Offerings at a Shrine: Flowers and the Like

Question

Here in the village there is a saint’s shrine. For its custodians Maharaja Gaekwad granted some land, so that whoever performs the duties of custodian should cultivate this land and live on its produce. The duties of custodian are performed by a mu’adhdhin. All the people of the village lay flowers on the shrine and also light lamps there. The mu’adhdhin says: “I regard this grave-worship as evil; if I do not do this, may I eat the produce of this land or not?

Answer

Let him guard the shrine, and gently and kindly explain to those who lay flowers: “This offering benefits neither you nor the one who lies in the tomb; but if you perform two rak‘as of prayer, or recite something of the Holy Qur’an, and convey the reward to them (isal al-thawab)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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