What is the ruling regarding a friend who believes it is permissible to listen to Sufi chants, to pray in mosques that contain tombs (graves), and that it is not obligatory to advise those who seek blessings from graves? Is it obligatory to advise him despite the disputation, and should he be abandoned if he is not convinced?

Firstly: It is not permissible to pray in mosques built on graves.

Secondly: Sufi chants often include blameworthy praise that can amount to polytheism (shirk) by seeking help and aid from other than Allah. Furthermore, some of these chants contain words of unity and unification, which are considered a great disbelief (kufr). Sufis may chant these poems with dancing, clapping, and swaying, believing that this is permissible and an act of closeness to Allah. However, this is an innovation (bid'ah), an invention, and an imitation of women. Sheikh Izz al-Din ibn Abd al-Salam was asked about this, and he replied that dancing is an innovation that only those deficient in intellect engage in, and it is only suitable for women. As for clapping and dancing, they are acts of frivolity and recklessness, resembling the recklessness of females, and are only done by a reckless person or a deceitful pretender. The righteous predecessors did nothing of the sort. Dancing and clapping indicate the ignorance of those who engage in them, and the Sharia did not bring them, nor did the prophets or their respected followers do them.

Thirdly: You should advise your friend to stop listening to these poems or attending their gatherings. This is not breaking his heart but rather an act of kindness, compassion, and a sign of sincere love. As for argumentation (mira'), it is blameworthy if its intention is to discredit the words of others in order to demean them. It differs from debate (jidaal) aimed at demonstrating and clarifying the truth. Continue advising your friend, unless his obstinacy becomes apparent and further discussion with him increases evil. In that case, stop, and be keen to associate with people of uprightness and the Sunnah, for a person is on the religion of his close friend.