53- Ruling on supplicating to Allah beside the graves of righteous people
Q: Someone said: "Supplicating to Allah beside the graves of righteous people is a form of Tawassul (supplicating to Allah in the name of.../by virtue of the status of...) by Awliya (pious people) and this is something that is legally permitted. The person supplicates Allah by virtue of this righteous person hoping that Allah may answer his supplications. Doing so does not contradict with Aqidah (creed). There is no difference in this regard if the person by virtue of whom he supplicates is alive or dead. This was evidenced by the Hadith that a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and said: 'O Allah's Messenger, ask Allah to give me back the ability to see. He (peace be upon him) said: 'Go and perform Wudu' (ablution) and pray two Rak`ah (unit of Prayer). Then you should say: "I supplicate Allah by virtue of Your Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of mercy, Messenger of Allah, I supplicate to Allah by your virtue in order that Allah might give me back the ability to see.'" Therefore, Allah gave him back his sight. He added that it is permissible to supplicate Allah by virtue of living or dead persons. This is because the one who supplicates asks Allah by virtue of this righteous person whether a prophet or a Waliy (pious person). He does not ask this righteous person to do him any thing as he asks Allah only." We desire that your eminence may benefit us in this regard.
A: This question is worthy of great attention and detail. There will be no blame to ask a living person who is present to supplicate to Allah for your sake. This was done by the companions when they asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) to supplicate to Allah in case of drought in order to send down rain for them. Moreover the blind man asked him to invoke Allah (Exalted be He) for his sake. The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded him to supplicate to Allah to accept the interception of His Prophet (peace be upon him). He also ordered him to perform Wudu' and supplicate to his Lord. There is no blame in asking a living person to intercede with Allah for your sake. You can say: "My brother invoke Allah for my sake, intercede with Allah for me or ask Allah to cure me, to increase my provision or give me a righteous wife and offspring. " There is no blame in asking a person to raise his hands and supplicate to Allah to cure you, facilitate your affairs, and give you a righteous wife and offspring. The Companions used to ask the Prophet (peace be upon him) to invoke Allah for their sake. Moreover, they used to supplicate to Allah (Exalted be He) for each other. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told them: "A man whose name is Aways Al-Qarni who is dutiful to his mother will come to you. If you meet him, ask him to invoke Allah to forgive you." There is no blame in this regard. But asking, the dead, seeking their help and vowing for them is major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) because it is the way followed by the people of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) like the people of Quraysh and other disbelievers. Asking the dead and seeking their help and support is a form of major Shirk and associating other than Allah with Him in Ibadah (worship) of other than Allah. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says in this regard: And the mosques are for Allah (Alone): so invoke not anyone along with Allah." And, "And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allah, any other ilah (god), of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-Kafirun (the disbelievers in Allah and in the Oneness of Allah, polytheists, pagans, idolaters) will not be successful. Whoever invokes the prophets or our Prophet (peace be upon him) or seeks help from As-Siddiq, `Umar, `Uthman, Ali or others makes them deities with Allah. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them.) He (Glorified and Exalted be He) called it Shirk. Moreover, He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: And when mankind are gathered (on the Day of Resurrection), they (false deities) will become their enemies and will deny their worshipping. Allah (Glorified be He) tells us that there is no one is led astray more than those who invoke others beside Allah. What is meant here is that it is incumbent upon the believer to beware of invoking the dead or those who are absent like angels and Jinn. One is not permitted to invoke Jibril, Israfil or the Jinn who dwells in this state or that mountain. All these practices are considered to be major Shirk. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: And (remember) the Day when He will gather them all together, then He will say to the angels: "Was it you that these people used to worship?" They (the angels) will...