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Prohibitions that are taken too lightly (Grave-Worship)
One of the forms of shirk which is particularly widespread
in Muslim countries is: grave-worship, the belief that dead awliyaa’
(“saints”) can fulfil one’s needs or help at times of distress, and calling upon
them for aid. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And your Lord has
decreed that you worship none but Him . . .” [al-Israa’ 17:23]
Similarly, they call upon dead Prophets, righteous people and
others to intercede for them or to rescue them from some calamity, but Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): “Is not He (better than your gods) Who
responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and
makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations? Is there any
ilaah (god) with Allaah? . . .” [al-Naml 27:62]
Some of them have adopted the habit of mentioning the name of a
shaykh or wali (“saint”) when they stand up, or sit down, or stumble, or
encounter problems or distress, so they might say “O Muhammad!” or “O ‘Ali!” or
“O Husayn!” or “O Badawi!” or “O Jeelaani!” or “O Shaadhili!” or “O Rifaa’i!” -
or they may call upon al-’Aydaroos or Sayyidah Zaynab or Ibn ‘Alwaan. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily those whom you call upon besides
Allaah are slaves like you . . .” [al-A’raf 7:194]
Some of those who worship graves walk around them as if in
Tawaaf, and acknowledge their corners, or touch them, kiss them, wipe their
faces with their dust, prostrate towards them when they see them, or stand
before them in fear and humility, praying for whatever they need of healing from
some disease, or for a child, or for help with some difficulty. Sometimes they
call upon the occupant of the grave, saying “O my master, I have come to you
from far away, so do not let me down.”
But Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And who is
more astray than one who calls (invokes) besides Allaah such as will not answer
him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls
(invocations) to them?” [al-Ahqaaf 46:5]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Whoever dies calling on someone else as a rival to Allaah, will enter Hell.”
(Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 8/176).
Some of them shave their heads at the graves, and some have
books with titles like Manaasik Hajj al-Mashaahid (“The Rituals of
Pilgrimage to Shrines”), mashaahid or shrines referring to graves or
tombs of awliyaa’. Some of them believe that the awliyaa’ are
running the affairs of the universe and that they have the power to benefit or
harm. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And if Allaah touches you
with hurt, there is none who can remove it but He; and if He intends any good
for you, there is no one who can repel His Favour . . .” [Yoonus 10:107]
It is also shirk to make a vow to any other than Allaah,
as is done by those who vow to bring candles or lights for the occupants of the
graves.
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