This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
Supplicating and calling out is an act of worship, and doing so to anyone other than Allah is shirk (polytheism)
The word Salat (prayer) includes Du'a (supplication), which is essentially the essence of worship; asking (for something) also falls under it. Therefore, the word Salat encompasses both Du'a and asking. Drawing attention to this, Allah Almighty says:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ ﴿٦٠﴾
"And your Lord has said, 'Call upon Me; I will respond to you. Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell humiliated.'"
Reference: (40-Ghafir:60)
Allah Almighty Himself has explained Du'a as asking and commanded His beloved Prophet to say:
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٦٢﴾
"Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds."
Reference: (6-Al-An'am:162)
Allah Almighty commanded His beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that:
● He should supplicate and seek refuge only from Allah Almighty.
● He should perform prayer for this purpose.
● He should build mosques for Allah’s pleasure.
● No mosque should be built over any grave.
● No mosque should be built for any grave owner.
● And no journey should be undertaken towards any grave.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade traveling to any mosque except Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, and also forbade performing Hajj at any house other than the House of Allah (Kaaba).
From the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), his Sunnah, the practices of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the actions of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), the lifestyle of the Tabi‘in, and the lives of the four Imams, knowledge of the above rulings is obtained. Therefore, it is not possible for anyone to prove from among the Imams of Islam that any one of them considered traveling with the intention of visiting the grave of a Prophet or a righteous person as recommended (mustahabb). Whoever tries to prove this must present authentic evidence. When our statement is proven, as mentioned in our fatwas, it becomes clear that the opposing view contradicts Islam, the Sunnah of the Messenger, and the practices of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. It also entails denial of the Shariah and the revealed books for whose propagation all the Prophets were sent. That is, to acknowledge the Oneness of Allah and worship Him alone. Allah is One without any partner. The actions He has made obligatory or recommended must be followed, and those actions which are not permitted in the true Shariah must never be committed.
