83 — The Advocates of Falsehood Promote False Supplications through Fabricated Tales

We have already discussed the importance of sincerity in supplication, that it is an essential condition for its acceptance, and that failing to devote it sincerely to Allah is among the gravest forms of transgression and wrongdoing, abasement and humiliation. This applies equally to one who directly calls upon someone other than Allah and to one who makes that being an intermediary between himself and Allah. Such conduct is among the gravest sins and the most extreme forms of misguidance. Allah says:

“Who could be further astray than one who calls upon, besides Allah, those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection and who are unaware of their supplications?” 1

There is a matter here that must be pointed out. A group of misguided people who worship graves, tomb-shrines, domed mausoleums, and the like may seek to deceive the common people and the ignorant in this regard by recounting stories and reports claiming that so-and-so supplicated at the grave of such-and-such a person and his prayer was answered; or that groups of people supplicated at the graves of various prophets and righteous people and their prayers were answered. They say, for example, that the grave of so-and-so is a tried-and-tested remedy. They claim that at graves faults are pardoned, supplications are answered, and mercies descend; that some people have had dreams concerning supplication at the graves of certain shaykhs; and that various people have experienced their supplications being answered at well-known graves. Through such claims, these misguided people have deceived some ignorant Muslims and turned them away from pure monotheism, true certainty, and trust in Allah toward attachment to graves, remaining in devotion beside them, seeking aid from their occupants, and calling upon them besides Allah.