It is Not Permissible to Seek Tabarruk
from the Dead
بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد
Q: During the day we received the news of the death of someone in our village. The old women went to his house and stood around his shrouded body. When we asked them why they did so, they replied that they do so to seek blessings from this man. What is the ruling on this act? Is it an act of the Sunnah (supererogatory act of worship following the example of the Prophet)?
A: This act is impermissible, in fact, it is Munkar (that which is unacceptable or disapproved of by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect). It is impermissible to seek blessings from the dead or their graves. People should not invoke or ask anyone other than Allah (عز وجل) to meet their needs, heal a patient or so on. Allah (عز وجل) alone is entitled to be worshipped and asked for blessings, as He (سبحانه وتعالى) is who is described as "Blessed". In Surah Al-Furqan, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says, “Blessed is He Who sent down the criterion (of right and wrong, i.e. this Qur’ân) to His slave (Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)) that he may be a warner to the ‘Alamîn (mankind and jinn).” [Surah Al-Furqan, 25: 1] He (سبحانه) says: “Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is Able to do all things.” [Surah Al-Mulk, 67: 1] It means that Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has the maximum degree of sublimity and blessings. The slave, on the other hand, is made blessed if Allah guides, rectifies and makes him beneficial for people. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says about His Slave and Messenger ‘Isâ, the son of Mariam, (صلى الله عليه وسلم), “He [‘Isâ (Jesus)] said: “Verily, I am a slave of Allâh, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet; And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be.” [Surah Maryam, 19: 30 – 31] May Allah grant us success.
[Majmoo ’al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 13; pp. 291 - 292]
[To read this text translated into Spanish Language, click here]
