such as lanterns, candles, and the like. If someone who does this is cursed, then whoever places gold and silver lanterns and candlesticks there, beside the graves, is all the more deserving of the curse.

Anyone who vows to provide oil, candles, gold, silver, a covering, or anything else to be placed at the grave of a prophet, a Companion, a relative of the Prophet, or a shaykh has made a vow involving disobedience, which it is not permissible to fulfil. Must he offer the expiation for a broken oath? The scholars have two opinions on this. If he gives what he vowed as charity to deserving members of the Prophet’s household, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or to other righteous poor people, that would be better for him in Allah’s sight and more beneficial to him. This is a righteous deed for which Allah will reward him, for Allah rewards those who give charity and does not let the reward of those who do good go to waste.

One who gives charity does so seeking Allah’s Countenance, seeking his reward not from created beings but from Allah Most High. As the Most High says:

“But the most righteous will be kept away from it—he who gives his wealth to purify himself, not repaying a favour owed to anyone, but only seeking the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High. And he will surely be pleased.”

The Most High also says:

“And the example of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s pleasure and out of firm conviction within themselves is that of a garden on high ground”—to the end of the verse.

And He says of His righteous servants:

“We feed you only for the sake of Allah. We desire neither reward nor thanks from you.”

For this reason, no one should ask in the name of anyone other than Allah, as when someone says, “In honour of Abū Bakr and ʿAlī, or shaykh so-and-so, or shaykh so-and-so.” Rather, one should give only to someone who asks