58- Recognition of the Awliya of Allah Q: I would like to get a clear definition of the Awliya (pious people)? Who are they? Are there particular signs through which they are recognized? Is it permissible to visit them, whether they are alive or dead, to seek their blessings and to help fulfill one's needs? May Allah reward you greatly for this. A: Awliya of Allah are the believers, the pious, the righteous and those who strictly follow the commands of Allah which He prescribed in His Law, and adhere to what is mentioned by the Messenger (ﷺ). Those are the true Awliya, the people of piety and faith. Allah (Glorified be He) said: No doubt! Verily, the Awliya of Allah [i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of Allah and fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which he has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve. Then, Allah (Exalted be He) explicated their characteristics in His Saying: Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds). Those are the Awliya as mentioned in Surat Yunus. Allah (Exalted be He) says in Surat Al-Anfal: and they are not its guardians? None can be its guardians except Al-Muttaqun (the pious).) Awliya are the people of piety and faith. They are the people who obey Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (ﷺ), they follow the injunctions of His Law and eschew Shirk (associating others with Allah in worship) and all sins. One should love them for the sake of Allah. But, it is not permissible to beseech their help or invoke them beside Allah (Exalted be He). It is also not lawful to distinctly mark their graves or the graves of Prophets by building domes or constructions over them. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians that they took the graves of their Prophets as Masjids (places of offering prayer)." He (ﷺ) also said: "Beware of those who preceded you and used to take the graves of their Prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you from doing that." (Reported by Imam Muslim in his Sahih.) The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) forbade people to build Masjids (places for offering prayer) over the graves of Prophets and righteous people. He warned them against this evil and cursed those who adhere to this practice. It was reported by Imam Muslim in his Sahih on the authority of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade that the graves should be plastered or used as places tot on (for the people), or that a building should be erected over them. " Nothing should be built on the graves whether a dome, a compartment or a Masjid. Moreover, graves should be left manifest and clear from any construction as was done during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in Baqi" (the graveyard of Madinah, near the Prophet's Mosque) and other graveyards. Graves should be made in a plain, standing out approximately one span above the ground in order to be recognized as graves. Moreover, graves should not be plastered, and buildings, domes or Masjids should not be erected above them. Building Masjids and domes over graves is an act of committing Shirk (associating others with Allah in worship). This is because if the common people see the graves honored and venerated by these domes and Masjids, they may furnish and perfume them, which Bid`ah (heresy in religion). This inevitably leads to major Shirk (associating others with Allah in worship). We ask Allah to save us from these sins. These practices may inspire the common people to invoke the dead, seeking their help and rubbing their bodies on their graves. However, it is permissible for a Muslim to visit the graves of other Muslims and to greet them with Salam (Islamic greeting of peace), if the grave is distinct with no domes or Masjids over it. In a Hadith by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), it is mentioned that he said: "Visit the graves, as they remind you of the Hereafter." Visiting the graves in order to greet the dead with Salam (Islamic greeting of peace) and invoke Allah to have mercy upon them is a Sunnah (a commendable act) of the Prophet. But visiting the graves in order to invoke the dead beside Allah or seek their help and support is a form of major Shirk. Therefore, whoever supplicates the dead in the graves asking them to aid him, give him wealth or triumph or to cure his illness, grant him victory or protection, he is in fact invoking others besides Allah (Exalted be He). Moreover, this practice is a kind of Shirk similar to that of the Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) which was practiced by Abu Jahl and his like. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Muslims to beware of these heresies and recommend one other to eschew them wherever they are. But there is non in visiting...
