There is a blank piece of paper lying on the road. We pass by it, and we will not bother picking it up, irrespective of our race, gender, religion or sect. Fair enough.  But let us assume, that if we see the name of Allah or his Rasool (SAW) written on this piece of paper, any believer with faith in his heart will pick up the paper, kiss it and put it in a safe place where the honor of the name cannot be disrespected. This is because such names remind us of divine existence, of Allah and his Rasool (SAW). It becomes a sign, a sign which manipulates our mind to think about Haqq.

That (shall be so); and whoever respects the signs of Allah, this surely is (the outcome) of the piety of hearts.
Quran [22:32]

Respecting of the signs of Allah, is nothing except the piety of the hearts. So do not expect everyone to respect the signs of Allah. Those who are bestowed with piety by Allah himself, only they will have the power to recognize such signs, and the opportunity to respect them.

Before we can come to the point of respect, we should know what a sign is.

This is the fact of the matter: (so understand it well.) And whoso observe the sanctity of what have been ordained as Symbols of Allah, do so because of the piety of the hearts
Quran [22:32], Translated by Abul Aala Maududi, Tafheem al Quran

The "+" sign represents mathematical addition. Load shedding or power outages occur regularly because there is a shortage of power production in Pakistan. Thus, Load shedding is a sign that we are suffering from an energy crisis. Lightning is the light flashed in the sky, while thunder is the noise it makes. Because light travels faster than sound, we will always see lightning before we can hear it's thunder. Thus if you see lightning in the sky, it is a sign that thunder will be heard.

A sign or a symbol are an indication, any object, action, event, pattern etc, that conveys a meaning, a representation of an entity, an idea or a concept.

Something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign. a letter, figure, or other character or mark or a combination of letters or the like used to designate something: the algebraic symbol x; the chemical symbol Au.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/symbol

What are the signs and the symbols of Allah which a pious is told to respect and venerate? Anything which represents Allah, is linked with Allah, reminds us of Allah is his sign.

Allah, the Almighty and All-Knowing has referred to the "Signs" of Allah several times in the Holy Quran. The "signs" have been places, events, personalities, catastrophes and many other things, but one thing which can be observed that according to the Holy Quran, the "Signs" (or Ayats) are meant to remind people of Allah, His Bounties, His Mercy, His Wrath, and his other attributes. Therefore, places, symbols, historical events or personalities, which serve as reminders and symbols for humanity, and strengthen the bonds of love and submission to Allah, are to be respected, revered and remembered, not only as a rite or ritual but also in their true spirit. While the Quran refers to several things, the Signs are generally reminders and symbols for humanity. Therefore, in addition to those "Signs" mentioned in the Holy Quran, events and personalities like Hazrat Ibrahim's sacrifice, Imam Hussain's lesson from Karbala, Prophet Muhammad's character and places like Masjid-e-Nabavi and the Holy Ka'bah, all of which serve to strengthen man's ties and attachment to the Almighty, are to be respected and loved. Since we unfortunately live in a period when we cannot be contemporaries of these great personalities and events, we seek their relics, their traces and that is why things, places and relics attributed and associated with them become so important. It is not wrong to strengthen our love and belief through symbols and relics which remind us of these people, and subsequently, of the Divine Path of these Blessed people, Sirat-e-Mustaqeem. This is one reason why Muslims revere (or remember) the water of Zamzam, the stone Hajar-e-Aswad, the City of the Prophet, the Cave of Hira, the dust of Karbala, the "Devil's" pillar which is stoned during Hajj, the Maqam-e-Ibrahim (mentioned in the Holy Quran as a place of worship to be respected too)...... These form our symbolic and material bonds to the pure remembrance of these divine personalities.....
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Thebes/8540/baqi.html

The author above leaves no place for me to add anything else. Having concluded that we have to respect the signs of Allah, we are left with some issues.

1. Who decides what are the signs of Allah?
2. How do we respect these signs?

Because the signs are of Allah, it is Allah who decides what his signs are. We according to our Aql can only interpret what these signs are. For example, we can only see a person's piety and not judge it because the piety is based on intentions and that is what only Allah knows about. If there is a person who Allah has chosen as a pious through his Rasool (SAW), and there is a person who we "assume" to be pious through our Aql, there will always be a difference between these two people. The game will revolve around the people who Allah chooses, not who we assume.

Because Allah has told us, the pious, to respect "His" signs, his Adl dictates that the onus is on him to show us his signs also so that we can respect them rather than following our own assumptions. As the article revolves around "grave worshipping", i will not consume time and space to show how The Kaaba is the sign of Allah, how the Masjid e Nabwi is the sign of Allah, how miracles are a sign of Allah.

Any one who has read the Quran with sincerity and an open heart, and who has read the history of Islam unbiased, and anyone who has been given wisdom and insight by Allah, will realize that Islam is whatever Rasool (SAW) said and did. He will also realize that Rasool (SAW) had never separated his Ahlulbayt (AS) from himself (SAW) or the Quran. These are the chosen people of Allah, who we send our Durood on, Shias and Sunnis alike. People like you or me, sinful and pious, the companions, good and bad, pious and insincere, their piety will do them good and their sins will do them bad. The game revolves around the people who Allah chooses, who he chooses to be sent durood upon every day, who he chooses to purify, who he chooses to be loved by us, who he chooses to curse the liars, who he chooses to conquer Khyber, who he chooses to bestow with wisdom and understanding of the Quran.

Everyone else other than these chosen people, will remain an assumption and subject to personal interpretation which might deviate from the facts.

Surely Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the descendants of Ibrahim and the descendants of Imran above the nations.
Quran [3:33]

With regards to the above verse, see what the hardcore ibn Kathir writes about durood.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد»
(Say: "O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Salah upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are the Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.)'' Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Abi Layla said that Ka`b bin `Ujrah met him and said, "Shall I not give you a gift The Messenger of Allah came out to us and we said, `O Messenger of Allah! We know how to send Salam upon you, but how can we send Salah' He said...
Tafsir Ibne Kathir, Tafsir of Surah 33, Verse 56

The Aal (progeny) of Prophet (SAW) is chosen and included in the Durood, just like the descendants of Ibrahim (AS) were chosen by Allah. These are the signs of Allah.

What is a sign of Allah if Muhammad (SAW) is not a sign of Allah? And if Muhammad (SAW) is a sign of Allah, then isn't his blessed nafs, Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS)? And who can be the sign of Allah if the leader of the woman of paradise, Janab e Zahra (AS) is not? And can there be a better sign of Allah other than the princes of Paradise, the sons of Rasool (SAW), Imam Hassan (AS) and Hussain (AS)?

The Zikr of Allah is not separate from their Zikr. The Haqq, the Quran is never away from the Ahlulbayt (AS). Whenever the remembrance of Hussain (AS) will occur, it will remind you of Rasool (SAW), who would remind you of Allah. These are the chosen people, and the signs of Allah.

Today, their graves remind us of their existence, their presence, their purity, their efforts, their mission. Their mission has always been Allah himself, their presence has been Islam itself and their existence as representatives of Allah (Prophets, Imams) is a sign enough that these are the signs of Allah.

Our respect for them, their name, their relics, their shrines is a proof of our piety. However, we are accused of Shirk and grave worshipping due to this respect which we show them. The blame can be justified perhaps, but only out of ignorance, ignorance on both parts.

Ignorance of the Muslim who visits the graves of Qalanders and other self appointed Mazaars "assuming" that these are the pious and the chosen ones. Ignorance of the Muslim who sees kissing the graves of Rasool (SAW) and Mawla Ali (AS) as worshipping them thinking we consider these graves to be Allah himself, and not the signs of Allah.

The issue of visiting graves can be divided into certain sub-issues also.

1. Is visiting of the graves allowed? If yes then for what purpose? If no then why not?
2. Which graves should not be visited?
3. Is visiting the grave of Rasool (SAW) a farz for every Muslim?
4. What is the position of the graves of Qalanders, Darbars, Mazaars of supposedly pious people?
5. What does worshipping a grave mean?

Let us come back to the balance between the Haqq and Baatil.

And never offer prayer for any one of them who dies and do not stand by his grave; surely they disbelieve in Allah and His Messenger and they shall die in transgression.
Quran [9:84]

We are told not to stand by the grave of those who disbelieve in Allah and his Rasool (SAW). This is a proof in itself, than other than these cursed people, we are not forbidden to visit the graves of our loved ones.

Let us not talk about salafis, wahabis, nasibis, who hate the name "Ali", let us look at our role model, Rasool (SAW).

 Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that Abu Umama ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf told him that once a poor woman fell ill and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was told of her illness, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to visit poor people frequently and ask after them. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Let me know if she dies." Her bier was brought out at night-time and they did not want to wake up the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. In the morning the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was told what had happened to her and he said, "Didn't I tell you to let me know if she died?" They replied, "Messenger of Allah, we did not want to wake you up and make you come out in the night." Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out and formed everyone into rows by her grave and said "Allah is greater" four times.
Malik's Muwatta Book 16, Number 16.5.15

Rasool (SAW) visited the grave of the woman to perform a ritual.

Before i proceed, there are two contrasting Sunni Hadith we must look at.

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) cursed women who visit graves, those who built mosques over them and erected lamps (there).
Sunan Abu Dawud Book 20, Number 3230

Narrated Buraydah ibn al-Hasib: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: I forbade you three things, and now I command (permit) you for them. I forbade you to visit graves, now you may visit them, for in visiting them there is admonition...
Sunan Abu Dawud Book 26, Number 3689

So visiting of the graves, as the Quran itself speaks above, is not prohibited. The difference lies in what should be the intentions visiting which graves. The intentions and the "which" is important.

There is an admonition in grave visiting! You will be reminded about your death, your grave, your end thus graves will warn you and try to make a better person out of your. You can visit your ancestors grave with the intentions of cleaning them. You can visit your friend's grave with the intentions to ask forgiveness for them. But can i visit my grandfather's grave, bow to it, kiss it, ask help from it?

This is where the difference lies. One thing is definite. Bowing down before anything thinking of it to be God is shirk. Asking help from anyone thinking they can help you being independent from God is shirk. Shirk and respecting of the signs of Allah are two different things.

Be upright for Allah, not associating aught with Him and whoever associates (others) with Allah, it is as though he had fallen from on high, then the birds snatch him away or the wind carries him off to a far-distant place. That (shall be so); and whoever respects the signs of Allah, this surely is (the outcome) of the piety of hearts.
Quran [22:31-32]

The above verses confirm, that shirk is something else, and respecting the signs of Allah is something else. Their close interrelation in consecutive verses also hint that many people who are not given the power to differentiate will confuse shirk with respecting the signs of Allah.

The angels bowed to Adam (AS), as a sign of Allah, because Allah told them to do so. If they bowed to Adam (AS) thinking him to be the creator independent of Allah, that would have been shirk.

The grave of Rasool (SAW) is a sign of Allah. If i was ever present at the time of Prophet (SAW), and If Allah willed, i would be a follower of Rasool (SAW), i would stand before him with my heads bowed down as a sign of respect and love I owe him. The following is an excerpt when Urwa was sent by the Meccans to intercept Rasool (SAW) at Hudaibya.

He got up from the apostle's presence having seen how his companions treated him. Whenever he (SAW) performed his ablutions they ran to get the water he had used; if he (SAW) spat they ran to it; if a hair of his (SAW) head fell they ran to pick it up. So he returned to the Quraysh  and said, "I have been to Chosroes in his kingdom, and Ceaser in his kingdom and the Negus in his kingdom, but never have I seen a king among a people like Muhammad among his companions. I have seen a people who will never abandon him for any reason, so form your own opinion.
The life of Muhammad, A translation of Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah, by Guillaume, Page 503

This is how some of the companions respected the sign of Allah, Muhammad (SAW). Today, we have his (SAW) name with us. Whenever his name is taken, we recite the durood as a sign of respect. When ever we write his (SAW) name, we use (SAW) to respect his name, which is a sign. Today, his (SAW) grave is his sign, a sign of his existence. Not THE sign, but one of the signs of his blessed walk on this earth. Shouldn't I visit his (SAW) grave? If we can visit the graves of our forefathers every now and then, then his (SAW) grave demands a greater respect. What should I do if i visit his (SAW) grave?

• Just pass by it?
• Pray for his forgiveness?
• Say my Salaam to him?

He is Muhammad (SAW). Passing by his grave if given the opportunity, without fulfilling my rights for him (SAW) is just like listening to his blessed name without sending durood.

The following hadeeth from Hazrat Jaabir (may Allah- be pleased with him). According to it, the holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam) said: He is unfortunate, indeed, who before whom my name is mentioned does not send Durood on me". "On such persons is the curse of perishing, and for them is the news of being hard-hearted, and also of straying from Heaven and entering Hell, and Also that such a person is unjust and most miserly, and that his Deen (religions is not intact and that he will not have a vision of the blessed face of the holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam)."
Zikrul-Laah , By Muftee Muhammad Shafee, page 49

So I cannot pass by his (SAW) grave just like that. What should I do then? Pray for his forgiveness? That Allah should forgive Muhammad ibn Abdullah for all the sins he committed? He is not my father, or your father, who have sinned all their lives. He is not some Qalander or Malang, whose piety can be doubted. Muhammad (SAW) is not an assumption but the chosen one. It is infact a product of a flaw in your faith that you believe Muhammad (SAW) needs our prayers to be forgiven. I for one think it is as great as a sin to pray to Allah to forgive Muhammad (SAW). That is because if i believe he sinned, then i deny the Quran itself, I am not a Muslim anymore, because Quran purifies him.

What option then am i left with if i am ever granted an opportunity to visit his blessed grave? Humans, naturally, show their affection by kissing, touching or feeling the objects. When I come back from another city after a month, my mom hugs me and kisses me, cause she has missed me all this time. And Rasool (SAW), whom we claim to love more than our lives, when we see his most definite sign of existence, shouldn’t we be given the right to express our love to the sign? I will kiss his (SAW) blessed resting place, ask him (SAW) to ask Allah to forgive me. People may cry, because they are at the shrine of the very Muhammad (SAW) who they love more than their fathers. Is this shirk?

Narrated ‘Abis bin Rabia: ‘Umar came near the Black Stone and kissed it and said, "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah’s Apostle kissing you I would not have kissed you."
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 26, Number 667

The Prophet (SAW) kissed the black stone without any purpose? He (SAW) did something which could not benefit us? How is this possible?

The grave of Rasool (SAW) is not a stone. Can he (SAW) not benefit us? And is kissing his (SAW) grave, worshipping it? If it is, then it is safe to say that Rasool (SAW) committed shirk when he kissed the black stone.

The burial sites of Muhammad (SAW) wa Aal e Muhammad (AS) are a sign of Allah. Respecting them is a farz on every Muslim. Loving them, showing this reverence and honor in anyway is a farz for every pious.

If a Muslims spends thousands of Rupees and visits Mecca to do Hajj, and comes back without visiting the grave of Rasool (SAW), how can he claim that he has fulfilled the rites of Hajj? The Kalimah is that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad (SAW) his is Rasool. Visiting the Kaaba only fulfilled half the rights of this Kalimah! What about the other half of this Kalimah? What about Muhammad Rasool Allah? Do you think that Allah alone is sufficient for you? If you think that, then you are denier of the Quran itself and call yourself a wahabi or a salafi, because Quran clearly tells who else is your Wali along with Allah.

Only Allah is your Vali and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow. And whoever takes Allah and His messenger and those who believe for a guardian, then surely the party of Allah are they that shall be triumphant.
Quran [5:55-56]

The term "worshipping graves" is a term coined out of ignorance. The Bedouins, who know nothing except Allah, not even of his commands, the wahabis, the nasibi by-products of Salafis who fail to understand what Loving Muhammad and his family means, these are the people who have made fun of the word "shirk" itself.

To them, everything without the word Allah in it is shirk. Shirk is based on intentions. If the hindus touch the feet of their elders with the intentions of respecting them, how can that be shirk? I am obviously not defending Hinduism, for they commit shirk when they worship idols. How am I committing shirk if i go to the grave of Imam Hussain (AS), pay my homage to him, weep for my sins, ask for my forgiveness, kiss his grave? Bow my head in front of him as a sign of being helpless? Only a Salafi, a Najdi will understand why it is shirk.

Narrated Ibn 'Umar: The Prophet said, "O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Sham! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Yemen." The People said, "And also on our Najd." He said, "O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Sham (north)! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Yemen." The people said, "O Allah's Apostle! And also on our Najd." I think the third time the Prophet said, "There (in Najd) is the place of earthquakes and afflictions and from there comes out the side of the head of Satan."
Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 88, Number 214

This is the same Najd, from where the prince of Arabs and the caliph of Wahabis, Ibn Saud comes from. The head of Satan? Verily, the people who destroyed the graves of Prophet's (SAW) family cannot be saints.

Wahabis have been religiously criticized for labeling many major Muslim groups, such as Sufi and Shi'a Muslims, as apostates. They also take stances against the the graves of saints, and the practice of Tawassul, asking the saints for prayer on their behalf. Wahabis have also committed controversial and violent actions against fellow Muslims. In 1801 and 1802, the Saudi Salafis under Abdul Aziz ibn Muhammad ibn Saud attacked and captured the holy Shi'a cities of Karbala and Najaf in Iraq, massacred parts of the Shi'a population and destroyed the tombs of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, and Ali bin Abu Talib, the son-in-law of Muhammad. In 1802 they occupied Taif where they also massacred the population. In 1803 and 1804 the Saudis captured Mecca and Medina and destroyed historical monuments and various holy Muslim sites and shrines, such as the shrine built over the tomb of Fatima Zahra, the daughter of Muhammad, and even intended to destroy the grave of the Prophet Muhammad himself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahhabi#cite_note-12

Committing the above heinous crime, that too to prevent "grave worshipping"? Is it possible that at any moment in time, a situation comes where you have to destroy the graves of Muhammad (SAW) and his Progeny (AS) to save Tauheed? The people who sacrificed everything to save Tauheed, their graves and their signs becoming an obstacle in the way of Tauheed? Only a Najdi can understand that, and why shouldn't he, when Rasool (SAW) has prophesized the satanic heads from his hometown.

And We did not send any messenger but that he should be obeyed by Allah's permission; and had they, when they were unjust to themselves, come to you  (O Muhammad) and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had (also) asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful.
Quran [4:64]

Today too, i will have to go to Muhammad (SAW) to ask for my forgiveness. And this is the right of his blessed grave.

Dawud ibn Salih says: “[The Umayyad Caliph] Marwan [ibn al-Hakam] one day saw a man placing his face on top of the grave of the Prophet Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘alayhi wa Sallam . He said: “Do you know what you are doing?” When he came near him, he realized it was Abu Ayyub al-Ansari Radi Allahu anhu. The latter said: “Yes; I came to the Prophet Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘alayhi wa Sallam , not to a stone....”Ahmad 5:422, Hakim (Mustadrak 4:515); both the latter and al-Dhahabi said it was sahih. It is thus cited by as-Subki (Shifa’ as-siqam p. 126), Ibn Taymiyya (al-Muntaqa 2:261f.), and al-Haythami (al-Zawa’id 4:2). http://answeringwhabismandsalafism.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/a-great-salaf-silences-the-pseudo-wannabe-salafi/

The companions who loved Rasool (SAW) respected his grave, which reminded them of him (SAW).  Infact, visiting the graves of Rasool (SAW) and the Ahlulbayt (AS) and paying homage has not only been a practice of the companions of Prophet (SAW), but our role models, the Ahllulbayt (AS) themselves.

O' Prophet of Allah, peace be upon you from me and from your daughter who has come to you and who has hastened to meet you. O' Prophet of Allah, my patience about your chosen (daughter) has been exhausted, and my power of endurance has weakened, except that I have ground for consolation in having endured the great hardship and heart-rending event of your separation. I laid you down in your grave when your last breath had passed (when your head was) between my neck and chest.....
Peak of Eloquence, Sermon at the burial of Sayyidatu'n-nisa' (Supreme lady) Fatimah (p.b.u.h.) while addressing the Holy Prophet at his grave, Sermon 202

Mawla Ali (SAW) talked to the Prophet (SAW) at his grave. Another notable incident is the sad occasion where Imam Hussain (AS) decided to leave the city of his Grand father, the start of the journey of Kerbala.

As was their want, the people of Medina, men and women, young and old, had gone to the tomb of the Prophet to pray and seek solace to pray to God with the invocations of His Prophet that they might be spared the ordeal of separation from Husain and his family. There at the tomb of the Prophet they witnessed a heart-rending scene. They saw Husain and Zain prostrate with grief and sorrow, bidding farewell to the Prophet. They saw both of them visiting the grave of Fatima and lamenting over the separation, as if they were parting for ever.
Tears and Tributes by Zakir Shaheed Associates, Hyderabad, India 5th Revised Edition - 1980 http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/companions/aliakbar.html

Why did the companions of Prophet (SAW) and their children, the Tabaeens, of Medina, went to the grave of Prophet (SAW) to pray? Does not Allah listen to your prayers even in your own house? Did they commit shirk when they went to the tomb of Rasool (SAW) to seek his wasila? Did Imam Hussain (AS) commit shirk when they were weeping prostrated before the grave of his grand fahter? The sorrow and the emotion can only be understood by Hussain (AS). The spirit and the right of the grave of Rasool (SAW) and his blessed progeny can only be understood by those who are bestowed with the understanding of Religion.

The only opposition to this practice are the Najdis and their sponsored Tablighis. As said earlier, why care about a group of people who have nothing but Fitnah in them? We follow our role models, the Imams, and not Najdis who are so misfortunate that they failed to get the blessings of Rasool (SAW) during his life time, as the Hadith confirms.

Having concluded the rights of the grave of Prophet (SAW) and his Ahlulbayt (AS), where one should go if given the opportunity to, to pay your homage to, to gain the blessings of their relics, to ask for your forgiveness and fulfillment of your prayers through their ranks. This is the concept of Wasila. We take such graves and make them a means of nearness in between us and Allah.

O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and seek means of nearness to Him and strive hard in His way that you may be successful.
Quran [5:35]

Allah tells us to Seek, or find a Wasila to him. We are not ordered to make our own Wasila. This is the catch. Allah has shown us his chosen people, Muhammad (SAW) and his blessed progeny. These are the wasila, their graves are the signs.

But can the same rights, the ones owned by the graves of Rasool (SAW) and his Ahlulbayt (AS), be owned by the grave of anyone of his ummati, his slave, a sinner son of a sinner, whose own personal guarantee of Najaat is not in his own hands?

Yes, I talk about the graves and the darbars specially in Pakistan, the likes of Qalanders, Bari Imam, Abdullah Shah Ghazi etc. Who are they? What is their role in the deen of Muhammad (SAW)? If these people were pious, then good for them. If they sinned, then bad luck to them. Why should people got to their grave sites and deal them as a pious is supposed to deal with the grave of Muhammad (SAW)?

Is this not raising the merits and the levels of slaves, to the level of the master? Exactly what has been done throughout history of mankind. Faults in the character of Rasool (SAW) have tried to be searched by the Syrian historians, mistakes of his companions have been covered and defended? Thus giving a level of infallibility to his (SAW) companions and bringing him (SAW) down to the level of your sinning father, just to prove that he (SAW) was a human just like you are?

Is not visiting the grave of Qalander, kissing it, asking for your forgiveness through him, as if you just invented your own Wasila to Allah? Can Qalander gurantee himself paradise? Who is Qalander? You know the answer yourself. Tracing the lineage of these sufis, qalanders and bari imams to the Prophet (SAW) holds no position in the sight of Allah, who sees piety only. And as said earlier, you can never be in a position to judge the piety of any person, dead or alive, because it depends on the intentions of that person.

Was the Qalander pious? You will know on the day of ressurection only, where he will be standing in the line of accountability, with you only. So it is advisable for the pious to stop bringing slaves like him, upto the level of the Mawla.

Do you even know what are the Qalanders etc attributed with?

On his way from Baluchistan to Sindh, he also stayed in present day Karachi's Manghopir area for muraqba (meditation), and it is said that Manghopir's natural warm fountain is a miracle of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. That warm fountain started to flow from beneath the hill, on which Lal Shahbaz sat for muraqba (meditation). After passing hundreds of years, that warm fountain is still flowing continuously and is said to have miraculous healing power especially for asthma patients......

Almost all the saints of Sindh including Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Makhdoom Bilawal, Sachal Sarmast and Qadir Bukhsh Bedal were devout followers of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar......

It is also believed that he turned into a falcon to pick up his friend Shaikh Farid Shakar Ganj from the gallows..... This legend spread far and wide by the time of his death in 1274, after living a good span for 97 years.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lal_Shahbaz_Qalander

Is there a concept of saint-ship in Isalm? Do not use the verse of Walayat which was used for Mawla Ali (AS). As i said earlier, do not compare sinning slaves with the Nafs of Muhammad (SAW). The saints of Sindh becames saints after following Shahbaz Qalander? Not Rasool (SAW)? And our Qalander would turn himself into a falcon and fly high in the skies? Is this a miracle or a joke?

One day king of the fort ordered his soldiers to bring him the man (Boodla Bahaar) who says “Ali Haq”. Once Boodla Bahaar was arrested he was presented to the king, he asked Boodla Bahaar stop saying “Ali Haq” Boodla Bahaar answered “Ali Haq” and I will not stop. King got angry and asked his soldiers to kill Boodla Bahaar and make mince of his meat and then distribute it and throw it away (according to some sayings the soldiers ate the meat). (there is a saying that when Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar used to call Boodla Bahaar he replied “Aya Sarkar” (I am coming my Lord!)). When Boodla Bahaar didn’t return for a long time Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar inquired and found out what happened he said “Boodla Bahaar” and where ever the meat of Boodla Bahaar was it replied “Aya Sarkar” (Coming My Lord!) and the meat gathered and turned back into Boodla Bahaar.

As the Qalandar means “Free/Free of Boundaries” it is a common known fact that Qalandar could let himself free from the power of gravitational pull and hence used to fly and that’s another reason he was called Shahbaz “Falcon”.

In most of his teachings, which is clear from his poetry, he emphasized on following Imam Ali (A.S.) and mourning for Imam-e-Hussain (A.S.). At the end of this article I would like to quote one of the Qalandar’s famous Persian verses showing his devotion, love and honour for Imam Ali (A.S.), and are engraved on Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s shrine:

Haidariam Qalandaram Mastam
Banda-e-Murtaza Ali Hastam
Peshwa-e-Tamam Rindhanam
Keh Sag-e-Koo-e-Sher-e-Yazdanam

Translation:
I am Haidery (Relating to Haider, a second name for Imam Ali (A.S.) ibn-e Abu Talib (A.S.)), Qalandar (Free, Free of Boundaries, One who has Control on Dimensions) and Mast (Intoxicated with inspiration)
I am slave of Imam Ali Murtaza (A.S.)
I am leader of all saints
Because I am the dog, of the street, of “Allah’s Lion” (referring to Imam Ali (A.S.) ibn-e Abu Talib (A.S.))
http://shaikhsohail.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/hazrat-lal-shahbaz-qalandar/

Myths have been attributed to men who are ignorant enough in the interior. A miracle attributed to Ibrahim (AS), when he called for the birds he had just slaughtered, to see how Allah can restore life. Why didn't Rasool (SAW) call his martyred companions in Badr and Uhud and restore them to life? The stupidity of the claimed miracle is a proof of the foul play.

Is flying not effected by gravity? Birds and planes which fly do not experience gravitational pull? Qalanders and his lovers would understand, if they were educated enough to understand how science works.

Was Rasool (SAW) free from boundaries? I am not comparing the Prophet (SAW) from the falcon Qalander, because it is blasphemy. However, we have a role model infront of us, and no creation can supersede him. Are the funny miracles attributed to Lal Shahbaz exceeding Rasool (SAW)?

The truth is, that Lal Shahbaz is the dog of the street of Mawla Ali (AS). Aren't we all ones, who love the Ahlulbayt (AS) like our masters? If a dog wants food, does it go to another dog or to the master? Why then go to the grave of Qalander and pay homage to it as is the right of the grave of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his Aal (AS)?

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is said to have been challenged on the way by a famous ascetic to bathe in a tub of burning oil. He successfully passed the test. Thus he earned the title of Lal (a ruby) as the ascetic said to him, "Thou are indeed the Lal of Lal (the ruby of rubies)". This meant that Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was real gold having been tested by fire. He received no injury; only his robe turned crimson. It is believed that Lal Shabaz Qalandar was so named because of the red robe he wore all his life, and a story is told of how Lal Shahbaz Qalandar rescued his friend Sheikh Farrid Shakar Ganj by a miracle from a baker's wife? http://www.shiachat.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t17395.html

I suppose the only weakness Lal Shahbaz had was kryptonite.

At 3 A.M sharp, Shaykh Abul-Fayz opened the door of his room and summoned him inside. Qalandar Baba Auliya sat before Hazrat Abul-Fayz, and Hazrat Abul-Fayz blew three times on the forehead of Qalandar Baba Auliya. On first blow, the Alam-e-Arwah (Cosmic World) was revealed to Qalandar Baba Auliya; on the second blow, the Alam-e-Malkut (Angelic realm); on the third one, the Arsh-e-Mu’alla (The Divine Throne). Hazrat Abul-Fayz Qalandar Ali Suhurwardi completed his teachings of Qutub-e-Irshad to Qalandar Baba Auliya, in three weeks. After that, he spiritually received divine knowledge from many saints including Shaykh Najamuddin Kubra. That phase ended when he received the divine knowledge directly from the Prophet. During that entire phase, he remained sleepless for ten days.
http://shaikhsohail.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/qalandar-baba-auliya-biography/

Prophet (SAW) had to make the whole tiring journey to the skies on the night of Miraj to see the cosmic worlds, the angelic realm and the divine throne. I suppose if Allah sent Abul Fayz to Rasool (SAW) rather than Angel Gibrail (AS), he would have saved him the whole trip and shown him the majestic creations with the single blow of his breathe. I hope sarcasm is prominent.

The miracles of khwaja Sheikh Pak are many, here are just a few. Khwaja Sheikh Pak was once busy in prayers at his home in Lahore. Some theives decided to burgle his house and take his belongings. However, when they set foot in Sheikh Pak's house, they became blind. They fell to the feet of Khwaja Sheikh Pak and begged for mercy. By Allah's will their vison was returned to them. Khwaja Sheikh Pak used to travel many miles every day, from the countryside to the city on horseback. The horse he travelled on was the best in agility and strength and very beautiful. His horse was blind.

He gave ba'it to 200 Jinns into the Chishty tariqah. They roam around his place of burial and can be sensed by his Nasheens.

Khwaja Sheikh Pak was immersed in the love of Allah. Once when he was in the famous Badshi Mughal mosque in Lahore, the Imam reading the prayer sensed something. He called his companions and said to them that he felt that there was someone present in that mosque today, that if they prayed behind him they would go to heaven. They searched everywhere and they found him. In appearance, Khwaja Sheikh Pak was said to be the most handsome man in the whole of Pakistan in that era. They knew it was him from the glow emanating from him. They asked him "Will you lead the prayer? We wish to enter the gardens of Jannah". He replied "To go to Paradise, all you need to do is look at me". At his shrine in Lahore there is a door known as the Bahishti darwaza, which opens once a year only for the Urs. This is to symbolize that he was the only person in the whole world twinned Baba Farid Shakar Ganj who had the Paradise of God at his feet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khwaja_Sheikh_Pak

How great was Khwaja sheikh. Prophets like Yahya (AS) were martyred by his enemies, and Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) grandsons were martyred, the Imams and the princes of paradise were slaughtered in Kerbala, yet Allah saved Khwaja from the theft by making his opponents blind. If only the thought of making the enemies blind came earlier to Allah, Kerbala would have been avoided. Again, the sarcasm is not pointed towards Allah (god forbid), but towards Khwaja and his lovers.  And did Khwaja's horse try to burgle in the house of another Khwaja which lead to his blindness?

Paradise of God at the feet of a khwaja who we don't even know if knew the proper way of Ghusl or not? This is easy. We should all hang a picture frame of Khwaja in brothel houses and alcohol bars, and also in the national assembly of pakistan, so that people who enter these places, look at the face of Khwaja, guarantee themselves paraidise and then proceed with the work they intended to come for, because the work which they intended to do, only Khwaja's face could guarantee them paradise.

Moinuddin's parents died when he was only 15 years old and he used to look after the orchard and windmill that he inherited from his father. During his childhood, young Moinuddin was different from others and kept himself busy in prayers and meditation. Legend has it that once when he was watering his plants, a revered monk, Sheikh Ibrahim Qandozi, came to his orchard. Young Moinuddin approached him and offered him some fruits. In return, Sheikh Ibrahim Qandozi gave him a piece of bread and asked him to eat it. The Khwaja got enlightened and found himself in a strange world after eating the bread. After this he disposed of his property and other belongings and distributed the money to the poor. He renounced the world and left for Bukhara in search of knowledge and higher education
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moinuddin_Chishti

Was the bread drugged which Khwaja ate? How can you pay homage to a person who did not even know the basics of Islam? Did Rasool (SAW) renounce the world? Didn't he (SAW) have wives, a child like Fatima (AS) to love, a house to live in, property from Khums and Faye (the property which is won over without a battle) which he (SAW) used to feed his family and the poor Muslims? So we do not get enlightened by reading, understanding and following sincerely the Quran, Rasool (SAW) and his Ahlulbayt (AS), but by eating a piece of bread given to us by a stranger who at some stage at similar bread himself? No wonder Muslims today are disobedient to Rasool (SAW) (this disobedience also includes bringing dogs to the level of the owners), ignorant, extremist, sinful. Maybe, they also require a piece of bread which enlightens them and Dawn bread fails to live up to the hype.

During the journey of Syria, he visited the tomb of the great Companion of the Holy Prophet, Hazrat Bilal. There he slept for a while, and found himself in Makka, where he saw the Holy Prophet with an old man, he didn't recognize him & thought who he could be? Then Hazrat Ali Hajveri fell on the feet of the Holy Prophet & kissed them. The Holy Prophet knew what Hazrat Ali Hajveri had in his mind, so he told Ali Hajveri: "This old man is Abu Hanifa, your Imam." Later Ra'e Raju sent one of his disciples to Hazrat Ali Hajveri, as his disciples also had mystical abilities. That disciple didn't come back, so Ra'e Raju sent another disciple, who also didn't come back. In that way, he sent all of his disciples, but no one came back at all. Finally he himself went to Hazrat Ali Hajveri, in anger. Ra'e Raju challenged Hazrat Ali Hajveri to show him any miracle. Hazrat Ali Hajveri replied: "I'm not a juggler." But Ra'e Raju tried to impress him with his miracles, and started flying in the air, Hazrat Ali Hajveri ordered his shoes to bring him down. So the shoes of Hazrat Ali Hajveri went to the flying Ra'e Raju & started to strike on his head & broght him down. Ra'e Raju was inspired & embraced Islam on his hands. After accepting Islam he changed his name as Shaikh Ahmed Hindi.

When Hazrat Ali Hajveri built a mosque in Lahore, that mosque's front was towards south, and differed from all other mosques of Lahore. So there became a doubt that this mosque's fron't isn't towards Ka'ba. The Scholars of Lahore objected over that mosque, but Hazrat Ali Hajveri didn't reply them. When the mosque was built completely, he invited all scholars of Lahore & said to them: "You objected over this mosque's Ka'ba direction, now look by yourself in which direction Ka'ba actually is!" When they looked at the front, they saw Ka'ba, as they are sitting before Ka'ba in Makka. All scholars felt ashamed after watching that, and apologized.
http://path-to-peace.com/community/showthread.php?t=6712

So basically, Shias and Sunnis alike pay homage to Hajveri aka Daata Ganj Baksh, whose Imam was Abu Hanifa? This explains quiet alot. Rasool (SAW) didn't think Hajveri worthy enough to be his Imam rather he left him to the mercy of Abu Hanifa, whose Imamat is proclaimed by men like you and me, who choose our leaders every day in the elections.

From where did Sheikh Ahmed buy flying shoes? The mosque Hajveri built did not align with the Kaaba, but the mosque Ibrahim (AS) Khalil Allah built, it aligned with the mosque of a man whose Imam was not Muhammad (SAW) or Ali (AS) but Abu Hanifa?

However, the best miracles and most of the fun is attributed with "half" qalander, yes, half, Rabia Basri. Gender discrimination at it's peak.

Life as a slave is extremely difficult, but even with her exhaustion and hunger, Rabi’a never forgets about God. She wonders why her life is so challenging, and instead of sleeping at night, she prays. One night, the Lord speaks to her, reassuring her that everything in life, even pain and misery, comes from His love. Rabi’a promises never to doubt His ways again, and the light of God shines all around her. Rabi’a’s devotion attracts many followers. Her greatest disciple is Miriam, and together they would fast for many days, praying at night instead of sleeping. After one such fast, a cat steals their food, the wind blows out their light, and Rabi’a drops their jug of water. She calls out in frustration to the Lord, who reminds her again that everything, everything comes from Him. Her faith renewed, Rabi’a and Miriam begin a pilgrimage to the sacred city of Makkah, home of the Kaaba -- the most holy temple in Islam. Along the way, their donkey becomes exhausted and dies. But with Rabi’a’s prayers to the Lord, the donkey comes back to life.

Because of these miracles, Rabi’a’s fame grows and grows. Her friend Hasan tries to arrange her marriage with a great preacher, but she refuses. Then the governor of Basara himself comes to ask for her hand in marriage, offering her plenty of money. But again she declines, for she has already given her body and soul to God. One day, two holy men come to see Rabi’a with the hopes of getting something to eat. Along with plenty of bread, they receive a lesson in the immense power of generosity and faith. Rabi’a’s friend Hasan tries to impress her with his ability to sit on water. Flying high above him in the air, Rabi’a reminds him that even birds can fly and fish can float. That doesn’t make them close to God!

Once Hazrat Rabia was on her way to Makka, and when half-way there she saw the Ka'ba coming to meet her and she said" "It is the Lord of the house whom I need, what have I to do with the house? I need to meet with Him Who said, 'Whose approaches Me by a span's length I will approach him by the length of a cubit.' The Ka'ba which I see has no power over me; what joy does the beauty of the Ka'ba bring to me?" One day Hazrat Hasan Basri saw Hazrat Rabia near a lake. He threw his prayer rug on top of the water and said: "Rabia come! Let us pray two raka'ts here." She replied: "Hasan, when you are showing off your spiritual goods in the worldly market, it should be things which your fellow men cannot display." Then she threw her prayer rug into the air and flew up onto it by saying: "Come up here, Hasan, where people can see us." Then she said: "Hasan, what you did fishes can do, and what I did flies can do. But the real business is outside these tricks. One must apply oneself to the real business."
http://www.aulia-e-hind.com/dargah/Intl/Rabia%20basra.htm

God spoke to Rabia Basri? God spoke with his messengers only. Rabia Basri is the first person after Rasool (SAW) to claim to speak with God. I suppose that puts her above the two Qalanders who could not speak with God. Maybe Rabia Basri should have the status of two Qalanders, rather than being just one half. And after promising to God to never doubt his ways again, she breaks her promise with God when a cat steals her food! So i guess that she being "half" qalander is justified, because her breaking her promise with God should penalize 1.5 parts of her Qalanderism, leaving only half behind.

Maybe, Rabias donkey should be a Qalander too because he lived again after he died. If you say that there is no merit of the donkey in it but the prayers of Rabia, then that is what I am trying to say. If all these blasphemous jokes called miracles indeed occurred (if you think so), then they happened to these people because of the name of Muhammad (SAW) and his Ahlulbayt (AS). What is the merit of these people? They are mere donkeys.

Rabia refuses to marry because she has sold her soul and body to God? Was she a Christian Nun or follower of Rasool (SAW)? Did she love Allah more than Rasool (SAW), who had married eleven times while she loved Allah so much that a love of a man could not be tolerated by her?

Rabia reminds her friend "that even birds can fly and fish can float." Is she pointing a finger at Lal Shahbaz Qalander, who loved to turn himself into falcon and fly in the air.

I believe, the biggest blasphemy attributed to any sinful, liar, treacherous person is the walk of the Kaaba towards Rabia Basri. Anyone who actually believes that the Kaaba left it's place to meet Rabia Basri, has no faith in the message brought by Rasool (SAW). I do not even need to critic or pass a sarcastic comment against this joke. Did Rabia Basri steal Alladin's flying carpet? I think so she did.

When he reached the age of seven years, Shah Naqshband was brought to meet with all spirits of anbiya-ullahand messengers, in the presence of Sayyidina Muhammad {s}. In the presence of the Prophet age is not significant, only the spirit is significant. One of these specialties, in order to give you an idea of the others (and this is one of the ordinary ones) is the power to focus his vision around this universe 363 times in twenty-four hours, encompassing the entire universe.  He is able to look at 363 times each day at every creation, upon human beings, observing what they are doing, including the state of their sustenance, their affairs, their problems and difficulties. Not only that, he is able to look after every baby in the womb of its mother. This is one of his basic specialties. On that occasion of his first visit he asked, “O my Lord, don’t let any one who takes me as a guide and those who came after me or before me exist without support from You.” All the angels of the skies said, “Ameen.”
http://www.nurmuhammad.com/NaqshbandiSecrets/miraclesofshahnaqshband.htm

Naqshband claimed themself to be from the line age of Abu Bakr. I suppose, for sunnis, He was superior to Abu Bakr because Abu Bakr's spirit was not worthy enough to meet the spirits of all of the Anbiya.

How in the world can anyone with a sane mind believe that anyone can focus his vision on every creation, seeing what they are doing all the time? That means that Naqshband can also see me in my bathroom answering the call of nature? His specialty is to look at the babies in the womb of the mother? I am doubting his intentions already. Is Naqshband a guide? Rasool, Imam? Please prove!

This is the story and as simple as it could be. Foul play is evident, through the faith defying, logic defying miracles attributed to them. The ignorance of the people is exploited through these stories.

And it is not a new thing. People have always cashed in on the name of Muhammad (SAW) and his progeny (AS). The mullahs live on the Zakaat for "Islamic" purposes. The Abbasids and the Fatamids came to power in the Muslim empire after claiming that they belonged to the family of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and thus they were entitled to the throne. The tombs in Pakistan are doing the same, claiming to be the dogs of Mawla Ali (AS) and earning fame, popularity and alot of money in the name of "charhaawa" and homage.

Coming to a more serious place, Bibi Pak Daman in Lahore. Decades ago, it was nothing but an open piece of land where people used to play cricket. Now here is the catch. The legend says that the women escaped from Kerbala and were chased by the army, when they reached this place and before getting caught, they all sank down in the ground alive, their camel became the tree. This was in God's wisdom a way to save them from the army etc. If bibi zainab (AS) can go to the shops of Syria without her Perdaa, then no other woman deserves to be saved like this, which is a very far fetched story.  If you want it to treat it like a shabeeh or a resemblance to one of the graves of the sisters of Mawla Abbas (AS), then there is absolutely no issue, but trying to fake it, and making people think this is the true story, the true place of burial etc accounts to fraud. Shias have a tendency to visit any place affiliated with the saints etc.

For example, on 20th safar, many many shias come through the Jaloos of Shehr in Lahore and go to the Urs at Daata Darbar shouting Haideri slogans. Outside Muhammad (SAW) wa Aal e Muhammad (AS), nothing is divine, and by divine i mean the wasila to God. If you bring any other personality to the levels of the masoomeen, that is a competition.

I tried to search for the financial statistics of the money which the tombs of the Qalanders, Abdullah Shah Ghazi earn financially. And i could not come up with them. I could not, but based on visual inspection and experience, there are tens of thousands of cumulative "pilgrims" everyday throughout Pakistan, each giving hundreds and thousands of rupees to the grave as homage.

If visiting of such graves is prohibited, the beneficiary (which includes the government itself) will suffer huge monetary losses. And money is one thing for which we all can leave are religion even. If you have no food in your house, no house to live in, no shelter, no place to go, a family to feed and take care of, you will happily become a Christian given that their missionaries sponsor you. These are the facts of Life.

The fact remains. The name of Rasool (SAW) and his Ahlulbayt (AS) is being cashed upon till date. What is astonishing and unfortunate is the amount of educated people who believe in such stories and bow down to the graves of such people who have no Role in Islam.

I have no problem with you visiting the grave of Qalander or Ganj Baksh. But treating them as is the right of the graves of Rasool (SAW) is unacceptable. If you really want to visit the Qalanders, then go to their shrines, and pray to Allah to forgive them, because you love them. How can they be a source of forgiveness for you who themselves were unsure about the way of Islam? About whom magical stories required to be invented in order for people to have faith in them? Do not bring dogs upto the level of Mawla Rasool e Khuda (SAW), Mawla e kainat Ali (AS), and their chosen progeny.

Furthermore, there are eunuchs (khusraa) dancing, drums beating, drugs like charas being sold within the vicinity of the graves and tombs of such qalanders and "saints". These activities further promote the feeling of foul play. The shias are blinded by their ignorance and the Shia label, who perform azadari at such places and promote more shias to visit such graves making them shrines. It is a hot picnic spot for shias and Sunnis alike, and maybe the only recreational activity which the poor and ignorant people of interior sindh and Punjab can have.

To put this paper into shape:

Ibn al-Jawzi writes in Muthir Al-Gharam Al-Sakin Ila Ashraf Al-Amakin: He who visits the grave of Allah's Messenger should stand while visiting him with in most respectful manner possible, as if he were with him in his lifetime. Ibn `Umar narrates that Allah's Messenger said: "He who performs pilgrimage then visits my grave after my death, is like those who visited me during my lifetime." Ibn `Umar narrates: Allah's Messenger said, "He who visits my grave becomes eligible for my intercession." Anas narrates: Allah's Messenger said: "He who visits me in Madina counting on his visit to me (muhtasiban), I will be his witness and intercessor on the day of Judgment."
http://www.sunnah.org/ibadaat/ziyara.htm

Sunnis are as much if not more, inclined to visiting the grave of Rasool (SAW) and gaining it's bounties, just like the shirt of Yusuf (AS) possessed, maybe alot more.

Take this my shirt and cast it on my father's face, he will (again) be able to see, and come to me with all your families.
Quran [12:93]

The problem with us "worshiping" the graves of Rasool (SAW) and his progeny (AS) is with the Najdis, who thought that the Prophet (SAW) could recite the whispers of the Satan as verses of the Quran itself (Satanic Verses). What else can we expect from such misfortunate people and the people born out of their sponsored tableegh?

However, the muslims, specially us, the Shias who claim to love and follow Mawla Ali (AS) as a sign of our obedience to Rasool (SAW), should refrain from going to the graves of insignificant people who have no role in our faith, whose personal salvation is not guaranteed. We should stop bringing people and their graves upto the level of Muhammad (SAW). A sufi poet is a poet, a prophet is a prophet. We should be mature enough to understand this difference.

Respecting the signs of Allah is a sign of piety in our hearts. But making the signs of Allah ourselves, and competing with the actual signs is Kufr. We have to Find the Wasila as the Quran tells us. If we are unlucky enough not to find it, it is not advisable to make one for ourselves. Infact we should pray to Allah to open our eyes and make us see the Wasila he has made for us in order to attain his nearness.

People will claim that they visit the Qalanders etc due to their attachment with Rasool (SAW). If the attachments were concerned, then Sunnis love Mawiya because the hadith which they follow are attributed to rasool (SAW), it is this attachment with the prophet (SAW) which makes them love the enemies of the prophet and his family themselves. It's not an argument whether these hadith are true or not, but it was a matter of attachment and affiliation. Obviously these hadith are not to be followed although they have an affiliation with rasool (SAW), because once you use Quran and Aql and history, you will know that this affiliation is a fake!

That is why, people have made up stories and funny miracles with these people to attract the crowd, because maybe, affiliation with Rasool (SAW) was not enough to make these tombs famous.

Mentality and lack of education will always be a root cause of problem. Remember how people disobey Rasool (SAW)? If you don't educate yourself, or "ilm haasil kerna", then ignorance is only what u will achieve.

Fame and money are the inspiration. Not everyone is alike.. but some of the matawalis of very high profile imambargahs in Punjab and Lahore , give their own pictures on the ads for the majalis. What for? The peers, the saints, they have always played with the minds of the people by making them think that they are bringing them closer to Allah. People who do not know what the Quran says, how can you expect them to judge between the right and the wrong?

It is sad but it is common throughout the Muslim world, that people have always bowed down, in aqeeda, keeping aside the Quran and Aql. A major example is how every caliph dynasty, the ummayads etc, claimed to be given the power by Allah... how they tackled people by creating the first big confusion of free will and destiny. The whole thought comes from the dynasties, who told the people that its the will of god to give them caliphate thus opposing them is a sin in Islam. The relics of rasool (SAW) in turkey museum, trace up to Mawiya. He was the one who possessed those relics, such as the prophets hair and his footprint etc? This proved his closeness with the prophet (SAW) and made it easy for him to rule the people. You will find the footstep of Mawla Ali in Pakistan too! You will even find the door through which if you pass, you will be promised paradise like.

This is how it all happens. I go to a rural area, and I build a grave there and if I attribute it to any Syed, people will flock there just out of aqeeda. The end result is i get strong, power and money. People will listen to everything i said, because I had a dream in which that Syed told me that he is buried there and this is the place which needs to be enshrined. How hard can it be to attribute miracles to this non-existant syed after reading marvel comics?

The shia thought needs to come out of aqeeda and get to handle the facts and the haqq, which is the Quran.

Do we believe that if we call Ali (AS) to help us by the orders of Allah, help will come to us by Allah for Mawla Ali's sake, through his intercession? If this is our belief, then we do not need to go to the shrines of people who are like you and me. Isn't it our belief that the Flag (Alam) of Abbas Alamdaar (AS) is our symbol to success? Where ever you put it, it will be the headquarters of Mawla? If this is our belief then we carry the shrines of the masoomeen in our heart every time. If given the opportunity, a Muslim should visit the Kaaba for the pilgrimage, and then to the grave of Rasool (SAW), and to the graves of his family members, the grave of Fatima (AS) in janatul Baqi, Imam Hassan (AS) and Sajjad (AS) in Medina, Imam Hussain (AS) in Kerbala, Imam Ali (AS) in Najaf, Imam Ali Raza (AS) in Iran etc. Until that opportunity arrives, the very desire in your hearts will amount to the act of worship.

And when We said to the angels: Make obeisance to Adam they did obeisance, but Iblis (did it not). He refused and he was proud, and he was one of the unbelievers.
Quran [2:34]

To put the whole article in a nutshell; If wahabi Najdis were present at the time the above verse speaks about, they would either tie a bomb to themselves and blow the angels in a suicide attack because they were bowing down to a Ghayr Allah and thus became mushriks, or they would kill Adam (AS) just as they destroyed the graves of Jannat ul Baqi as these apparently demanded shirk from the people/angels. And if Shias were present at that time, they wouldn't hesitate bowing to Iblees himself, because of his strong affiliation with Allah that he taught thousands of Angels and worshipped Allah for thousands of years, just like the Qalander, and because Iblees could show them the miracles of an immortal life.

Kissing and bowing in respect to the grave of Rasool (SAW) is not shirk. Visiting the grave of non-masoomeen making them a wasila, to bring them against the given and the chosen wasila is Kufr.

O Allah. Forgive our sins for the sake of Muhammad (SAW). Allah huma Saleh Allah Muhammad wa Aal e Muhammad.