Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 20-21: All the other beings, whom the people invoke with Allah, create nothing! Nay, they are themselves created.

They are DEAD, not living, and they do not at all know themselves when they shall again be raised to life!

If a righteous man or Prophet dies, it is not permissible in Islam, and according to sharī’ah=Islamic laws, to ask him for help or to make du’aa’ for you, because he has been cut off from this world. This is a kind of shirk which is not committed by any of the righteous people of this Ummah, the Ṣahābah=Companions of the prophet and those who follow them.

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “O Allah, do not turn my grave into an idol that is worshiped. Allah has cursed people who take the graves of their prophets as places of worship.”

[Source: Musnad Aḥmad 7311

Grade: Sahih (authentic)]

Ibn Abdul Barr may Allah be pleased with him said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) warned his companions and the rest of his nation from the evil deeds of nations before them, who prayer over the graves of their prophets and took them directions and places of prayer, just as the idolaters used to prostrate them and glorify them.

That is the greater idolatry.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) told them that it displeases Allah, angers him, and he is not satisfied with it, fearing that they would mimic their ways.”

Source: Fatḥ al-Bari li-Ibn Rajab 435

Respected Brothers and Sisters: Grave worshiping or asking help to a dead pious person or any other is strictly prohibited in Islam and it is shirk=polytheism same as idol worshiping.

We all agree that a Hindu who prays in front of his idol of Ram, Sita, Ganpati, whatever, commits ‘shirk’. He stands in front of his idol and asks the idol to give him this and that. He knows that the idol cannot give him anything, as it is only a piece of stone or clay!

What he implies is either, Ram or Sita or whatever can hear him, or that Ram or Sita can influence the One Being who Created everything and get these things for him!

This belief we all agree is shirk=Polytheism against monotheism= Tawhid in Islam!

But when a Muslim stands in front of the grave and prays to the person who is dead for hundreds of years, and asks him for this favor and that, we don’t call it shirk=polytheism!!! Again, the person standing and supplicating at the grave, knows that the grave cannot do anything …

It is only a grave!!! But implies and assumes that the person who was buried in this place hundreds of years ago is alive, has the power to hear him, has the power to understand the language he is speaking, has the power to take his message to the One Being Who Created everything, or has the power to get these things for him!!!

What is difference between the actions of the Hindu who invokes his idols, and the Muslim who invokes the graves of his pious holy men?

Both of them are involved in the most heinous and horrendous of all sins, ‘SHIRK=polytheism!!!!!!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verses160: If Allah helps you, none can overcome you! And if Allah forsakes you, who is there, then, after Allah that can help you? Therefore, the true believers should trust in Allah Alone.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 186:

And if My servants ask you, O Prophet, concerning Me, tell them that I am quite near to them. I hear and answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me. So let them respond to My call and believe in Me. (Convey this to them), perhaps they may be guided aright!

Allah is the One Who hears everything! Allah Alone is the One Who can answer your prayers! Allah Alone is the One Who deserves our invocation and our supplication! Allah Alone is the One Who has all the Powers with Himself!!! Sharing or giving any of Allah’s Beautiful Attributes to anyone of his created slaves or things, is one of the biggest forms of ‘shirk’=polytheism.

The only way to recognize this abominable crime of ‘shirk’ is to read the Holy Quran with understanding. All the communities that Allah relates in the Holy Quran who were destroyed by Him, they were destroyed because they were guilty if this one heinous, horrendous, and unforgivable sin: SHIRK=polytheism!!

Allah forgives any sin He pleases, except this one sin of ‘shirk’!!! And unfortunately, a multitude of Muslims are involved in this very crime… May Allah guide them to read and understand the Quran, so that they can recognize and stay away from this abominable crime!!!!

May Allah protect us from all foam of Shirk=polytheism and Shirk=polytheism festivals. Ameen

Allah knows Best.