UkEngQatar allow me to clarify this to you.Saints existed before during the time of Jahiliyyah or the period of time before the coming of Islam in the Arabian peninsula and indeed all over the world.When the Prophet Muhammed peace and blessing be upon him arrived and Islam spread all over Arabia and the rest of the world,saints were not recoqnised.Some shiite muslims pay homage and respects to old imaams and the sufi people as well.But it is Bidaah orcreating something upon an unprecendented example in the Qur'an and the Sunnah.This is Haraam or prohibited in Islam.Thank you.