As for what some ignorant people do—remaining at the grave, rolling on the soil, circling the tomb, and the like—every bit of it is reprehensible and a forbidden innovation. Should anyone believe that these dead can help or harm, he has committed shirk—Allah’s refuge is sought—and has exited Islam, for the dead can neither benefit nor harm. They cannot pray for you or intercede for you except with Allah’s permission.

Moreover, this is not the time for intercession; intercession belongs to the Day of Resurrection. Therefore, nothing from them will avail you if you call upon them or request their intercession or anything similar.

Our brothers in whose lands such practices are found must advise these uninformed people and make clear to them that the dead do not benefit them. Even the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—does not benefit people after his death. While he was alive, whenever drought befell the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—they would come to him and say, “Pray to Allah for rain on our behalf,” and he would supplicate and Allah would send rain. But once he passed away, the Companions did not go to his grave saying, “Pray to Allah to grant us rain,” even though his grave was right beside the mosque and not far away. Instead, when the land suffered drought during the caliphate of ʿUmar and famine set in, he said, “O Allah, we used to seek rain from You through our Prophet and You would give us rain. Now we seek rain from You through the uncle of our Prophet, so grant us rain,” whereupon al-ʿAbbās would stand and supplicate to Allah.