Q: My tribe still slaughters sheep at the shrines of Awliya' (pious people) to get closer to them. I forbade them to do this, but they became more obstinate. I told them it is Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah), but they said they worshipped Allah alone, and that there is no harm in visiting Awliya' and beseeching Allah through their names to cure them or save them from distress. I told them there is no mediation in Islam, but they asked me to leave them alone. What should I do to rectify this situation? How can I fight this Bid`ah (innovation in religion)? Many thanks to you.
A: It is known through evidence from the Qur'an and the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) that drawing near to other than Allah, whether Awliya', Jinn (creatures created from fire), idols or others, by slaughtering animals for their sake is considered Shirk and one of the acts of Jahiliyyah (preIslamic time of ignorance) committed by the Mushriks (those who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship).
Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims."
Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) AlKauthar (a river in Paradise). Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only).
Allah has cursed the one who slaughters a sacrificial animal to other than Allah.
Whoever introduces something into this affair of ours that is not of it, it is to be rejected.
Whoever performs an act which is not of our Shari'ah, it is to be rejected.