This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
The Warning of Sayyiduna Umar Regarding the Pursuit of Traces and Observations
Sayyiduna Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه strictly forbade a person from trying to pray in a place where the Messenger of Allah had prayed. His famous saying is:
إنما هلك من كان قبلكم بهذا فإنهم اتخذوا آثار أنبيائهم مساجد من أدركته الصلوة فيه فليصل وإلا فليذهب
"People before you were destroyed because they used to make the signs (marks) of their Prophets places of worship, and if someone happened to come at the time of prayer, he would pray, otherwise, he would leave."
Reference: (Al-Bida' wal-Nahy 'anha by Muhammad bin Waddah, pp. 41-42)
Sayyiduna Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه gave people the same command that was according to the Sunnah of the Prophet. He is one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs whose following the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم specifically advised. Following Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه and Umar Farooq رضي الله عنه is especially recommended, as the Prophet said:
اقتدوا بالذين من بعدى أبى بكر وعمر
"After me, follow Abu Bakr and Umar."
Reference: (Sunan Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, Chapter 16, Hadith: 3662; Sunan Ibn Majah, Introduction, Chapter on the Virtue of Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hadith: 97)
Imam Malik's Dislike for Frequent Travel to Jerusalem
The command to follow the Imam is higher and more exalted than the command of Sunnah. It is narrated from Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, that he considered repeatedly traveling to Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) to be disliked so that people would not regard this journey as Sunnah.
It is also narrated from the same Imam that he considered setting a fixed time to go to Bayt al-Maqdis to be disliked so that people would not consider this journey as Sunnah, like Hajj and other rituals. Because the Noble Messenger neither visited the graves of the martyrs nor went towards Jannat al-Baqi at fixed times as he regularly did for Hajj, Friday, and the two Eids. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to keep this distinction in mind.
He (the Prophet) repeatedly prayed in congregation at night, established fixed times for the five daily prayers besides the prayers for solar and lunar eclipses, Eid prayers, and Friday prayer. As for going to the Noble Grave just to offer salutations, this is achieved by reciting the prescribed supplications upon entering and leaving the mosque during prayer. Therefore, there is no need to go to the Noble Grave. Repeatedly going to the Noble Grave after prayer carries the risk that the Noble Grave may become a fair or a place of idol worship, which you have forbidden.
