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.
Pilgrimage to Graves:
The Imams are the only group who have distinguished between the commands of the Prophet and other sayings. So whatever the Messenger of Allah commands is a means of worship, obedience, and nearness to Allah. And whatever He forbids often leads to polytheism, as misguided sects, polytheists, and the People of the Book do. For example, they build mosques on the graves of the Prophets and righteous people of the Ummah, pray there, make vows, and perform pilgrimage to some graves. In fact, some consider pilgrimage to graves more virtuous than the pilgrimage to the House of Allah, calling the pilgrimage to graves "the greater pilgrimage" (Hajj Akbar). Their elders have also written books on this subject. For instance, Mufid bin Nu'man wrote a book titled "Manaasik al-Mashaahid." This author equated the houses of creation with Allah Almighty, whereas Islam teaches that we worship only one Allah and do not assign any partner, equal, or counterpart to Him among His creation. As Allah Almighty says:
فَاعْبُدْهُ وَاصْطَبِرْ لِعِبَادَتِهِ ۚ هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّا ﴿٦٥﴾
"So worship Him and be steadfast in His worship. Is there any being in your knowledge like Him?"
Reference: (19-Maryam:65)
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
"And He has no partner."
Reference: (112-Al-Ikhlas:4)
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
"Nothing in the universe resembles Him. He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing."
Reference: (42-Ash-Shura:11)
فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
"So when you know, do not set up equals to Allah."
Reference: (2-Al-Baqarah:22)
