Adapted from the original article by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amonpuri حفظه الله
— Control over divine treasures
— Power to cause benefit or harm
— Knowledge of the unseen
— Authority over life, death, provision, or universe
✔ Practices like:
— Calling upon the deceased
— Seeking their intercession or aid
— Making vows and prostrations at graves
— Decorating tombs, lighting candles, or performing tawaf around them
All such practices are condemned as innovations or acts of shirk when tied to divine attributes or worship.
✔ Barakah (blessing) due to righteous individuals is through their living prayers, piety, and sincerity, not through seeking blessings from their graves or relics after their death.
The hadith of Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī on future generations gaining victory due to the companionship of Ṣaḥābah, Tābiʿīn, and Tabiʿ al-Tābiʿīn is not proof of tabarruk from persons, but proof that victory is granted due to the righteousness and duʿā of the weak believers.
✔ “You are granted victory and provision because of your weak ones…”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2596, Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2594, etc.)
“No prophet’s grave is known except that of the Prophet ﷺ — this is the consensus of the Salaf.”
(al-Majmūʿ fī Tarjamat al-Shaykh Ḥammād: 2/504)
✦ However, seeking blessings or invoking the dead is a reprehensible innovation or shirk, not supported by the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah.
✔ Duʿā, help, and trust should be directed to Allah alone.
✔ Respect for the pious does not equate to worship or intercession through them.
❖ Summary
This comprehensive article addresses prevalent but erroneous beliefs regarding seeking blessings (tabarruk) from prophets, saints (awliya’), and righteous individuals (ṣāliḥīn). It dissects common misconceptions, clarifies the Sharʿī rulings, and presents authentic evidence distinguishing between lawful reverence and unlawful innovations or shirk.❖ Key Misconceptions Refuted
✔ Believing that awliya’ or prophets possess:— Control over divine treasures
— Power to cause benefit or harm
— Knowledge of the unseen
— Authority over life, death, provision, or universe
✔ Practices like:
— Calling upon the deceased
— Seeking their intercession or aid
— Making vows and prostrations at graves
— Decorating tombs, lighting candles, or performing tawaf around them
All such practices are condemned as innovations or acts of shirk when tied to divine attributes or worship.
❖ Authentic Islamic Position
✔ Tabarruk is exclusive to the Prophet ﷺ, and his personal relics or physical presence during his life.✔ Barakah (blessing) due to righteous individuals is through their living prayers, piety, and sincerity, not through seeking blessings from their graves or relics after their death.
❖ Misused Hadith Clarified
The hadith of Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī on future generations gaining victory due to the companionship of Ṣaḥābah, Tābiʿīn, and Tabiʿ al-Tābiʿīn is not proof of tabarruk from persons, but proof that victory is granted due to the righteousness and duʿā of the weak believers.
✔ “You are granted victory and provision because of your weak ones…”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2596, Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2594, etc.)
❖ Clarified View on the Graves of Prophets
Shaykh Ḥammād al-Anṣārī رحمه الله:“No prophet’s grave is known except that of the Prophet ﷺ — this is the consensus of the Salaf.”
(al-Majmūʿ fī Tarjamat al-Shaykh Ḥammād: 2/504)
❖ Final Clarification
✦ Loving the righteous and asking living people for duʿā is permissible.✦ However, seeking blessings or invoking the dead is a reprehensible innovation or shirk, not supported by the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah.
❖ Sharʿī Ruling
The Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah hold that:✔ Duʿā, help, and trust should be directed to Allah alone.
✔ Respect for the pious does not equate to worship or intercession through them.
