Tawaaf Around Graves, Stroking Them With One’s Hands And Seeking Blessings From Them- By Shaikh Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh
Shaikh Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh [may Allaah preserve him] said:
Tawaaf [Circumambulation] around a grave, stroking them (with one’s hands) and seeking blessings from them are acts of shirk. Circumambulation is an act of worship and it has not been legislated in any (other place) besides the Ka’bah and likewise walking between Safaa and Marwa is (only legislated at Safaa and Marwa).
Stroking (graves), seeking blessings from them and hoping to be benefited – in this life and the next – by way of such acts is (tantamount to) deification. It is similar to what the pre-Islamic idolaters used to do with their gods. Whoever hopes (for reward, blessings etc) through (these acts of worship at the) graves, then indeed he has exalted that which Allaah has not legislated to be exalted.
The proof to show that these practices are acts of Shirk is the hadeeth of Abee Waaqid Al-Laythee [may Allaah be pleased with him] who said, ”We went out with the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] to the (military) campaign to Hunayn, while we were new converts from disbelief to (Islaam). The idol worshippers had a lote tree in (whose vicinity) they used to stay and hang their weapons, and it (i.e. this lote-tree) was called Dhaat Anwaat. So when we went pass a tree, we said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! Set up a Dhaat Anwat for us just as they have a Dhaat Anwaat’. So the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ‘Allaahu Akbar! This is a path that has proceeded (from the people of the past). By Allaah in whose Hand my soul is! You have stated just as the children of Israa’eel stated to Moosaa [peace be upon him], ‘O Moosaa! Make for us Ilaahan (a god) as they have aalihah (gods)’. He (Moosaa) said: ‘Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allah and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone, the One and the Only God of all that exists)’”. [Reported by Ahmad and Tirmidhee and it is a sound hadeeth.]
Those (new Muslims) wanted to perform that act of worship in that particular place and to seek blessings; so the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] referred to what they sought after as worship of another deity besides Allaah. That (act they sought after) is a means to Shirk, but after the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] clarified the affair for them, they turned in repentance and obedience to (Allaah and His Messenger). Seeking blessings from graves, circumambulation round them and stroking them are more severe (acts of shirk and sin) than what those (new Muslims) sought after.
[Source: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Min’dhaar Fee Bayaani Katheer Minal Akhtaa Ash-Shaa’i’ah page: 11]