Translation: A Hidden Door to Shirk — Grave Worship and Relic Veneration

Source: This article is derived from the book Shirk ke Chhor Darwazay by respected Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi and Hafiz Mahmood al-Khudri.

◈ Grave Worship as a Gateway to Shirk​

One of the concealed gateways to shirk is "grave worship" and "relic veneration."

When the revered personalities of the nation of Nuh (عليه السلام) passed away, their people inclined toward their graves. Eventually, idols were made in their likeness, and their worship began. Similarly, the people of Ibrahim (عليه السلام) possessed idols upon which they would offer sacrifices and conduct spiritual retreats.

The Qur'an mentions:﴿٥٢﴾
"When he (Ibrahim عليه السلام) said to his father and his people, 'What are these statues to which you are devoted?'"
(Al-Anbiya: 52)

During the time of Musa (عليه السلام), there was a nation who rested their hopes on idols and worshipped them:

As the Qur'an narrates:
(Al-A‘raf: 138)
"And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and they came upon a people devoted to idols. They said, 'O Musa! Make for us a god just as they have gods.'”

◈ Worship in the Time of the Prophet ﷺ​

In the era of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, even the graves of saints and trees were worshipped. As per Hadith, “Lāt was a righteous man who used to provide sawiq (a kind of barley porridge) to pilgrims.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Book of Tafsir, Hadith: 4859)

Hafiz Ibn Kathir writes in Tafsir al-Qur'an (4/267):
“Lāt was a white stone upon which a structure was built, draped with curtains, and attendants stayed nearby. A boundary was set around it.”

Ibn Jarir in Tafsir al-Tabari (4/267) adds:
“‘Uzza was a tree between Makkah and Ta’if, surrounded by a grand building and veiled with curtains. After the conquest of Makkah, all such shrines and objects of reverence were demolished.”

Sayyidah A’ishah (رضي الله عنها) narrates that some people of the Ansar used to don ihram in the name of Manāt (an idol placed between Makkah and Madinah). They said to the Prophet ﷺ:
"We did not perform Sa’i between Safa and Marwah due to reverence for Manāt.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Book of Tafsir, Hadith: 4861)

◈ The Incident of Dhat Anwat​

"Dhat Anwat" was a tree venerated by idolaters, who would hang their weapons on it seeking blessings. Some newly converted companions requested something similar. The Prophet ﷺ responded:

"By the One in Whose hand is my soul! You have said exactly what the Children of Israel said to Musa: ‘Make for us a god like their gods.’ Verily, you are an ignorant people. You will certainly follow the ways of those before you.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2180; Musnad Ahmad: 21897)

He further said:
"Even if they entered the hole of a lizard, you would follow them."

Upon the companions' astonishment, he ﷺ asked:
"Then who will you follow?"
(Sahih Bukhari: 7320; Sahih Muslim: 6781)

◈ Consequences of Blind Imitation and Modern-Day Parallels​

Allama Dawood Raz writes:
“Following others into the lizard’s hole means adopting their customs—good or bad—without thought. Today, Muslims have lost their intellectual independence. Whatever they see Westerners doing, they mimic, without considering its compatibility with our values or environment.”

Respected readers! The prophecy of the Prophet ﷺ is being fulfilled word-for-word today. Beyond human veneration, even animals are being worshipped. For example, in Lahore, the shrine of “Ghoray Shah” (Horse Saint) is widely visited by Muslims. A grave attributed to him in Gujranwala is proof of this.

◈ Grave Worship in Practice​

Domes and tombs are erected over graves, flags are hoisted, shrouds are laid, and pilgrimages are made with the intent of reward. People perform circumambulation, prostrate, and supplicate to the dead:

• “O Shaykh so-and-so, solve my problem.”
• “O Pir so-and-so, fulfill my need.”
• “Intercede on my behalf.”
• Some even call out to the deceased from thousands of miles away:
  “Ya Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله)!”

Yet the Prophet ﷺ strongly forbade such actions.

◈ Grave Warnings from the Prophet ﷺ​

Sayyidah A’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
“The Prophet ﷺ, during his final illness, said: ‘May Allah curse the Jews and Christians, for they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.’”
(Sahih Bukhari: 1330; Sahih Muslim: 1184)

She added:
“The Prophet’s grave was kept inside a chamber to prevent it from being taken as a place of prostration.”

Sayyiduna Jundub ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) reports that five days before his death, the Prophet ﷺ warned:
"Beware! Those before you took the graves of their prophets and pious ones as places of worship. I strictly forbid you from doing so.”
(Sahih Muslim: 532)

He further prayed:
“O Allah! Do not let my grave become an idol to be worshipped.”
(Musnad Ahmad: 2/244; Musnad Humaydi: 1025)

The Prophet ﷺ emphasized:
“May Allah curse the people who took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.”

He ﷺ also said:
"Whenever a righteous man among them died, they built a mosque over his grave and decorated it with images. These are the worst of creatures in the sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment.”
(Sahih Muslim: 528)

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) said:
“I heard the Prophet ﷺ say: ‘Among the worst of people are those who will be alive when the Hour is established, and those who take graves as mosques.’”
(Sahih Bukhari [Mu‘allaq], Kitab al-Fitan; Musnad Ahmad: 405/1)

◈ Only Three Mosques for Pilgrimage​

Pilgrimage (شدّ رحال) is only sanctioned for three mosques. The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Do not undertake a journey except to three mosques: Al-Masjid al-Haram, my mosque, and Al-Masjid al-Aqsa."
(Sahih Bukhari: 1189; Sahih Muslim: 1397)

So how can journeys to graves be justified?

◈ Women and Grave Visits​

Women were especially warned due to their emotional nature being more susceptible to shirk.

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed women who frequently visit graves, those who build mosques over them, and those who light lamps upon them."
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 1056; Musnad Ahmad: 2603)