85- Dying while being used to ask the dead for cure
- 4 years ago
85- Dying while being used to ask the dead for cure
Q: What is the ruling on the practice of making offerings for the dwellers of the graves and asking them to cure diseases or drive away grief? Will whoever dies while adopting this practice be punished eternally in the Hellfire? Will a person be excused for their ignorance of the ruling on this practice?
A: This is a very important question as it relates to a practice that is widespread in many Muslim countries. In fact, seeking the help of the dead or asking them to cure diseases or grant victory over the enemy is a form of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship that takes the Muslim out of Islam). This act is from the religion of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance). It is the religion of Abu Jahl and the like among those who worship graves and idols and who used to say: We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also tells about such Kafirs (disbelievers): And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah. " And: We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah. Thus, the practice referred to in the question is a form of major Shirk and whoever indulges in it and dies while adopting it will be punished eternally in the Hellfire. May Allah protect us all! However, whomever the Da`wah (call to Islam) did not reach, that is they were among Ahl-ul-Fatrah (people having no access to Divine Messages) and they did not know about Qur`an or Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet), will be judged by Allah on the Day of Resurrection. To make it more clear, Allah (Exalted be He) will examine such people on the Day of Resurrection; if they pass the exam they will be admitted to Jannah (Paradise), but if not they will be punished in the Hellfire. Conversely, those who knew about the Qur`an and Sunnah and used to live among Muslims will not be excused for their claim that they were ignorant of this ruling. Such people will be punished for their acts of Shirk as it was their own mistake that they sinned, were mindless, and did not refer to people of knowledge to explain their Din (religion) that they did not know. May Allah protect us all! Beliefs are the origin of Islam to which the excuse of ignorance is not applicable. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says regarding Kafirs: surely they took the Shayatin (devils) as Awliya (protectors and helpers) instead of Allah, and think that they are guided. Thus, Allah (Exalted be He) does not accept their excuse of ignorance. In addition, Allah (Exalted be He) says regarding the Christians: Say (O Muhammad ﷺ ): "Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? {"Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds. So they became Kafirs even though they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds. Next to these Ayahs (Qur`anic verses), Allah (Glorified be He) says: '"They are those who deny the Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and the Meeting with Him (in the Hereafter). So their works are in vain, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall assign no weight for them. {"That shall be their recompense, Hell; because they disbelieved and took My Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and My Messenger ﷺ ) says: this Quran has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach. In addition, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: (By Him in Whose Hand is my life, whoever among the community of Jews or Christians hears about me, but does not affirm their belief in that with which I have been sent and dies in this state (of disbelief), will be but among the dwellers of the Hellfire. (Related by Muslim in his Sahih [Authentic Hadith Book]) It is noteworthy that the Prophet (ﷺ) used the word "hears" not "understands", "reflects", or "becomes aware of.
[Vol. 2, Page No. 287-288]
Q: What is the ruling on the practice of making offerings for the dwellers of the graves and asking them to cure diseases or drive away grief? Will whoever dies while adopting this practice be punished eternally in the Hellfire? Will a person be excused for their ignorance of the ruling on this practice?
A: This is a very important question as it relates to a practice that is widespread in many Muslim countries. In fact, seeking the help of the dead or asking them to cure diseases or grant victory over the enemy is a form of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship that takes the Muslim out of Islam). This act is from the religion of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance). It is the religion of Abu Jahl and the like among those who worship graves and idols and who used to say: We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also tells about such Kafirs (disbelievers): And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah. " And: We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah. Thus, the practice referred to in the question is a form of major Shirk and whoever indulges in it and dies while adopting it will be punished eternally in the Hellfire. May Allah protect us all! However, whomever the Da`wah (call to Islam) did not reach, that is they were among Ahl-ul-Fatrah (people having no access to Divine Messages) and they did not know about Qur`an or Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet), will be judged by Allah on the Day of Resurrection. To make it more clear, Allah (Exalted be He) will examine such people on the Day of Resurrection; if they pass the exam they will be admitted to Jannah (Paradise), but if not they will be punished in the Hellfire. Conversely, those who knew about the Qur`an and Sunnah and used to live among Muslims will not be excused for their claim that they were ignorant of this ruling. Such people will be punished for their acts of Shirk as it was their own mistake that they sinned, were mindless, and did not refer to people of knowledge to explain their Din (religion) that they did not know. May Allah protect us all! Beliefs are the origin of Islam to which the excuse of ignorance is not applicable. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says regarding Kafirs: surely they took the Shayatin (devils) as Awliya (protectors and helpers) instead of Allah, and think that they are guided. Thus, Allah (Exalted be He) does not accept their excuse of ignorance. In addition, Allah (Exalted be He) says regarding the Christians: Say (O Muhammad ﷺ ): "Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? {"Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds. So they became Kafirs even though they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds. Next to these Ayahs (Qur`anic verses), Allah (Glorified be He) says: '"They are those who deny the Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and the Meeting with Him (in the Hereafter). So their works are in vain, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall assign no weight for them. {"That shall be their recompense, Hell; because they disbelieved and took My Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and My Messenger ﷺ ) says: this Quran has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach. In addition, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: (By Him in Whose Hand is my life, whoever among the community of Jews or Christians hears about me, but does not affirm their belief in that with which I have been sent and dies in this state (of disbelief), will be but among the dwellers of the Hellfire. (Related by Muslim in his Sahih [Authentic Hadith Book]) It is noteworthy that the Prophet (ﷺ) used the word "hears" not "understands", "reflects", or "becomes aware of.
[Vol. 2, Page No. 287-288]