An Artificial Grave: Lamp, Vow, Slaughter and Prostration

Question

Constructing an artificial grave and declaring it the shrine of some wali (saint), lighting a lamp in it, offering [gifts] by a vow, vowing a goat, a cow and the like, slaughtering them there and feeding people, and prostrating to the shrine — what ruling do these acts have according to the Sacred Law? And what ruling may be passed on the one who does the acts mentioned? And is food of this kind halal or haram?

Answer

To construct an artificial grave and declare it the shrine of some wali is to deceive the creatures [of Allah], and therefore it is absolutely impermissible; and the other acts mentioned are also forbidden and impermissible. Even if it really were the grave of some pious man, committing the acts mentioned would still be impermissible.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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