Fri, 14 Feb 2025 19:05:36 +0000

76- The Rebuttal of the Misconception of Seeking Help from the Dead (1)
Q: I regularly follow your program "Nour `ala Al-Darb" in the KSA. I felt that you strongly stress on the question of visiting the graves and seeking blessings from the righteous persons buried in such graves. Undoubtedly, the righteous dead people are gracefully honored, particularly as they are in the protection of Allah (may He be Exalted and Glorified) and they are nearer to Allah than others. But your constant emphasis on the futility of the dead has made us rethink some matters pertinent to the etiquettes of visiting the graves. We would be grateful if you could tell us the correct view about this matter. May Allah grant us and you success. Your answer will make it clear for us if the practices we make are right or wrong, and hence we adhere to them or abandon them.
A: The questioner should be thanked a lot for his question. Every Muslim should inquire about the things that are ambiguous to him so that he may not remain ignorant about these things, as Allah (Exalted be He) says: So ask the people of the Reminder, if you do not know. The dead in their graves can be classified into some categories: Some have the honor of being near to Allah (Exalted be He) and are in His protection enjoying His Mercy. They are the people of piety and faith. Others are tormented for their disbelief and flagrant violation of Islamic law. The dead are not the same. There are the good believers who die while being obedient to Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (ﷺ), so great welfare awaits them and they are promised Paradise. Moreover, their grave is a garden of the gardens of Paradise. If a person dies while disbelieving in Allah (Exalted be He); for example, invoking the dead, seeking their help and asking them for aid, which are practices of disbelief that make one's deeds futile, such person expects great destruction. The torment of the Hellfire and great punishment for their disbelief in Allah (Exalted be He) and association of partners along with Him await him. The same applies to those who die while committing sins without making repentance of these sins before death. For example, those who die while committing adultery, being disobedient to their parents, being involved in usurious transactions, giving false testimony, drinking alcohol, robbing others and committing other vices. Such people are liable to the punishment in the Hellfire and their graves shall be holes of Hellfire. We seek refuge with Allah from this evil. Thus, the dead are not the same in their status. The questioner should know that there are several ranks of dead; those with whom Allah (Exalted be He) is pleased, who die while fearing Allah and believing in Him. Such will enter Paradise and their graves will be like one of the gardens of Paradise. Then there are those with whom Allah (Exalted be He) is displeased, who die while disbelieving in Allah and following the wrong path, such as those who ridicule or insult the religion of Islam, give up Salah or invoke the dead, seek their help, offer sacrificial animals to them, and so on. Such are doomed to enter the Hellfire if they died while disbelieving in Allah (Exalted be He). And finally, Muslims who die while committing sins such as drinking alcohol, being indulged in usurious transactions, having illegal sexual intercourse, committing theft, and being disobedient to one's parents, and the like, such people are liable to enter the Hellfire even though they will not abide therein forever. But they are liable to punishment in their graves due to such sins. Therefore, you should be on your guard against such evil practices. It is permissible to visit graves, if the people buried in the graves are Muslims whom you visit for the sake of supplicating Allah (Exalted be He) for them, invoking Allah's Mercy upon them and remembering the Hereafter, and renouncing the pleasures of this world. The Prophet (ﷺ) taught his Companions that whenever they visit the graves, they should say: Peace be with you, O Muslims and believers of the graves. We will, Insha` Allah (if Allah wills), join you. We ask safety for you and for us. May Allah have mercy on the dead of us and those will follow. He also used to pray Allah saying: O Allah! Forgive the people of Baqi " Al-Gharqad It is permissible to ask Allah to grant the dead forgiveness, mercy and safety when one visits them, but one is not allowed to ask them to fulfil one's needs, cure the sick, or provide one with any other thing, since all these latter requests represent a sort of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). Thus, a Muslim is not allowed to do such things that are similar to the practices committed by the people of the pre-Islamic period such as Abu Jahl and those like him from among the disbelievers of the tribe of Quraysh. We are not allowed to ask the dead for anything. It is Allah alone Who is to be sought for help as He...