Q 3: Is it permissible to distribute food offered in fulfillment of a vow made for Awliya' (pious people) among people? Is it permissible to celebrate this and hang out flags?

A: First, Allah has praised those who fulfill vows of obedience, and promised them good rewards. Allah says, They (are those who) fulfil (their) vows He also says, And whatever you spend for spendings (e.g., in Sadaqah - charity for Allâh’s Cause) or whatever vow you make, be sure Allâh knows it all. It was reported on the authority of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Whoever vows to obey Allah should do so; and whoever vows to disobey Allah should not do so. If the vow of obedience is a form of `Ibadah (worship), it should be dedicated only to Allah. If a person dedicates it to anyone other than Allah, whether a Prophet, a Waliy (pious person), a Jinni, an idol or (Part No. 23; Page No. 227) any other creature, it is considered Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). Thus, animals slaughtered in fulfillment of a vow for anyone other than Allah are considered carrion that is prohibited to eat or distribute among the people, even if the person who slaughters them mentions Allah's Name at the time of slaughtering. Mentioning Allah's Name in this case is an unaccepted form of `Ibadah from them, and does not make the slaughtered animal lawful to eat; it should be thrown or fed to animals. If the food vowed for the Awliya' is bread, dates, chickpeas, sweets, or anything else that is not slaughtered, it should not be distributed among the people either, as this promotes Bid`ahs (innovations in religion) and entails participation in the forms of Shirk and consent to them. However, this takes the same ruling as the money left by its owners for those who want to take it. If a person takes from these things, there is no harm in them doing so.Second, it is impermissible to celebrate the anniversaries of Prophets or Awliya', commemorate their birthdays, hang out flags, put lamps and candles on their graves, build domes and Masjids (mosques) on their shrines, and such practices. All these are innovated Bid`ahs and means leading to Shirk. Neither the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor any of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them) or the Imams in the first three generations of Islam, (Part No. 23; Page No. 228) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) testified to be the best of generations, did that for a Waliy, king or ruler. The best thing to do is to follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Rightly-Guided Caliphs and those who followed them. The worst thing is to follow the innovators and imitate them in their Bid`ahs in religion. Allah (Exalted be He) says, Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much. It was authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he said, May Allah curse the Jews and the Christians, for they have taken the graves of their Prophets as places of `Ibadah. (Agreed upon its authenticity by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). It was also reported from him that he (peace be upon him) said, Beware of those who preceded you and used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of `Ibadah, but I forbid you to do that. It was authentically reported from him that he (peace be upon him) prohibited plastering graves, sitting on them, and building on them. It was also authentically reported from him that he (peace be upon him) said, The best speech is that embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is that given by Muhammad (peace be upon him). The most evil affairs are their innovations, and every Bid`ah leads to misguidance. Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith.It was reported on the authority of Al-`Irbad ibn Sariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said, "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave us an eloquent sermon that made our hearts tremble and filled our eyes with tears. (Part No. 23; Page No. 229) We said, 'O, Messenger of Allah! It seems as if it is the last sermon you are going to give us, so what are your last recommendations?' He (peace be upon him) said, I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey even if an Abyssinian slave becomes your ruler, for those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my Sunnah and that of the Rightly-guided Caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties [in religion], for every Bid`ah leads to misguidance. Narrated by Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhy who said that this Hadith is Hasan (good Hadith) Sahih (authentic). May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.