in this matter is an unbeliever, then it is the one who opposes his Sunnah and the consensus of the Companions and the scholars of his community who is the unbeliever. We do not declare any Muslim an unbeliever for making a mistake, whether in these matters or in others. But if it were assumed that someone who errs should be declared an unbeliever, then one who opposes the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus—the consensus of the Companions and the scholars—would more justly be judged an unbeliever than one who follows the Quran, the Sunnah, the Companions, and the early generations and leading scholars of the Muslim community.
The leading scholars of the Muslims distinguished, in this matter and others, between what the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded and what he forbade. What he commanded is worship, obedience, and a means of drawing near to Allah. What he forbade is the opposite; indeed, it may constitute associating partners with Allah, as in the practices of the misguided among the polytheists, the People of the Book, and those who imitate them. They establish places of worship over the graves of prophets and righteous people, pray towards them, dedicate vows to them, and make pilgrimages to them. They may even regard pilgrimage to the house of a created being as superior to pilgrimage to Allah’s Sacred House, calling it “the Greater Pilgrimage.” Their shaykhs have written works for them on this subject. Thus al-Mufīd ibn al-Nu'mān wrote a book on the rites associated with shrines, which he entitled “Manāsik Hajj al-Mashāhid (Rites of Pilgrimage to Shrines),” likening the house of a created being to the House of the Creator.
The foundation of Islam is that we worship Allah alone and do not make any of His creatures a rival, an equal, or a counterpart to Him.
The Most High says:
“So worship Him and be steadfast in His worship. Do you know of any equal to Him?”
The Most High also says:
“And there is none comparable to Him.”
The Most High also says:
“There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
The Most High also says: “So do not set up