Q: What is the ruling on offering sacrifices at the shrines of Awliya' (pious people)? What is the ruling saying: "O Allah! By the right of Your Waliy soandso! Cure us or save us from suchandsuch a distress?
A: It is wellknown through the Qur'an and the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) that offering sacrifices to get close to other than Allah, whether they are the Awliya', the Jinn (creatures created from fire), idols, or others, is Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and one of the actions of Jahiliyyah (preIslamic time of ignorance) and the Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship).
Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: 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."
Sacrifice here refers to slaughtering animals. Allah (Glorified be He) makes it clear in this Ayah (Qur'anic verse) that slaughtering animals for other than Him is Shirk, just as offering Salah (Prayer) to other than Allah.
Allah (Exalted be He) also says: 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).
In this Surah (Qur'anic chapter), Allah (Glorified be He) commands His Prophet to pray to his Lord and sacrifice animals for His Sake, unlike the Mushriks, who pray and sacrifice animals to other than Allah.
"Allah cursed those who slaughter (sacrifice) for other than Allah."