Question:
In some countries, there are people who seclude themselves (i’tikaf) around graves for a number of years. Afterward, they claim that the deceased in the grave has permitted them to go out and call people to worship Allah. Nevertheless, they have practices where they let people stab themselves with daggers, claiming that this is a miracle granted to them, and they claim to be allies (awliya) of Allah. What is your Eminence’s opinion regarding such people?
Answer:
These people are called the Sufis. They have many paths (tariqas) and practice various forms of charlatanism. They may seclude themselves at graves, seek distress relief (istighatha) from their occupants, make vows (nadhr) to them, and slaughter sacrifices for them. They believe that these deceased individuals control the universe, emerge from their graves, speak to them directly, and teach them things. This is the practice of the ignorant Sufis, who have the least share of knowledge and are the furthest removed from it. We ask Allah for safety. Therefore, it is not permissible to obey them or act upon their opinions.
As for them stabbing themselves with daggers or knives, this stems from their ignorance and misguidance. Stabbing oneself with a knife is an evil, impermissible act. Taking a life is unlawful; it is not permissible for a person to kill themselves, whether with a knife or by any other means. Whoever kills themselves, the Fire is more deserving of them. We ask Allah for safety.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever kills themselves with something will be tormented with it on the Day of Resurrection.”
And Allah Almighty says: “And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you.” [An-Nisa’: 29]
So, killing oneself is among the greatest of evils. These Sufis, who are active in Egypt, the Levant, Iraq, Yemen, and many other countries, are among the ignorant—ignorant of Allah’s command and ignorant of Allah’s religion.
The devils have enticed them and made their evil deeds seem fair to them. They think that by secluding themselves at graves, or by sitting in their homes, or in their secret circles, they have become allies of Allah—even if they do not pray, fast, or worship Allah. This is due to their ignorance and misguidance. They tempt and mislead people, saying to them: “If you do such-and-such, then this and that will happen.”
Some of them might spend many nights without praying, fasting, or purifying themselves. We ask Allah for safety. These people are ignorant and misguided. Some of them are disbelievers who associate partners with Allah; they worship nothing but the devils and the occupants of the graves, completely disregarding Allah’s law and what He has commanded. Such a person says, “I do not follow the Messenger; I receive the religion directly from my Lord Himself.” and he says, “My heart narrated to me from my Lord,” and he pays no attention to the Qur’an, the Sunnah, or the Messenger ﷺ. These are among the most disbelieving and evil of people. We ask Allah for safety.