Grave Worship and the Message of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Authored by: Qari Usama bin Abdus Salam (ḥafiẓahullāh)

Prostrating at Graves is Forbidden​

Narrated by ʿĀ’ishah (RA), she reported that the Prophet ﷺ said during his illness before death:
"May Allah curse the Jews and the Christians for they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship."


She added: If that fear had not been there, his (the Prophet's ﷺ) grave would have been made prominent, but she was afraid it might be taken as a place of worship.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1330]

Imām Ibn al-Qayyim states that those who gather at graves on specific occasions are effectively making them into places of worship. In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Do not make my grave a place of festivity..."

This is directed at those who treat the grave of the Prophet ﷺ or any other grave as a site for gatherings similar to religious festivals — a practice resembling the Jews and Christians who were cursed by the Prophet ﷺ.

Condemnation of Grave Worship in Our Times​

Regrettably, in today's era, grave worship has become so widespread that people — calling themselves Muslims — are shamelessly constructing elaborate and grand structures over graves that rival mosques in appearance, despite the Prophet’s ﷺ strict prohibition of such acts.

ʿAlī (RA) said to Abū Hayyāj al-Asadī:

"Shall I not send you as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me: That you should not leave any statue without obliterating it, nor any elevated grave without leveling it."

This establishes that raising graves excessively is not acceptable in Sharīʿah.

Prohibition of Building Over Graves​

Imām al-Shawkānī states:
“The Sunnah dictates that graves should not be excessively raised, regardless of the status of the deceased, and constructing domes and mausoleums over graves falls under what is forbidden.”

He further laments the consequences of such acts:
“This has led ignorant people to believe in these graves as the pagans believed in idols — thinking that the deceased can grant benefits or prevent harm, seeking from them what should only be asked from Allah. They travel to them, rub themselves on them, and seek aid from them — practices that mirror pre-Islamic idolatry. Verily, to Allah we belong and to Him we return!”

Prohibition of Animal Sacrifice at Graves​

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There is no ‘ʿAqr’ in Islam.”

Abdur-Razzāq explained that people in the days of ignorance used to slaughter cows or sheep near graves.
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3222]

Any slaughter of animals near graves, offerings, or distributing cooked food as charity at graves is now strictly ḥarām (forbidden).

Prohibition of Guardianship and Sitting at Graves​

Abū Dāwūd includes a chapter:
"Chapter on Building Over Graves"

And reports that the Prophet ﷺ forbade:
"Sitting on graves, plastering them, or constructing upon them."
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3225, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 970]

This includes guardianship (becoming a caretaker or mujāwir) of graves — which is prohibited.

Prohibition of Plastering and Inscribing Graves​

Narrated by Jābir (RA), the Prophet ﷺ forbade:
"Plastering graves, writing upon them, building upon them, and walking over them."
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1052]

Plastering, concrete work, name plates, decorative inscriptions, or Quranic verses on graves all fall under this prohibition.

Final Word from Ḥujjat al-Islām, Shāh Walīullāh ad-Dihlawī (RA)​

He wrote:
“The Prophet ﷺ forbade strengthening graves with plaster or building upon them, or praying towards them, as these practices lead to grave worship and excess glorification of the deceased, which can distort the religion — as happened with the People of the Book (Jews and Christians).”

Thus, we must neither deify the dead nor disrespect them. The dead have returned to their Lord, and all worship, supplication, and reliance must be directed to Allah alone.

Conclusion​

All forms of grave-related innovations such as:

• Constructing tombs or domes
• Organizing gatherings (ʿurs, singing, music, festivals)
• Slaughtering animals
• Writing or inscribing on graves

...are ḥarām and potentially lead to shirk (polytheism) and kufr (disbelief).

May Allah protect every Muslim from all forms of open and hidden shirk.
Āmīn