Q 2: What is the ruling on visiting the graves of the Awliya' (pious people), as we have in our village two graves of Awliya' (pious people) visited by people seeking blessings from them and calling upon them as intermediaries to Allah? (Part No. 1; Page No. 145

A: It is not permissible to visit the graves of Awliya' or others in order to seek their blessing and supplicating through them to Allah , as this is a form of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) or a means to it. Similarly, seeking blessings from the occupants of graves is Shirk, because one can only seek them from Allah, not others. It is known that what many ignorant people do around grave sites such as seeking the help of the dead and calling upon them to heal the sick, is a form of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship that takes the Muslim out of Islam). Likewise, supplicating to Allah by virtue of their status i.e. a kind of unlawful Tawassul (seeking to draw close to Allah through unlawful means), is a prohibited Bid`ah (innovation in Islam) and a means to major Shirk. We seek refuge with Allah from all of this.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.