Making a Vow for the Awliya of Allah

Question

Calling upon the deceased elders of the religion — the noble awliya — in times of difficulty, making vows [to them], offering nadhr and niyaz (a votive food offering made in the name of a saint) in the name of the spiritual guides, and holding this belief: “We do not regard the guides as equal to Allah; we regard them as servants of Allah; it is He who has granted them this power and disposal (tasarruf)

Answer

Holding such a belief is contrary to the teachings of Islam and wrong; repentance (tawba) is obligatory for such a person, otherwise there is fear that faith may be stripped away altogether. [ar]وَأَمَّا النَّذْرُ الَّذِي يَنْذُرُهُ أَكْثَرُ الْعَوَامِّ عَلَى مَا هُوَ مُشَاهَدٌ، كَأَنْ يَكُونَ لِإِنْسَانٍ غَائِبٌ أَوْ مَرِيضٌ أَوْ لَهُ حَاجَةٌ ضَرُورِيَّةٌ، فَيَأْتِي بَعْضَ…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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