By Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
Ancestor worship is equivalent to idol worship. The spread of polytheism in the world is due to the excessive love and reverence for saints and righteous people, as the renowned commentator, Allama Qurtubi (600-671 AH) states:"Grave worship leads to the worship of the people buried therein, just as idol worship originated."
(Tafsir al-Qurtubi: 380/10)
Allah Almighty says:
وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّـهِ زُلْفَىٰ
"And those who have taken protectors besides Him [say], 'We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position.'"
(Az-Zumar: 3)
In the interpretation of this verse, Imam Allama Ibn Jarir Tabari (224-310 AH) states:
"And those who take protectors besides Allah, they are taking them and worshiping them, saying: 'We only worship you to bring us closer to Allah in position and to intercede for us regarding our needs.'"
(Jami' al-Bayan fi Ta'wil al-Quran: 653/9)
Today's Muslims hold the same beliefs about the graves of saints and righteous people that the polytheists of Mecca had about their idols. They place their hopes in the graves, calling upon the names of the deceased in times of joy and sorrow, believing that these saints will intercede with Allah on their behalf. They make pilgrimages to the graves, offer vows, and present gifts. This was exactly the practice of the polytheists of Mecca.
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (700-773 AH) writes:
"Then Allah Almighty informed about the idol worshippers among the polytheists who say:
مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّـهِ زُلْفَىٰ
'We only worship them to bring us nearer to Allah in position.' This implies that they were driven to worship these idols because they made them in the image of the angels, whom they believed to be the closest to Allah, and thus worshiped these idols thinking it to be equivalent to worshipping the angels so that these angels would intercede with Allah for their victory, sustenance, and worldly needs."
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 5/396-397)
Quotes and Opinions on the Matter
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (661-728 AH) states:"These innovated practices and sayings are of different types: The farthest from the Shariah is asking the dead for a need or seeking their help in it, as many people do with many dead. This is a type of idol worship. This is why devils appear to them in the form of the dead or the absent, as they used to appear to idol worshippers. In fact, idol worship began from graves, as Ibn Abbas and others have stated. Sometimes, one sees a grave splitting and the dead coming out to embrace, shake hands, or speak with him. This is actually a devil appearing in his form to mislead him. This often happens at the graves of righteous people. As for prostrating to the dead or the grave, it is even greater; similarly, kissing it. The second level is believing that supplication at the grave is accepted or is better than supplicating in mosques and homes, so he visits it for that purpose or prays there or asks his needs from it. This too is among the innovated evils agreed upon as prohibited by the Muslim scholars. I have not known any disagreement among the scholars of religion regarding this. The third level is asking the grave's occupant to ask Allah for something. This is an innovation agreed upon by Muslim scholars."
(Summary of Kitab al-Istighatha by Ibn Taymiyyah: 1/145)
Imam Ibn Abi al-Izz al-Hanafi (731-792 AH) writes:
"The idolaters did not believe that the idols participated with Allah in creating the world; rather, their condition was similar to other idolaters of the nations, such as the Indians, Turks, and Berbers. Sometimes, they believed that these were images of righteous people, prophets, and saints, and took them as intercessors and sought closeness to Allah through them. This was the basis of Arab polytheism, as Allah said about the people of Noah:
وَقَالُوا لَا تَذَرُنَّ آلِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَلَا سُوَاعًا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًا
'And they said, "Never leave your gods and never leave Wadd or Suwa or Yaghuth and Ya'uq and Nasr."'
(Sharh al-Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah: p. 81)
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn al-Qayyim (691-751 AH) states:
"The devil played with idolaters in various ways: He played with each people according to their intellect. A group was invited to worship idols by venerating the dead who had their images carved, as mentioned about the people of Noah. This is why the Prophet (ﷺ) cursed those who build mosques over graves and place lights upon them, forbade praying towards graves, and asked his Lord not to make his grave an idol to be worshipped. He prohibited his followers from taking his grave as a festival, saying:
'Allah's curse is upon the Jews and Christians who took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.'
He ordered the leveling of graves and obliterating images. But idolaters opposed all this either out of ignorance or out of opposition to the monotheists. This did not harm the monotheists. This reason prevailed among common idolaters. As for their elite, they made idols in the image of the influential stars in their belief, assigning houses, curtains, guards, and offerings for them. This has existed in the world, both ancient and modern."
(Ighathat al-Lahfan: 2/222-223)
He also states:
"Idol worship originally began by making an idol in the image of an absent deity. They made the idol in its shape, form, and image to serve as its representative. Otherwise, it is known that no sane person would carve wood or stone with his hands and then believe that it is his god and deity."
(Ighathat al-Lahfan: 2/224)
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah states:
"The origin of polytheism in the world was the worship of righteous people and their images. From among polytheism, there was also the worship of celestial bodies, whether the sun, moon, or others, making idols as talismans for those celestial bodies. The polytheism of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) people was primarily of this kind. Another type of polytheism was the worship of angels or jinn, making idols for their sake. These inanimate idols themselves were not worshipped for their own sake but for reasons that necessitated it. The polytheism of the Arabs was primarily of the first type, although they practiced all kinds."
(Majmu' al-Fatawa by Ibn Taymiyyah: 17/460-461)
He further states:
"Among these are those who come to the grave of the sheikh they associate with and seek help from, and food, money, weapons, or other needs descend upon them from the air, which they believe to be a miracle of their sheikh. But all this is from the devils. This is one of the greatest causes for idol worship. Ibrahim (Abraham) said:
وَاجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الأَصْنَامَ
'And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.' He also said:
رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ
'My Lord, they have led astray many among the people.'
(Ibrahim: 35-36)
It is known that a stone cannot mislead many people except due to reasons that lead to their misguidance. No idolater ever believed that idols created the heavens and the earth. Rather, they took them as intercessors and means for various reasons: some made images of prophets and righteous people, some made idols and talismans for celestial bodies, some for jinn, and some for angels. The intended deities for them were the angels, prophets, righteous people, the sun, or the moon. But in reality, they worshipped devils, who desire humans to worship them and present them with things that call them to this. As Allah Almighty says:
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ أَهَؤُلاء إِيَّاكُمْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ
'And [mention] the Day when He will gather them all and then say to the angels, "Was it you that these people used to worship?"'
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِم بَلْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ الْجِنَّ أَكْثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّؤْمِنُونَ
'They will say, "Exalted are You! You, [O Allah], are our benefactor excluding them. Rather, they used to worship the jinn; most of them were believers in them."'(Saba: 40-41)When the worshiper does not permit the worship of devils, they deceive him into thinking he is calling upon prophets, righteous people, and angels, or others he believes to be good. And if he does not forbid the worship of jinn, they reveal to him that they are jinn."
(Majmu' al-Fatawa by Ibn Taymiyyah: 1/360)
He further states:
"Allah says:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ فَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ الضُّرِّ عَنْكُمْ وَلَا تَحْوِيلًا
'Say, "Call upon those whom you claim [as gods] besides Him; they do not possess the ability for removal of adversity from you or for [its] transfer [to someone else]."'
أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحْذُورًا
'Those whom they call upon seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them would be nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared.'
(Al-Isra: 56-57)
A group of the predecessors said that people used to call upon Jesus, Ezra, and the angels. Allah said: 'Those whom you call upon are My servants just like you, they hope for My mercy just as you do, fear My punishment just as you do, and strive to get close to Me just as you do. If this is the case for those who call upon prophets and angels, then what about those below them?' Allah also says:
أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنْ يَتَّخِذُوا عِبَادِي مِنْ دُونِي أَوْلِيَاءَ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ نُزُلًا
'Then did those who disbelieve think that they could take My servants instead of Me as allies? Indeed, We have prepared Hell as a lodging for the disbelievers.'
(Al-Kahf: 102)
Allah also says:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِنْ شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ ظَهِيرٍ
'Say, "Call upon those whom you claim [as gods] besides Allah. They do not possess an atom's weight in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant."'
وَلَا تَنْفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ
'And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits.'
(Saba: 22-23)
Allah explains that none of those called upon besides Him from all the creatures, whether angels, humans, or others, possess an atom's weight in His dominion. He has no partner in His dominion; rather, He alone has sovereignty, praise, and power over all things. He has no helper assisting Him as a king has helpers and assistants. Intercessors with Him do not intercede except for those He permits. This negates all forms of shirk. That is because those called upon besides Allah are either possessors of sovereignty or not. If not, they are either partners or not. If not partners, they are either helpers or seekers of assistance. The first three categories—sovereignty, partnership, and assistance—are negated. As for the fourth, it only occurs after His permission, as Allah says:
'Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?'
(Al-Baqarah: 255)
He also says:
وَكَمْ مِنْ مَلَكٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ لَا تُغْنِي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَى
'And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except only after Allah has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.'
(An-Najm: 26)
He also says:
أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ شُفَعَاءَ قُلْ أَوَلَوْ كَانُوا لَا يَمْلِكُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ
'Or have they taken other than Allah as intercessors? Say, "Even though they do not possess [power over] anything, nor do they reason?"'
قُلْ لِلَّهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَمِيعًا لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
'Say, "To Allah belongs [the right to allow] intercession entirely. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth."'
(Az-Zumar: 43-44)
He also says:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ
'It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded?'
(As-Sajdah: 4)
He also says:
وَأَنْذِرْ بِهِ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْ يُحْشَرُوا إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
'And warn by the Qur'an those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord; for them besides Him will be no protector and no intercessor that they might become righteous.'
(Al-An'am: 51)
He also says:
مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا عِبَادًا لِي مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنْ كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ
'It is not for any human being to whom Allah gives the Scripture and authority and prophethood that he would then say to the people, "Be servants to me rather than Allah," but [instead, he would say], "Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied.
وَلَا يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَنْ تَتَّخِذُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ أَرْبَابًا أَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
'Nor would he order you to take the angels and prophets as lords. Would he order you to disbelieve after you have become Muslim?'
(Aal-E-Imran: 79-80)
So, when one who takes the angels and prophets as lords is declared a disbeliever, what about those who take lesser figures, like sheikhs and others, as lords?
Detailed Explanation
If a person's request is related to matters that only Allah can fulfill, such as seeking the healing of a human or an animal, the payment of debts without a specific source, well-being of family, relief from worldly or otherworldly calamities, victory over enemies, guidance of the heart, forgiveness of sins, entry into Paradise, salvation from Hell, learning knowledge and the Qur'an, rectification of the heart, good character, purification of the soul, etc., then these matters can only be sought from Allah.It is not permissible to say to a king, prophet, or sheikh, whether alive or dead, "Forgive my sins," or "Grant me victory over my enemies," or "Heal my sick," or "Grant me well-being or to my family or animal," or similar requests. Anyone who asks such things from a creature, whoever it may be, is committing shirk (associating partners with Allah), akin to the polytheists who worship angels, prophets, and the statues they carved in their likenesses, similar to how the Christians call upon Jesus and his mother.
Allah says:
وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ
'And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'"'
(Al-Ma'idah: 116)
He also says:
اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
'They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.'
(At-Tawbah: 31)
As for matters that a person is capable of fulfilling, it is sometimes permissible to ask them and sometimes not.
Allah says:
فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَانْصَبْ﴾ ﴿وَإِلَى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَبْ
'So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. And to your Lord direct [your] longing.'
(Ash-Sharh: 7-8)
The Prophet (ﷺ) advised Ibn Abbas: "When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek help, seek help from Allah."
Allah Almighty says:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ فَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ الضُّرِّ عَنْكُمْ وَلَا تَحْوِيلًا
'Say, "Call upon those whom you claim [as gods] besides Him; they do not possess the ability for removal of adversity from you or for [its] transfer [to someone else]."'
أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحْذُورًا
'Those whom they call upon seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them would be nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared.'
(Al-Isra: 56-57)
A group of the predecessors said that people used to call upon Jesus, Ezra, and the angels. Allah said: 'Those whom you call upon are My servants just like you, they hope for My mercy just as you do, fear My punishment just as you do, and strive to get close to Me just as you do. If this is the case for those who call upon prophets and angels, then what about those below them?' Allah also says:
أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنْ يَتَّخِذُوا عِبَادِي مِنْ دُونِي أَوْلِيَاءَ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ نُزُلًا
'Then did those who disbelieve think that they could take My servants instead of Me as allies? Indeed, We have prepared Hell as a lodging for the disbelievers.'
(Al-Kahf: 102)
Allah also says:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِنْ شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ ظَهِيرٍ
'Say, "Call upon those whom you claim [as gods] besides Allah. They do not possess an atom's weight in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant."'
وَلَا تَنْفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ
'And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits.'
(Saba: 22-23)
Allah explains that none of those called upon besides Him from all the creatures, whether angels, humans, or others, possess an atom's weight in His dominion. He has no partner in His dominion; rather, He alone has sovereignty, praise, and power over all things. He has no helper assisting Him as a king has helpers and assistants. Intercessors with Him do not intercede except for those He permits. This negates all forms of shirk. That is because those called upon besides Allah are either possessors of sovereignty or not. If not, they are either partners or not. If not partners, they are either helpers or seekers of assistance. The first three categories—sovereignty, partnership, and assistance—are negated. As for the fourth, it only occurs after His permission, as Allah says:
'Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?'
(Al-Baqarah: 255)
He also says:
وَكَمْ مِنْ مَلَكٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ لَا تُغْنِي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَى
'And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except only after Allah has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.'
(An-Najm: 26)
He also says:
أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ شُفَعَاءَ قُلْ أَوَلَوْ كَانُوا لَا يَمْلِكُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ
'Or have they taken other than Allah as intercessors? Say, "Even though they do not possess [power over] anything, nor do they reason?"'
قُلْ لِلَّهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَمِيعًا لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
'Say, "To Allah belongs [the right to allow] intercession entirely. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth."'
(Az-Zumar: 43-44)
He also says:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ
'It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded?'
(As-Sajdah: 4)
He also says:
وَأَنْذِرْ بِهِ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْ يُحْشَرُوا إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
'And warn by the Qur'an those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord; for them besides Him will be no protector and no intercessor that they might become righteous.'
(Al-An'am: 51)
He also says:
مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا عِبَادًا لِي مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنْ كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ
'It is not for any human being to whom Allah gives the Scripture and authority and prophethood that he would then say to the people, "Be servants to me rather than Allah," but [instead, he would say], "Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied."'
وَلَا يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَنْ تَتَّخِذُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ أَرْبَابًا أَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
'Nor would he order you to take the angels and prophets as lords. Would he order you to disbelieve after you have become Muslim?'
(Aal-E-Imran: 79-80)
So, when one who takes the angels and prophets as lords is declared a disbeliever, what about those who take lesser figures, like sheikhs and others, as lords?
Detailed Explanation
If a person's request is related to matters that only Allah can fulfill, such as seeking the healing of a human or an animal, the payment of debts without a specific source, well-being of family, relief from worldly or otherworldly calamities, victory over enemies, guidance of the heart, forgiveness of sins, entry into Paradise, salvation from Hell, learning knowledge and the Qur'an, rectification of the heart, good character, purification of the soul, etc., then these matters can only be sought from Allah.It is not permissible to say to a king, prophet, or sheikh, whether alive or dead, "Forgive my sins," or "Grant me victory over my enemies," or "Heal my sick," or "Grant me well-being or to my family or animal," or similar requests. Anyone who asks such things from a creature, whoever it may be, is committing shirk (associating partners with Allah), akin to the polytheists who worship angels, prophets, and the statues they carved in their likenesses, similar to how the Christians call upon Jesus and his mother.
Allah says:
وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ
'And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'"'
(Al-Ma'idah: 116)
He also says:
اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
'They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.'
(At-Tawbah: 31)
As for matters that a person is capable of fulfilling, it is sometimes permissible to ask them and sometimes not.
Allah says:
فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَانْصَبْ وَإِلَى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَبْ
'So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. And to your Lord direct [your] longing.'
(Ash-Sharh: 7-8)
The Prophet (ﷺ) advised Ibn Abbas: "When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek help, seek help from Allah."
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