The Meaning of Excess in Religion

Question

What does going to excess in religion mean?

Answer (English translation)

Answer: Going to excess in religion means exceeding the limits. In Arabic, a pot is said to have 'exceeded' when it boils over. Excess means going beyond the limit. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'Beware of excess in religion, for those before you were destroyed only because of excess in religion.' Allah, glorified is He, says, 'People of the Scripture, do not go to excess in your religion' [al-Nisa 4:171], meaning: do not exceed what Allah has prescribed.

For example, loving the prophets is right, and loving the righteous is right. But if someone exceeds the limit in this until he invokes them alongside Allah, seeks rescue from them or makes vows to them, this is wrongdoing. He should love them, obey Allah as He commanded and follow their path. But we must not go further and worship them. No.

Love the prophets and the righteous, but do not go beyond the limit and make them deities alongside Allah. Rather, we follow the messengers, including our Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and submit to what they brought without excess or additions. Worship is Allah's right alone, glorified is He. We must therefore not go to excess concerning their graves: we do not build mosques over them, place domes over them or call upon their occupants for assistance. This is excess. Instead, we bury them in the ground as Muslims were buried in the Prophet's time and afterwards. We do not raise their graves or build over them. This is what is right; this is what is prescribed. Going beyond this becomes excess.

Excess is sometimes an innovation and sometimes polytheism. Building over graves, constructing mosques over them and placing domes over them are innovations. Invoking their occupants besides Allah, seeking rescue from them and making vows to them is polytheism. We ask Allah for well-being.