In some Islamic countries there are people who circumambulate graves not knowing that this is wrong
Question:
"In some Islamic countries, we notice that there are people who circumambulate graves not knowing that this is wrong. What is the religious ruling on those people, and can we consider them Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)?"
Answer:
"The religious ruling on any person who calls upon idols, asks them for help and the like is obviously clear, all praise be to Allah. These acts are major Kufr (disbelief that takes the Muslim out of Islam), unless the person does this under the assumption that their circumambulation of the grave is intended as worship of Allah (Exalted be He) just as when they circumambulate the Ka`bah, thinking that it is permissible to circumambulate the graves. If they do not mean by this act to draw themselves closer to their occupants; rather, they mean to draw closer to Allah Alone, in such a case the person who commits this is considered a Mubtadi` (one who introduces innovations in the religion), but not a Kafir (disbeliever). Circumambulating graves is a condemned Bid`ah (innovation in the religion) just like offering Salah (Prayer) at the graves. All such acts are means leading to Kufr. In most cases, grave worshippers intend to approach their occupants by circumambulating their graves. They sacrifice animals and make vows for their sake in order to draw closer to them. Such acts are major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship that takes the Muslim out of Islam).
Anyone who dies while persisting in such practices is a Kafir. They should not be washed, have the Funeral Prayer performed for them, or be buried in Muslims' graveyard. In the hereafter, their case is for Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to judge. If they are one of those to whom Da`wah (call to Islam) has not reached, they carry the same ruling as Ahl-ul-Fatrah (people having no access to Divine Messages). The evidence for this is drawn from what happened to the Prophet's mother, as she died before she witnessed the era of prophethood. She was of the religion of her people. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked the Permission of his Lord to seek forgiveness for his mother, but he (peace be upon him) was not permitted to ask forgiveness for her; because she died while embracing the religion of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) and so was his father. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked by some person about his father, he said: "Verily, my father and your father are in the Fire."[1] His father died in Jahiliyyah as a follower of the religion of his people, so he was judged to be a Kafir (disbeliever). But anyone who has not received the Da`wah in the life of this world and died ignorant of the truth will be tested on the Day of Resurrection, according to the most correct opinion maintained by scholars. If they succeed (by accepting the truth), they will be admitted into Paradise. But if they oppose the truth, they will be cast into Hellfire.
This applies to all people categorized as Ahl-ul-Fatrah who have not received Da`wah, according to the Words of Allah (Exalted be He):
{And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning).} [Surah Al-Isra 17:15]
Regarding those whom the Qur'an or the mission of the Messenger (peace be upon him) has reached but they did not respond, the evidence established against them leaves no excuse for those who reject it. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{...this Qur’ân has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach.} [Surah Al-An'am 6:19]
This Ayah (Qur'anic verse) means that whomsoever the Qur'an has reached, they have been warned thereby.
Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{This (Qur’an) is a Message for mankind (and a clear proof against them), in order that they may be warned thereby} [Surah Ibraheem 14:52]
Therefore, those to whom the Qur'an and Islam have reached but they did not embrace them, take the ruling of Kafirs. It has been authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, any Jew or Christian of this nation who hears about me and dies unbelieving in what I have been sent with, will be among the dwellers of Hellfire."[2] (Related by Muslim in his Sahih) In this Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarded the fact of having heard about his mission as evidence against the hearer (who rejects it).
To sum up, anyone who shows Kufr while being in Muslim lands will come under the same ruling as Kafirs. As to whether or not they shall be saved on the Day of Resurrection, this is up to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) Alone. If the person is one of those to whom the D'awah has not reached or has never heard about the mission of the Messenger (peace be upon him), they will be tested on the Day of Resurrection.
According to a Hadith narrated by Al-Aswad ibn Sari`, a neck-like flame of fire will be presented to them, then it will be said to them: "Get into it." If they comply, the flame of fire will turn into coolness and safety for them. But if they refuse, the flame of fire will coil around them and they will be taken into the Fire. May Allah safeguard us.
In conclusion, anyone who did not know about the D'awah whether for having been in the distant outskirts of this world or was born and died before the time of the D'awah or whoever knew about the D'awah but was insane, mentally ill or too old to perceive it - they and those like them and the children of the Mushriks who died in their childhood before reaching the age of puberty - their fate will be in the Hands of Allah. Verily, Allah (Exalted be He) knows well what they would have done (during their life). That was the answer of the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he was asked about such people. On the Day of Resurrection, Allah (Exalted be He) will make His Knowledge about them evident by testing them. Whoever succeeds will be admitted into Paradise, and whoever fails will be admitted into Hellfire. Indeed, there is neither might nor power except with Allah."
[1] Muslim, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 203; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Al-Sunnah, no. 4718; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 3, p. 119.
[2] Muslim, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 153; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, p. 350.
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 1, Different types of Tawhid, Important questions pertaining to Tawhid, question 2. [Click here for a screenshot in PDF format]
"In some Islamic countries, we notice that there are people who circumambulate graves not knowing that this is wrong. What is the religious ruling on those people, and can we consider them Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)?"
Answer:
"The religious ruling on any person who calls upon idols, asks them for help and the like is obviously clear, all praise be to Allah. These acts are major Kufr (disbelief that takes the Muslim out of Islam), unless the person does this under the assumption that their circumambulation of the grave is intended as worship of Allah (Exalted be He) just as when they circumambulate the Ka`bah, thinking that it is permissible to circumambulate the graves. If they do not mean by this act to draw themselves closer to their occupants; rather, they mean to draw closer to Allah Alone, in such a case the person who commits this is considered a Mubtadi` (one who introduces innovations in the religion), but not a Kafir (disbeliever). Circumambulating graves is a condemned Bid`ah (innovation in the religion) just like offering Salah (Prayer) at the graves. All such acts are means leading to Kufr. In most cases, grave worshippers intend to approach their occupants by circumambulating their graves. They sacrifice animals and make vows for their sake in order to draw closer to them. Such acts are major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship that takes the Muslim out of Islam).
Anyone who dies while persisting in such practices is a Kafir. They should not be washed, have the Funeral Prayer performed for them, or be buried in Muslims' graveyard. In the hereafter, their case is for Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to judge. If they are one of those to whom Da`wah (call to Islam) has not reached, they carry the same ruling as Ahl-ul-Fatrah (people having no access to Divine Messages). The evidence for this is drawn from what happened to the Prophet's mother, as she died before she witnessed the era of prophethood. She was of the religion of her people. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked the Permission of his Lord to seek forgiveness for his mother, but he (peace be upon him) was not permitted to ask forgiveness for her; because she died while embracing the religion of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) and so was his father. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked by some person about his father, he said: "Verily, my father and your father are in the Fire."[1] His father died in Jahiliyyah as a follower of the religion of his people, so he was judged to be a Kafir (disbeliever). But anyone who has not received the Da`wah in the life of this world and died ignorant of the truth will be tested on the Day of Resurrection, according to the most correct opinion maintained by scholars. If they succeed (by accepting the truth), they will be admitted into Paradise. But if they oppose the truth, they will be cast into Hellfire.
This applies to all people categorized as Ahl-ul-Fatrah who have not received Da`wah, according to the Words of Allah (Exalted be He):
{And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning).} [Surah Al-Isra 17:15]
Regarding those whom the Qur'an or the mission of the Messenger (peace be upon him) has reached but they did not respond, the evidence established against them leaves no excuse for those who reject it. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{...this Qur’ân has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach.} [Surah Al-An'am 6:19]
This Ayah (Qur'anic verse) means that whomsoever the Qur'an has reached, they have been warned thereby.
Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{This (Qur’an) is a Message for mankind (and a clear proof against them), in order that they may be warned thereby} [Surah Ibraheem 14:52]
Therefore, those to whom the Qur'an and Islam have reached but they did not embrace them, take the ruling of Kafirs. It has been authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, any Jew or Christian of this nation who hears about me and dies unbelieving in what I have been sent with, will be among the dwellers of Hellfire."[2] (Related by Muslim in his Sahih) In this Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarded the fact of having heard about his mission as evidence against the hearer (who rejects it).
To sum up, anyone who shows Kufr while being in Muslim lands will come under the same ruling as Kafirs. As to whether or not they shall be saved on the Day of Resurrection, this is up to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) Alone. If the person is one of those to whom the D'awah has not reached or has never heard about the mission of the Messenger (peace be upon him), they will be tested on the Day of Resurrection.
According to a Hadith narrated by Al-Aswad ibn Sari`, a neck-like flame of fire will be presented to them, then it will be said to them: "Get into it." If they comply, the flame of fire will turn into coolness and safety for them. But if they refuse, the flame of fire will coil around them and they will be taken into the Fire. May Allah safeguard us.
In conclusion, anyone who did not know about the D'awah whether for having been in the distant outskirts of this world or was born and died before the time of the D'awah or whoever knew about the D'awah but was insane, mentally ill or too old to perceive it - they and those like them and the children of the Mushriks who died in their childhood before reaching the age of puberty - their fate will be in the Hands of Allah. Verily, Allah (Exalted be He) knows well what they would have done (during their life). That was the answer of the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he was asked about such people. On the Day of Resurrection, Allah (Exalted be He) will make His Knowledge about them evident by testing them. Whoever succeeds will be admitted into Paradise, and whoever fails will be admitted into Hellfire. Indeed, there is neither might nor power except with Allah."
[1] Muslim, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 203; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Al-Sunnah, no. 4718; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 3, p. 119.
[2] Muslim, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 153; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, p. 350.
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 1, Different types of Tawhid, Important questions pertaining to Tawhid, question 2. [Click here for a screenshot in PDF format]