This excerpt is taken from the book of Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
The Curse of Allah on Those Who Build Mosques on Graves
❀ The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
”لعن الله اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبور انبيائهم مساجد“
May Allah curse the Jews and Christians because they made the graves of their prophets places of worship.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Funerals: Chapter on What is Disliked Regarding Making Mosques on Graves (Hadith 1330) Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques: Chapter on Prohibition of Building Mosques on Graves (Hadith 529)
❀ Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyida Aisha Siddiqah, may Allah be pleased with her, said:
”لولا خلك لابرز قبره ولكن خشي ان يتخذ مسجدا“
If there was no fear of it becoming a place of worship, the honored grave of the Prophet, peace be upon him, would have been made visible.
Reference: Bukhari and Muslim (previous reference)
In Sahih Muslim, the following hadith is narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said five days before his death:
”ان من كان قبلكم كانوا يتخذون القبور مساجد الا فلا تتخذوا القبور مساجد فاني انهاكم عن ذلك“
Previous nations used to make graves places of worship. Beware! Do not do that, I forbid you from it.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques: Chapter on Prohibition of Building Mosques on Graves (Hadith 532)
In Sahihain, narrated from Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyida Aisha Siddiqah, may Allah be pleased with her, and Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both:
”لما نزل برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم طفق يطرح خميصة له على وجهه فاذا اغتم كشفها فقال وهو كذلك لعنة الله على اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبور انبيائهم مساجد يحذر مثل ما صنعوا“
When signs of death appeared on the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, due to severe pain, he would repeatedly cover his blessed face with his cloak. When he felt a little relief, he would say: May Allah curse the Jews and Christians because they made the graves of their prophets places of worship. He was afraid of their evil practice.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prayer: Chapter (55) (Hadith 434) Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques: Chapter on Prohibition of Building Mosques on Graves (Hadith 529)
In Sahihain, narrated from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
قاتل الله اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجد
"May Allah destroy the Jews and Christians because they made the graves of their prophets places of worship."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prayer: Chapter (55) (Hadith 437) Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques: Chapter on Prohibition of Building Mosques on Graves (Hadith 530)
In one narration, these words are also narrated:
لعن الله اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجد
"Allah has cursed the Jews and Christians because they made the graves of their prophets places of worship."
Reference: Sahih Muslim (previous reference)
People who make and hang pictures of religious elders
In the Sahihain, it is narrated from Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyida Aisha Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) that Umm al-Mu'minin Umm Habibah and Umm al-Mu'minin Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them) mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about a church in Abyssinia which had many pictures. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
”ان اولئك اذا كان فيهم الرجل الصالح فمات بنوا على قبره مسجدا وصوروا فيه تلك التصاوير واولئك شرار الخلق عند الله يوم القيامة“
These were the people who, when a righteous person among them died, would build a mosque over his grave and then hang his picture in it. On the Day of Resurrection, these people will be counted among the worst before Allah.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Prayer in Allegiance (Hadith: 434, 427) Muslim, Book of Mosques: Chapter on Prohibition of Building Mosques on Graves (Hadith: 538)
Many hadiths are narrated from Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) on this subject. From Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) a hadith is narrated in which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
”ان من شرار الناس من تدركهم الساعة وهم احياء والذين يتخذون القبور مساجد“
The worst people will be those who are alive when the Resurrection occurs, and those who make graves places of worship.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad (1/435, 405) and Sahih Ibn Hibban (340) and Alaqa al-Bukhari in the Book of Tribulations, Chapter on the Appearance of Tribulations (Hadith: 7067) briefly
