What is the ruling on making Tawassul through shrines?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

Tawassul through shrines has two meanings:

·        Supplicating those who are buried in the shrine, seeking refuge with them in adversity and resorting to them in times of disaster as well as other acts of worship. These can include circumambulating the shrine, vowing and slaughtering for its sake. All these acts are major Shirk which results in apostasy because it involves worshiping other than Allaah The Almighty.

·        Supplicating Allaah The Almighty by means of the sublime status of those who dwell in the shrine. This type of Tawassul is a religious innovation because it is not part of the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, nor was it practiced by any of his Companions .

The Sharee‘ah-approved Tawassul is to supplicate Allaah The Almighty by means of His Good Names, His Sublime Attributes, one's righteous deeds or through the supplication of a righteous living person.

Allaah Knows best.