Seeking blessings from the graves of the pious
Sidi Muhammad Aqdas
Is it legally valid in Islam to visit the graves and seek blessings from them? To answer this question, we shall consider the belief of the Noble Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam and the scholars of this ummah.
The belief of the dear Prophet şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam
(1) It is narrated by Buraidah rađiyAllāhu ánhu that the dear Prophet şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam said:
"I used to forbid you from visiting the graves (but now I give you permission), you should visit them" (Muslim, Mishkāt p.154)
Commenting on this hadîth, the renowned Muhaqqiq, Shaykh Abdul Haq Dehlwi writes that because the period of ignorance had just passed, RasūlAllah şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam forbade the visitation due to fear of the Muslims returning to their old ways. However, when the people became well acquainted with the orders of Islam, then the dear Prophet şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam allowed the visitation to take place (Ashi'atul Lum'aat, vol.1 p.717).
(2) It is narrated by ibn Mas'ud rađiyAllāhu ánhu that the dear Prophet şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam said:
"I forbade you from visiting the graves but now you should visit them" (ibn Majah, Mishkāt p.154)
(3) Sayyidah Aisha Siddiqah rađiyAllāhu ánha narrates that:
"When the dear Prophet şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam used to pass the night with her, in the last part of the night he would go to the graveyard of Madinah Sharīf (Muslim, Mishkāt p.154)
(4) Muhammad bin Nu'man rađiyAllāhu ánhu narrates that RasūlAllah şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam said:
"Whoever visits his parents' graves or visits one of their graves every Friday, then he will be forgiven and will be written as being one of the pious" (Mishkat p.154)
From these ahadith, it is clear that according to the dear Prophet şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam, visitation of the graves is permissible. Moreover, that person who visits his parents' graves every Friday, his sins will be forgiven.
The belief of Imam Shâfi’î rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 204H)
Allama ibn Abideen Shaami rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 1253H) writes that Imam Shâfi’î rađiyAllāhu ánhu said:
"I seek blessings from Abu Hanifa and go near his grave. When I am need of something I perform two raka'ahs of salāh and then I go near his grave and pray to Allah. Thus, my need is fulfilled quickly" (Raddul Muhtār, vol.1 p.38)
Also, Shaykh Abdul Haq Dehlwi rađiyAllāhu ánhu writes:
"Imam Shâfi’î said that the grave of Hadrat Mūsa Kāzim rađiyAllāhu ánhu is a place where supplications are accepted readily" (Ashi'atul Lum'aat, vol.1 p.715)
From these writings, it is found that the belief of Imam Shâfi’î rađiyAllāhu ánhu was that to go to the graves of the pious and to seek blessings from them, to offer supplications near them graves and to believe the occupant of the grave to be a means of removing difficulties is totally permissible. The Imam also believed that some of these graves are a place where supplications are accepted.
The belief of Allama Sāwi Maliki rađiyAllāhu ánhu
Commenting on the verse "And seek a means of approach to him" (5:35), Imam Sāwi writes:
"To say that Muslims who visit the graves of the saints are Kafir because you believe they are worshipping other than Allah is a sign of clear heresy. To visit the saints is not worshipping other than Allah; rather it is a sign of loving those whom Allah loves" (Tafseer Sāwi, vol.1 p.245)
From this commentary, we learn that according to Imam Sāwi rađiyAllāhu ánhu, visiting the graves of the saints is permissible; it is not worshipping other than Allah, but it is loving those whom Allah loves.
The belief of Khwaja Hamiduddin Nagori rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 677H)
The great Sufi Shaykh, Hamiduddin Nagori, said that whoever has a need that he needs to be fulfilled, he should go to the grave of my wife, Sayyidah Khadijah, and seek blessings there because she never turned anyone away (Sultan at-Tarikeen, p.93)
From these words of Khwaja Hamiduddin, we discover his belief that the chosen people of Allah can help people even from their graves. Muslims should go to the graves of the chosen servants of the Creator and seek the benefits from them.
The belief of Sultan al-Ma’shaikh Nizam ad-Dīn Awliya rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 725H)
Hadrat Nizam ad-Dīn Awliya rađiyAllāhu ánhu says that Maulana Katheli once narrated a story about himself. Maulana Katheli said that one year, a famine stuck Delhi.
I was passing by a marketplace when I felt hungry. I bought some food and said to myself, I should not eat this alone, I should find someone to share it with. I saw an old man who had a cloak wrapped around his body. I said to him, "Oh Khwaja! I am poor and you too look poor". He then invited the old man to eat with him who accepted the invitation.
Whilst we ate, Maulana Katheli narrated, I told him that I was in debt for twenty rupees.
Hearing this, the old man urged me to continue eating and promised that he would go and get twenty rupees for me. I thought to myself, where is he going to get this sum from? After eating, the old man got up and took me to the mosque. In the mosque was situated a grave. He went near the grave and asked for something. He had a small stick in his hand which he used to hit the grave twice and he then said that this man needs twenty rupees, give it to him. He then turned towards me and said, "Maulana, go back, you shall find your twenty rupees".
When I heard this, I kissed the old man's hand and headed back to the city. I was dumbfounded as to where I will find the twenty rupees. I had a letter with me which I had to deliver to someone's house. I took this letter to where it had to be delivered and saw a Turkish man there. He ordered his servants to take me upstairs. I tried hard but could not recognise him even though he kept saying that I was the one who once helped him. I said I did not recognise him but he said he recognised me. We talked like this for some time. He then came to me and placed twenty rupees in my hand. (Fawaid al-Fawaad, p.124)
From this story narrated by Hadrat Nizam ad-Din Awliya, we learn that his belief was that the way in which saints can help us in their Earthly lives, they can also help us from beyond the grave and asking them is permissible. The real bestower is Allah and the saints help us through Allah's command just like the real curer of illnesses is Allah but the patient asks the doctor to cure him.
The belief of Allama Jāmi rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 898H)
Allama Jāmi rađiyAllāhu ánhu writes that Shaykh Abul Harith Awlasi rađiyAllāhu ánhu said that he had heard much about Hadrat Dhunnun Misri rađiyAllāhu ánhu. To clarify a few queries (mas'alas), I intended to visit him. When I got to Egypt I was informed that Hadrat Dhunnun had passed away. Hearing this, I went to his grave and sat in muraqabah. A while later, I felt tired and went to sleep. I saw Hadrat Dhunnun Misri in my dream and asked him my questions. He replied to my questions and relieved my burden. (Nafhatul-Uns, p.193)
By writing this incident, Allama Jāmi rađiyAllāhu ánhu has made clear his belief that to go to the shrines of the saints with a need is permissible. The saints help us through the power bestowed upon them by Allah.
The belief of Imam ibn Hajar Makki ash-Shâfi’î rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 973H)
Imam ibn Hajar Makki writes that it has always been the practice of the scholars and those who need to go to the shrine of Imam Abu Hanifa rađiyAllāhu ánhu and seek the intermediation of the Imam to remove their difficulties. These people believed this to be a means of success and received great rewards from this practice. Imam Shâfi’î rađiyAllāhu ánhu, whenever he was in Baghdad, would go to the shrine of Imam Abu Hanifa rađiyAllāhu ánhu and seek blessings from him. Whenever I am in need, I offer two rak'ahs of salāh and then go near his grave. I pray to Allah at this place, hence, my difficulty is immediately removed. (Al-Khairat al-Hissan, p.166)
From this writing, it is ever clear that Imam ibn Hajar Makki rađiyAllāhu ánhu believed that to go to shrines of the pious people and seek their wasīla (intermediation) is permissible an Imam Shâfi’î rađiyAllāhu ánhu was a practitioner of this method.
The belief of Shaykh Abdul Haq Dehlwi rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 1052H)
The Shaykh writes:
"To visit graves is by consensus a mustahab (preferable) action" (Ashi'atul Lum'aat, vol.1, p.715)
He also writes:
"When visiting the dead, respecting them is Wajib (necessary) especially where the pious are concerned. As it was necessary to respect them whilst they were alive, similarly, it is important to show them respect at their graves. This is because the help which the pious give depends on the respect that people who visit them show to them" (Ashi'atul Lum'aat, vol.1 p.720)
From these writing, it is absolutely manifest that the belief of Shaykh Abdul Haq rađiyAllāhu ánhu was that to visit the graves is neither Shirk nor Bid'ah. Moreover, it is a preferable act and the visitor is blessed with the help of the inmate of the grave.
The belief of Sayyid Ahmad Tahtāwi rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 1231H)
Imam Tahtāwi rađiyAllāhu ánhu writes:
"Elderly women are allowed to visit the graves and gather blessings from them as long as they do not commit any act there that is contrary to the Shari'ah. This is impermissible for young ladies the same as it is not allowed for them to attend the mosque for Jama'ah. The conclusion is that women are only allowed to visit the graves if they are sure that no fitna will occur" (Tahtāwi `ala Miraqi, p.341)
Hence, we learn that Imam Tahtāwi rađiyAllāhu ánhu believed that men can seek blessings from the shrines and women are only allowed to do so when no fitna will occur.
The belief of Imam ibn Abideen Shaami rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 1253H)
Imam Shaami rađiyAllāhu ánhu writes:
"Saints hold differing ranks in the court of Allah and to those who visit them, they benefit them through their spiritual stations" (Raddul Muhtār, vol.1 p.604)
The Imam also writes:
"For elderly women, there is not harm for them to seek the blessings from the graves of the pious. However, for young women, it is not allowed like it is not allowed for them to go to the mosque for Jama'ah" (Raddul Muhtār, vol.1 p.604)
From these writings of the Imam, he has made his belief totally clear that according to their rank, saints gift their visitors with benefit and blessings. It is permissible for elderly women to seek blessings from the shrines of the pious but not for the younger women.
The belief of Shah Waliullah Dehlwi rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 1176H)
Shah Waliullah rađiyAllāhu ánhu writes that his father, Shah Abdur Raheem, said that he once went to the shrine of Hadrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtyar Kaaki rađiyAllāhu ánhu. The soul of Bakhtyar Kaaki rađiyAllāhu ánhu became apparent and told me that I shall have a son and that I should name him Qutbuddin Ahmad. At this time, my wife had become elderly and was beyond child bearing age. On hearing this, I thought to myself that maybe I shall have a grandson. The soul of Bakhtyar Kaaki rađiyAllāhu ánhu got to know of my thinking and removed my doubt and said that it did not give me tidings of a grandson; rather, this child will be my very own. Sometime later, I married again and from this marriage was born (Shah) Waliullah.
At the time of my birth, my father had forgotten about this event and named me Waliullah. When he came to recall this event, he gave a second name of Qutbuddin Ahmad. (Anfaas al-`Arifeen, p.110)
By writing about this incident, the belief of Shah Waliullah Dehlwi is clear. He believed that to go to the shrines of the pious is permissible and even after their demise; the saints are still given the knowledge of the unseen because Qutbuddin Bakhtyar Kaaki rađiyAllāhu ánhu knew about the birth of a son a year before it happened. Also, the inmate of the grave also knew the feelings of his visitor's heart.
The belief of Shah Abdul Aziz Dehlwi rađiyAllāhu ánhu (d. 1239H)
Shah Abdul Azīz rađiyAllāhu ánhu writes:
"It is in Sharh Maqasid that visiting graves is beneficial and the souls of the pious cause benefit. Indeed, after death the soul has a connection with the body and the grave. Hence, when someone comes to visit this shrine and turns towards the soul of the inmate, then the two souls (of the visitor and the inmate) form a connection. It is a point of contention whether the help of the living is stronger or that of the deceased. Some scholars have said that the deceased can help more and some have proved this from a narration from the dear Prophet şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam that when you need help in a matter, seek it from the people of the grave. The great Shaykh, Shah Abdul Haq Dehlwi rađiyAllāhu ánhu has stated in Sharh Mishkāt that there is nothing in the Qur'an and Sunnah nor the sayings of the Salaf which contradicts this position and forms a proof against it. (Fatawa Azīziya, vol.2 p.108)
From this excerpt from the Fatawa of Shah Abdul Azīz, it is evident that to visit the graves of the pious is a meritorious act and to seek help from the person of the grave is totally permissible in the Shari'ah.