Is going to dargah prohibited or allowed? Do the awliyah listen to our prayers? Can we reference to their names while making dua?

Kindly refer below our standard reply to similar query

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.

You were unfortunate to come into contact with members of the Barelwi sect. This corruption is rife in the Indo-pak subcontinent where it originated from and has no adherents outside the Indian community. This group holds many un-Islamic beliefs and have incorporated many Hindu and Shirk customs and practices into their doctrine. Many Ulama have written detailed refutations of these evils in the Urdu language, among them, Moulana Muhammad Yusuf Ludyanwi Shaheed (RA) whose outstanding book, 'Differences in the Ummah and the Straight Path' has been translated into English and is available from the Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azaadville, South Africa.

To help clear your confusion, we will briefly address the issues raised in your correspondence.

Allah Ta'ala commands in the Qur'aan, 'O you who believe! Fear Allah and be with the Saadiqeen (truthful ones).' (Tawbah). Here, it is inferred that company of the pious is instrumental in assisting one towards the goal of Taqwa (fear of Allah). It is therefore, imperative that such a pious one be 'Muttabi us Sunnah' (a strict adherent of the Sunnha) so as to advise and assist others in attaining this goal. Such a person is indeed worthy of respect within the limits prescribed by the Shari'ah. It also follows that one who is himself involved and encourages practices and customs contrary to the Sunnah can never assist others except in Dhalaal (misguidance).

Many great and worthy personages and staunch upholders of the Sunnah have contributed tremendously to the service of Deen and have since left this world. They were indeed great 'Awliyaa' (friends) of Allah. Sadly, after their demise, some ignorant members of society fell into a great mischief. With hollow claims of Ta'zeem (according honour) and Muhabbat (love), they have began perpetrating such heinous evils that shake the very foundations of Deen. Were the Awliyaa, in whose names these are carried out, alive, they would have been the first to outlaw them. Among these evil practices, hereunder are some of them:

Kissing or Bowing before Graves
Among all the evils perpetrated by these persons, these are surely the most heinous. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had expressly forbade that any person prostrate before him. He said, 'Were I to command anyone to prostrate before another, I would have commanded the wife to do so before her husband. ' (Targheeb).

The learned scholars of Islam have clearly stated that such innovations are absolutely Haraam and in some situations, even Kufr. This can be understood from the following text (extracted from authoritative works):

'Whoever bows to the king with the intention of Ibaadat, becomes a Kaafir (disbeliever). It appears in Khulasa that, 'whoever prostrates before them with the intention of Ta'zeem (showing honour) like the Ta'zeem of Allah Ta' ala, he will become Kaafir. If his intention is just a greeting, some Ulama have accepted the view that he will not become a Kaafir (but such an act is Haraam). This is the most apparent view. Some Ulama, however, hold the view that he will become Kaafir in all cases. Concerning kissing of the ground, this is very close to bowing, except that placing the forehead or the cheek on the ground is worse than the cheek.' (Fataawa Mahmoodiya vol.10 pg.60 quoting Fiqh Sharhul Akbar).

"Bowing to any besides Allah is Haraam." (Ibid)

"The best method when visiting the graveyard is to place one's back towards the Qibla while facing the Mayyit (deceased) and make Salaam. The hands should not be passed over the grave, nor should it be kissed or touched, for such is the custom of the Christians." (Ibid from Tahtaawi)

"One should not cling to a grave nor touch it . one who is learned should inform and warn others against those innovations perpetrated by the ignorant, that Tawaaf (circumambulation) of the holy grave of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) takes place as around the Ka'bah and that the hands be passed over it or that it be kissed." (Ibid from Mudkhal)

The above quotations should be sufficient to portray the magnitude of perpetrating these acts of Shirk.

Strewing of Flowers Upon Graves
Mufti Mahmoodul-Hasan Gangohi (RA) has aptly replied to this question. He writes, 'Stewing flowers or Chadars (shawls) upon graves is incorrect. Although it has been narrated that Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had planted branches upon two graves, this was only because the occupants of those graves were suffering punishments. Then too the blessed hands of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) were used (which is not insignificant). When using this as substantiation for the practise of strewing flowers upon the resting places of the pious servants of Allah Ta'ala, is it then done out of the belief that these great personages, Allah forbid, are suffering divine punishments? Also, aside from those two graves, it is not established that Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) planted branches on any other occasions." (Fataawa Mahmoodiyya vol.1 pg.195; Mazhari)

We wish to add that should one sincerely wish to practise upon the Hadith, which cannot in any case, be a basis for establishing Sunniyyaat (a practise being Sunnah), why adhere to flowers, an item according great importance by the Hindu religion?