The Ruling on those who make Tawaf of Graves and seek the help of the Dead buried therein
Question:
"A dispute erupted between two groups of people over deeming those who make Tawaf (circumambulation) of the graves and seek the help of those buried therein disbelievers. Some of them say that this is an act of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and the persons who do so are to be excused for their ignorance about matters of Tawhid (Monotheism). Others, however, claim that those who call on other than Allah for help are non-Muslims and should not be excused for their ignorance, as pardoning people for their ignorance applies only to marginal and juristic issues. The question is;
"Which of the two groups is right and which is wrong?"
Answer:
"The sound opinion is that of group claiming that such persons are not to be excused, since these are essential issues and are among the fundamentals of faith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) preached, even before preaching Salah (Prayer), Sawm (Fasting), Zakah (Obligatory charity) and other fundamentals. For, Muslims are not to be excused due to their ignorance about such fundamentals, especially those who live in Muslim communities and who listen to the Qur'an and the Hadiths. There is no doubt that calling on dead persons, offering vows on their behalf, supplicating to them and entreating them to cure and succour people are acts of major Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah; may He be Glorified and Exalted). Allah (Exalted be He) says in His Noble Book:
{And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allâh, any other ilâh (god), of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-Kâfirûn (the disbelievers in Allâh and in the Oneness of Allâh, polytheists, pagans, idolaters) will not be successful.} [Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:117]
Thus, Allah calls them Kafirun (disbelievers) due to their practices. Also, He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{Such is Allâh, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmîr (the thin membrane over the date-stone). 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. And none can inform you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of everything).} [Surah Fatir 35:13-14]
Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) considers calling them as Shirk. Moreover, He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{...so invoke not anyone along with Allâh.} [Surah Al-Jinn 72:18]
And
{And invoke not besides Allâh, any such that will neither profit you nor harm you, but if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).} [Surah Yunus 10:106]
Whenever the word "Zâlimûn" is generally mentioned in the Qur'an, it denotes Shirk in accordance with Allah's (Glorified and Exalted be He) saying:
{...Verily joining others in worship with Allâh is a great Zûlm (wrong) indeed.} [Surah Luqman 31:13]
This applies to making Tawaf of graves with the intention of getting close to the dead, which is the same as calling them for help and it is counted as major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). However, if a person does so thinking that this is an act of worship to Allah and aiming at getting closer to Him, just as people do with the Ka`bah, his act is a Bid`ah (innovated matter in religion) and one of the most dangerous means to Shirk. Yet, most people who circumambulate the graves have the intention of getting closer to the dead through it and seeking reward and intercession from them, which is major Shirk. May Allah safeguard us from this!
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 28, Book on subject related to `Aqidah, Chapter on Visiting Graveyards. Nur 'Ala Al-Darb program, tape no. 10.
"A dispute erupted between two groups of people over deeming those who make Tawaf (circumambulation) of the graves and seek the help of those buried therein disbelievers. Some of them say that this is an act of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and the persons who do so are to be excused for their ignorance about matters of Tawhid (Monotheism). Others, however, claim that those who call on other than Allah for help are non-Muslims and should not be excused for their ignorance, as pardoning people for their ignorance applies only to marginal and juristic issues. The question is;
"Which of the two groups is right and which is wrong?"
Answer:
"The sound opinion is that of group claiming that such persons are not to be excused, since these are essential issues and are among the fundamentals of faith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) preached, even before preaching Salah (Prayer), Sawm (Fasting), Zakah (Obligatory charity) and other fundamentals. For, Muslims are not to be excused due to their ignorance about such fundamentals, especially those who live in Muslim communities and who listen to the Qur'an and the Hadiths. There is no doubt that calling on dead persons, offering vows on their behalf, supplicating to them and entreating them to cure and succour people are acts of major Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah; may He be Glorified and Exalted). Allah (Exalted be He) says in His Noble Book:
{And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allâh, any other ilâh (god), of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-Kâfirûn (the disbelievers in Allâh and in the Oneness of Allâh, polytheists, pagans, idolaters) will not be successful.} [Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:117]
Thus, Allah calls them Kafirun (disbelievers) due to their practices. Also, He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{Such is Allâh, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmîr (the thin membrane over the date-stone). 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. And none can inform you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of everything).} [Surah Fatir 35:13-14]
Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) considers calling them as Shirk. Moreover, He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{...so invoke not anyone along with Allâh.} [Surah Al-Jinn 72:18]
And
{And invoke not besides Allâh, any such that will neither profit you nor harm you, but if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).} [Surah Yunus 10:106]
Whenever the word "Zâlimûn" is generally mentioned in the Qur'an, it denotes Shirk in accordance with Allah's (Glorified and Exalted be He) saying:
{...Verily joining others in worship with Allâh is a great Zûlm (wrong) indeed.} [Surah Luqman 31:13]
This applies to making Tawaf of graves with the intention of getting close to the dead, which is the same as calling them for help and it is counted as major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). However, if a person does so thinking that this is an act of worship to Allah and aiming at getting closer to Him, just as people do with the Ka`bah, his act is a Bid`ah (innovated matter in religion) and one of the most dangerous means to Shirk. Yet, most people who circumambulate the graves have the intention of getting closer to the dead through it and seeking reward and intercession from them, which is major Shirk. May Allah safeguard us from this!
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 28, Book on subject related to `Aqidah, Chapter on Visiting Graveyards. Nur 'Ala Al-Darb program, tape no. 10.