Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
What is the ruling on building structures over graves in Islam?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
◈ Building structures over graves is harām in Shari'ah. This prohibition is based directly on the instruction of the Prophet ﷺ, who forbade such acts.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ forbade building over graves because it leads to excessive veneration of the dead.
◈ Over time, this practice becomes a means to shirk, as people begin to believe that the deceased can fulfil needs and solve problems.
◈ It is commonly observed that visitors to shrines treat these structures with great reverence and gradually consider the occupants of the graves as partners with Allah ﷻ.
◈ Many go to these graves to supplicate to the deceased, seeking help and relief — which is major shirk (shirk akbar).
◈ Such beliefs and practices expel a person from Islam, for calling upon anyone besides Allah ﷻ is an act of apostasy (irtidād).
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Question
What is the ruling on building structures over graves in Islam?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
◈ Building structures over graves is harām in Shari'ah. This prohibition is based directly on the instruction of the Prophet ﷺ, who forbade such acts.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ forbade building over graves because it leads to excessive veneration of the dead.
◈ Over time, this practice becomes a means to shirk, as people begin to believe that the deceased can fulfil needs and solve problems.
◈ It is commonly observed that visitors to shrines treat these structures with great reverence and gradually consider the occupants of the graves as partners with Allah ﷻ.
◈ Many go to these graves to supplicate to the deceased, seeking help and relief — which is major shirk (shirk akbar).
◈ Such beliefs and practices expel a person from Islam, for calling upon anyone besides Allah ﷻ is an act of apostasy (irtidād).
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
