The Protection of Holy Ancient Relics in the light of Islām

Abstract

There always remain some historical objects related to religion, culture, nation, and personalities, etc. which are called Relics. For the protection of these relics, there are two different viewpoints. Some scholars deny their gracefulness and consider these as the source of polytheism, on the other hand, some scholars claim their gracefulness and recognize that this conception of considering these relics as the source of polytheism is improper. This research tries to explore this issue and to find out the true Islāmic point of view. The study has been carried in the light of the verses of the Qurān, Ḥadīth of Holy Prophet Muḥmmad Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam the practices of the companion of Holy Prophet Muḥmmad Ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam and the opinions of the grand scholars of the earlier centuries of Islām. The findings suggest that protecting the Holy Relics itself is permissible. Furthermore, it also suggests that seeking grace from those relics is also permissible if restrained to limits where the basic injunctions of Islām do not get distorted.