❖ Is it Recommended to Pray Near the Grave of a Wali? ❖
Source: Fatāwā Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
✿ Question:
Is it recommended to perform Salah near the grave of a Wali?
✿ Answer:
Praying near graves could lead to grave-worship and shirk, therefore it has been strictly prohibited. There are mutawātir ahadith from the Noble Prophet ﷺ on this matter. Furthermore, there is a consensus (ijmāʿ) of Muslims that praying near graves is forbidden.
◈ Statement of Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) (728H):
أئمة الدين متفقون على النهي عن ذلك وأنه ليس لأحد أن يقصد الصلاة عند قبر أحد لا نبي ولا غير نبي وكل من قال : إن قصد الصلاة عند قبر أحد أو عند مسجد بني على أو مشهد أو غير ذلك، أمر مشروع بحيث يستحب ذلك ويكون أفضل من الصلاة فى المسجد الذى لا قبر فيه، فقد مرق من الدين، وخالف إجماع المسلمين، والواجب أن يستتاب قائل هذا ومعتقده فإن تاب وإلا قتل .
Translation:
The Imams of the religion are agreed upon prohibiting this. According to them, it is not permissible for anyone to intend prayer at the grave of any person—whether a Prophet or anyone else. Whoever says that praying near a grave, or in a mosque built upon it, or at a shrine, is a legislated and recommended act, and even better than praying in a mosque without a grave—such a person has departed from the religion, rejected the consensus of Muslims, and must be asked to repent. If he repents, it is acceptable; otherwise, he is to be executed.
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 27/489)
◈ He further said:
لا تستحب الصلاة، لا الفرض ولا النفل عند قبر نبي ولا غيره بإجماع المسلمين؛ بل ينهى عنه .
Translation:
By the consensus of Muslims, it is not recommended to pray—neither obligatory nor voluntary prayers—at the grave of a Prophet or anyone else. Rather, it is prohibited.
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 27/62)
◈ Statement of Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAbd al-Hādī (رحمه الله) (744H):
هذه الأحاديث تدل كلها على تحريم تخصيص القبور بما يوجب انتيابها وكثرة الاختلاف إليها من الصلاة عندها واتخاذها مساجد، وإتخاذها عيدا، وإيقاد السرج عليه والصلاة إليها والذبح عندها، ولا يخفى مقاصد هذه الأحاديث وما اشتركت فيه على من شم رائحة التوحيد المحض .
Translation:
All these ahadith indicate the prohibition of singling out graves for acts that increase visitation and frequenting them, such as praying near them, making them into places of worship, turning them into places of festivity, lighting lamps upon them, praying towards them, or offering sacrifices there. The meanings and common purpose of these ahadith are not hidden from anyone who has inhaled the fragrance of pure Tawḥīd.
(al-Ṣārim al-Munkī fī al-Radd ʿala al-Subkī, p. 310)
Conclusion:Praying near the grave of a Wali (or anyone) is not recommended; rather, it is strictly prohibited by the consensus of scholars, as it leads towards shirk and grave-worship.
