Q: Once, a man died in our town. When the news of his death was announced, the old women went to his house and stood around his shrouded body. When we asked them why they did so, they replied that they went to seek blessings from this man. What is the ruling on this act? Is it an act of Sunnah (supererogatory act of worship following the example of the Prophet)?
A: This act is impermissible and it is Munkar (that which is unacceptable and disapproved of by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect). It is impermissible to seek blessings from the dead or their graves, and invoke or ask them to meet one's needs, heal the sick, etc. Allah alone is worthy of being worshipped and asked for blessings. He (may He be Praised) is the Source of Blessings, thus He is described as "Blessed". In Surah AlFurqan, Allah states, Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion (of right and wrong, i.e. this Qur'ân) to His slave (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) that he may be a warner to the ' Alamîn (mankind and jinn). Allah (Glorified be He) also says: Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion It means that Allah (may He be Praised) has the maximum degree of sublimity and blessing. A servant, on the other hand, is blessed, if Allah guides, rectifies, and makes him a benefit to people. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states about His Servant and Messenger `Isa, the son of Mariam, (peace be upon him), "He ['Isâ (Jesus)] said: "Verily I am a slave of Allâh, He has given And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be May Allah grant us me the Scripture and made me a Prophet;" success!