As for anyone who describes a particular innovation as “a good innovation,” that only holds true when a sound legal proof establishes that the act is in fact recommended. Anything that is neither recommended nor obligatory—no Muslim would ever claim that it counts among the righteous deeds by which one draws near to Allah. Whoever seeks closeness to Allah through something that is not counted among the prescribed virtues, whether mandatory or encouraged, is astray, following Satan, and treading one of Satan’s paths.

ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd (Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ drew a line for us, then drew lines to its right and left. He said, ‘This is Allah’s path, and these are other paths; on each of those paths is a devil calling people to it.’ He then recited: ‘Indeed, this is My straight path, so follow it; and do not follow the other paths, lest they cause you to deviate from His path.’1”

I say: Some latecomers fell into this manifest error because they measured the prophets’ life in the barzakh against their life in this world. Such an analogy is false, running counter to the Book, the Sunnah, and observable reality. One example suffices: no Muslim permits praying behind their graves; no one can converse with them or speak to them—among many other differences that any rational person can see.

Seeking Rescue from Other than Allah the Exalted

From that corrupt analogy and unsound opinion arose the grave deviation and tremendous calamity into which many ordinary Muslims—and even some of the learned—have fallen: seeking relief from prophets and righteous people instead of Allah when calamities strike. You can actually hear groups of people at certain graves calling upon those buried there for various needs, as though those dead could hear what