Question:
What is the correctness of this speech, and it is that the grave/tomb worshippers are Muslims, and they are excused for their ignorance, and that its a must for a scholar to establish the proof upon them to remove their doubts, and then if they are stubborn we descend the ruling of Kufr upon him?
Answer:
In the name of Allaah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim.
All praise is to Allaah the Lord of all that exists, and As-Salaat and As-Salaam upon His Trustworthy Prophet
Amma ba’d:
لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشْدُ مِنَ ٱلْغَىِّ
“There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become distinct from the wrong.” [Al-Baqarah: 256]
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
“And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers – We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.” [An-Nisaa’: 115]
(هَٰذَا بَيَانٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةٌ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ)
“This [Quran] is a clear statement to [all] the people and a guidance and instruction for those conscious of Allah.” [Aal-‘Imraan: 138]
يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَيَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
“Allaah wants to make clear to you [the lawful from the unlawful] and guide you to the [good] practices of those before you and to accept your repentance. And Allaah is Knowing and Wise.” [An-Nisaa’: 26]
So whoever knows about the Qur’aan, and knows about the Sunnah, and heard about this Da’wah and still remains worshipping graves?! And from worship is making du’aa to other than Allaah, swearing and oath by other than Allaah, and slaughtering for other than Allaah.
So if his condition is like this, it’s not said that he’s excused due to his ignorance, for indeed the one whose condition is like this has heard the knowledge, and has read the Qur’aan and understood it and turned away from it. And Allaah the mighty and majestic says:
(وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا)
“And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life.” [Taa Haa: 124]
So worshipping the graves and tombs is worship of other than Allaah, an act of Shirk! Major Shirk! There’s no doubt about the Shirk of its perpetrator.
What remains is what’s related to excuse of ignorance. The people in it are between negligence and going out of bounds, and what’s correct is that if the proofs have reached him, the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, and he heard of that then turned away and refused, it’s ruled upon him that he turned away, it’s not said that the proof has not reached him.
(لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ حُجَّةٌۢ بَعْدَ ٱلرُّسُلِۚ)
“So that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers.” [An-Nisaa’: 165]
And the Messenger established the proof, and clarified it. This is it may Allaah bless you.
Answered by: Shaykh, the Allamah, the Trustworthy Advisor, Abu Abdirrahman Yahya bin Ali Al-Hajuri – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/sh_yahia_duroos/13038
Translated by: Abū ‘Abdillāh ‘Omar bin Yahya Al-‘Akawi