed, it is the greatest shirk (associating partners with Allah), and there is no power or strength except with Allah. For, exaggeration regarding the people of the graves, supplicating to them other than Allah, calling for aid from them, and drawing near to them by circumambulating their graves—all of this is major shirk. Likewise, slaughtering for them and making vows to them is all major shirk.
As for the celebrations of their birthdays, these are among the religious innovations (bid'ah) that must be abandoned. However, if supplication to them and calling upon them for aid occurs within these celebrations, that becomes major shirk (associating partners with Allah). Many people in these celebrations may supplicate to the person being celebrated and call upon him for aid, as some people do when celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Innovations lead to shirk and are its precursor; they are the greatest of the wrongs after shirk. Indeed, wrongs have levels, the greatest of which is shirk with Allah and the types of disbelief in Him (Glorified and Exalted is He), followed by innovations; because they are an addition to the religion and an objection to Allah, they are a means to shirk with Allah . Therefore, it is obligatory to be cautious of them, and of building upon graves, erecting domes over them, and holding birthday celebrations. All of this is among the means to shirk. When a grave is exalted by building upon it, erecting a dome over it, and making it a mosque, the common people assume that this indicates that the occupant is called upon besides Allah. They call upon him for aid, make vows to him, and believe that he fulfills their needs and intercedes for them with Allah through this evil action. This is the practice of the first polytheists; it is their religion, the religion of Quraysh and their like: exaggeration regarding the dead, calling upon the occupants of graves for aid, supplicating to them besides Allah, and making vows to them. This is the religion of Quraysh, as the Exalted said: [Yunus:18]. Allah refuted them by saying, the Exalted: [Yunus:18]. He (Glorified and Exalted is He) made it clear that He has no partner, neither in the sky nor on the earth, and He refuted their action.
So the polytheists are not upon the truth, but rather upon falsehood. And their gods, which they called upon other than Allah, do not intercede for them. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Muddaththir:48]. And likewise His saying, the Exalted, in the other verse: [Az-Zumar:2-3]. Meaning: They say, "We do not worship them except to bring us closer to Allah in nearness." So He informed about the polytheists that they took their gods, whom they worshipped other than Allah, claiming that they bring them closer to Allah in nearness. They did not claim that they create or provide sustenance, no, but they intended to bring them near to Allah and for them to intercede for them with Allah. And despite this, Allah ruled against them with shirk and disbelief. He said, the Exalted, in this verse: [Az-Zumar:3]. He called them liars in their claim that they bring them near, and disbelievers in this deed. So it is obligatory to be cautious of this exaggeration and these bid'ah that people have introduced at the graves, for they are a great evil and a great corruption, and their occurrence leads to shirk. For, when one sits by the grave, builds over it, and exalts it with curtains and perfumes, that leads him to supplicate to it other than Allah and to call for aid from it. And this is major shirk according to all the scholars of knowledge.
So it is obligatory to be cautious of this great affliction, and it is obligatory upon the scholars to make clear to the people these acts of shirk and these wrongs, and to guide them to the truth so that they abandon... so that they abandon this falsehood... so that they abandon this shirk.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained in Makkah for ten years calling the people to the tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and refuting their shirk with Allah and the worship of idols, statues, and the people of the graves. Then Allah obligated upon him the five prayers, and he remained in Makkah after that for about three years calling to the tawhid of Allah and sincerity to Him. Then he migrated to al-Madinah (peace and blessings be upon him). He did not cease calling to Allah and teaching the people what Allah had legislated for them until Allah took him to Himself (peace and blessings be upon him) and transferred him to the highest companion. Upon him be the best of prayers and blessings from his Lord.
So it is obligatory upon his successors, who are the scholars, to fear Allah, and to make clear to the people their religion in a manner that leaves no ambiguity.
And there is no doubt that the silence of the scholars and those who are attributed to knowledge regarding the common people while they are doing these deeds, which are clinging to the dead and calling for aid from the dead—there is no doubt that their silence encourages these people in this shirk, and they believe that this silence is evidence that this is permissible and that there is no blame in it.
So it is obligatory to be cautious, and it is obligatory upon the common people to ask the scholars who are known for sound creed and the exaltation of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And it is obligatory upon the scholars to fear Allah, to be discerning, and to refute what Allah and His Messenger have refuted of shirk and other sins. And Allah is the One to be sought for aid. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: There is no doubt that this matter is prevalent among the people, and it is one of the greatest calamities, one of the greatest major sins; indeed, it is the greatest shirk (associating partners with Allah), and there is no power or strength except with Allah. For, exaggeration regarding the people of the graves, supplicating to them other than Allah, calling for aid from them, and drawing near to them by circumambulating their graves—all of this is major shirk. Likewise, slaughtering for them and making vows to them is all major shirk.
As for the celebrations of their birthdays, these are among the religious innovations (bid'ah) that must be abandoned. However, if supplication to them and calling upon them for aid occurs within these celebrations, that becomes major shirk (associating partners with Allah). Many people in these celebrations may supplicate to the person being celebrated and call upon him for aid, as some people do when celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Innovations lead to shirk and are its precursor; they are the greatest of the wrongs after shirk. Indeed, wrongs have levels, the greatest of which is shirk with Allah and the types of disbelief in Him (Glorified and Exalted is He), followed by innovations; because they are an addition to the religion and an objection to Allah, they are a means to shirk with Allah . Therefore, it is obligatory to be cautious of them, and of building upon graves, erecting domes over them, and holding birthday celebrations. All of this is among the means to shirk. When a grave is exalted by building upon it, erecting a dome over it, and making it a mosque, the common people assume that this indicates that the occupant is called upon besides Allah. They call upon him for aid, make vows to him, and believe that he fulfills their needs and intercedes for them with Allah through this evil action. This is the practice of the first polytheists; it is their religion, the religion of Quraysh and their like: exaggeration regarding the dead, calling upon the occupants of graves for aid, supplicating to them besides Allah, and making vows to them. This is the religion of Quraysh, as the Exalted said:
And they worship other than Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, "These are our intercessors with Allah
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلا يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَؤُلاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِSay, "Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?" Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him
قُلْ أَتُنَبِّئُونَ اللَّهَ بِمَا لا يَعْلَمُ فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَلا فِي الأَرْضِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَSo the polytheists are not upon the truth, but rather upon falsehood. And their gods, which they called upon other than Allah, do not intercede for them. Allah the Exalted said:
So there will not benefit them the intercession of [any] intercessors.
فَمَا تَنْفَعُهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ الشَّافِعِينَSo worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion. (3) Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion. And those who take protectors besides Him [say], "We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position."
فاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ أَلا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَىIndeed, Allah will judge between them concerning that over which they differ. Indeed, Allah does not guide he who is a liar and [confirmed] disbeliever.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَفَّارSo it is obligatory to be cautious of this great affliction, and it is obligatory upon the scholars to make clear to the people these acts of shirk and these wrongs, and to guide them to the truth so that they abandon... so that they abandon this falsehood... so that they abandon this shirk.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained in Makkah for ten years calling the people to the tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and refuting their shirk with Allah and the worship of idols, statues, and the people of the graves. Then Allah obligated upon him the five prayers, and he remained in Makkah after that for about three years calling to the tawhid of Allah and sincerity to Him. Then he migrated to al-Madinah (peace and blessings be upon him). He did not cease calling to Allah and teaching the people what Allah had legislated for them until Allah took him to Himself (peace and blessings be upon him) and transferred him to the highest companion. Upon him be the best of prayers and blessings from his Lord.
So it is obligatory upon his successors, who are the scholars, to fear Allah, and to make clear to the people their religion in a manner that leaves no ambiguity.
And there is no doubt that the silence of the scholars and those who are attributed to knowledge regarding the common people while they are doing these deeds, which are clinging to the dead and calling for aid from the dead—there is no doubt that their silence encourages these people in this shirk, and they believe that this silence is evidence that this is permissible and that there is no blame in it.
So it is obligatory to be cautious, and it is obligatory upon the common people to ask the scholars who are known for sound creed and the exaltation of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And it is obligatory upon the scholars to fear Allah, to be discerning, and to refute what Allah and His Messenger have refuted of shirk and other sins. And Allah is the One to be sought for aid. 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.