Written by: Imam Muhammad bin Ali Ash-Shawkani
Allah Almighty says:
(Translation: "Noah said: 'My Lord, they have disobeyed me and followed those whose wealth and children only increase them in loss. And they devised a tremendous plot. And they said: Do not abandon your gods, especially Wadd, Suwa’, Yaghuth, Ya’uq, and Nasr.")
These were righteous men from the descendants of Prophet Adam. During their lifetimes, people followed them. However, when they passed away, their followers conspired to make their images and statues, thinking it would increase their zeal in worship. Thus, they made these images and statues. When those people also passed away and their progeny grew up, they were told that their ancestors used to worship these images and statues and seek rain from them. Eventually, their followers began worshiping these idols. This led to the entire Arab community becoming idol worshipers.
In Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that these were righteous people from the time of Prophet Noah. When they died, their followers would stay by their graves. Later, they made images and statues of them, and after some time, they began worshiping them. (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Tafsir)
This account is further corroborated by the narration from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) in Sahih Muslim and other books of Hadith.
"These are the people who, when a righteous person among them died, they would build a place of worship over his grave and make images in it. They are the worst of creation in the sight of Allah." (Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Page 20)
Ibn Jarir mentioned in the interpretation of the verse "Have you seen Al-Lat and Al-Uzza" that Al-Lat was a man who used to prepare meals for the pilgrims. After he died, people began to worship his grave.
In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated by Jundub ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said a few days before his death:
"Behold! Those who came before you would take the graves of their prophets as places of worship. Beware! Do not do that. I forbid you from doing so." (Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Page 69)
In Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, it is narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the Angel of Death came to take the soul of the Prophet (peace be upon him), he removed the cloth from his blessed face and said:
"May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their prophets as places of worship." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Page 639; Nail al-Awtar, Volume 4, Page 97)
In Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him), during his illness before his death, said:
"May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their prophets as places of worship. If it were not for this, his grave would have been prominent, but it was feared that it would be taken as a place of worship." (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Mishkat, Volume 1, Page 19)
Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated with an authentic chain from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"The worst people are those upon whom the Hour will come, and those who take graves as places of worship." (Al-Fath al-Rabbani, Volume 24, Page 50)
Imam Ahmad and the scholars of Sunan narrated from Zaid ibn Thabit that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"May Allah curse those women who visit graves, those who build mosques over them, and those who illuminate them." (Nail al-Awtar, Volume 4, Page 97)
"Shall I not send you on a mission upon which the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent me? That you deface every idol and level every elevated grave." (Mishkat, Volume 1, Page 147; Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Page 312)
Note: Approximately half a century ago, when King Khalid's father, King Abdulaziz (may Allah have mercy on him), took control of the government, he ordered the demolition of domes and structures in Saudi Arabian graveyards based on this Hadith. This act caused great distress among those who venerate graves. They accused the King of disrespecting the graves of the Ahl al-Bayt, the Sahabah, and the pious predecessors. However, when the King invited prominent scholars and asked them whether building domes and structures over graves was permissible according to the Quran and Sunnah, none could prove its legitimacy.
One way to elevate a grave is by building a dome over it, which is undoubtedly and unequivocally prohibited. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) tasked Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) with demolishing such structures.
Ibn Hibban narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade plastering graves, sitting on them, and building structures over them." (Mishkat, Volume 1, Page 148)
In Sahih Muslim, an additional phrase is found:
"And he forbade writing on graves."
Al-Hakim stated that the prohibition of writing on graves is based on an authentic Hadith that meets the conditions of Sahih Muslim. This Hadith is both authentic and rare.
Building a wall around a grave is also prohibited.
This Hadith explicitly states that building structures over graves is forbidden, and this prohibition also applies to constructing walls around graves, as commonly seen where a wall is built around a grave, even just a hand span or higher. This implicitly extends to domes, mosques, and large mausoleums, as the grave is typically in the middle or on one side. A basic understanding reveals this clearly, similar to saying that a king built a wall around a city or settlement, where the wall surrounds the city or settlement. It doesn’t matter whether the city is in the middle or a little away from the center.
Whoever claims that the prohibition does not apply to the above situations is unfamiliar with the Arabic language and the meanings in which Arabs use these terms.
They sacrifice animals and perform rituals near these graves. These actions are well-known to everyone and signify how these misguided individuals have abandoned the worship of Allah, who created them, provided for them, will cause them to die, and then resurrect them on the Day of Judgment. Instead, they worship the deceased, who lie under tons of soil and cannot bring any benefit or harm to themselves, let alone to others.
As Allah instructed the Prophet (peace be upon him) to say:
(Surah Al-A’raf, 7:188)
(Translation: "I do not possess for myself any benefit or harm...")
Similarly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to his beloved daughter Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her):
"O Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad! I will be of no avail to you before Allah."
Reflect on how the Prophet (peace be upon him), the best of mankind, conveyed Allah’s command clearly that he did not possess the power to benefit or harm even his closest relatives. If this is the case with the Prophet (peace be upon him), what can be said about others who are not infallible like the Prophets? The best that can be said about them is that they are members of the Muslim Ummah and the Islamic community. These people are utterly powerless, just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) expressed his helplessness.
It is astonishing that people attribute to ordinary individuals powers that they claim even the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not have. How can such misguided beliefs prevail? These grave worshipers are clearly deluded... Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.
We have explained this in detail in our treatise Ad-Durr an-Nadeed fi Ikhlas Kalimat at-Tawhid.
As a result, this person’s attachment to Islam gradually weakens, and eventually, he starts attributing divine powers to the dead, believing that they can grant him benefits or remove hardships, powers that only Allah possesses. At this point, he ceases to be part of the monotheistic community and joins the ranks of the polytheists.
Sometimes, a person becomes entranced by a grave on the first encounter, leading to immediate idolatry. The sight of the grave’s grandeur makes him prostrate before it, believing that it belongs to a divine or pious figure, and that people derive religious and worldly benefits from it. Consequently, he deems himself unworthy compared to the buried figure and humbles himself before the grave.
Through this method, their falsehood spreads widely, and people begin to accept it as truth. Those who hold good opinions of these deceivers quickly believe their tales without any hesitation. They then propagate these stories in their own gatherings, further spreading the falsehood.
If one were to calculate the wealth that those who are deeply devoted to graves have spent, it would amount to enough to feed the inhabitants of a large Muslim city. If the wealth they have devoted to these false vows were sold, the amount raised would be sufficient to support a large community of poor people. All of this is nothing but sin and disobedience.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in a Sahih Hadith:
"There is no fulfillment of a vow in disobedience to Allah."
(Mishkat, Volume 2, Page 297)
This vow is similar because it does not seek the pleasure of Allah. Instead, all such vows invoke the wrath and displeasure of Allah. These vows lead the person who makes them to elevate the dead to the status of deities. This causes instability in their religious commitment, making them stumble repeatedly. When a person spends their beloved and cherished wealth, Satan plants the seed of love and reverence for the grave in their heart, increasing their belief in the sanctity of the grave and leading to exaggerated reverence for the occupant. Eventually, they become ensnared in false beliefs and are unable to return to the path of Islam. We seek refuge with Allah from such disgrace and humiliation.
There is no doubt that if someone were to ask these deceived individuals to spend their offerings to the grave on acts of goodness and obedience, they would refuse. Such an idea would never even cross their minds.
Reflect on how deeply Satan has entangled them in confusion and how he has made them fall into a pit of misguidance—a pit so dark that it is filled with nothing but darkness.
One such danger is that many people slaughter their best livestock at graves, intending to gain the favor of the deceased, hoping to derive some benefit. In such cases, the sacrifice is made for someone other than Allah, which constitutes idolatry. There is no difference between sacrificing near an erected stone idol and sacrificing at a grave. Changing the name does not transform falsehood into truth or affect the halal or haram nature of the act. If someone changes the name of wine and drinks it, this act does not cease to be sinful; it remains a sin, and the ruling for the one who drinks wine applies. This is agreed upon by all Muslims.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"There is no slaughtering at graves in Islam."
(Sunan Abi Dawood, Book on the Dislike of Slaughtering at Graves, Volume 3, Page 209)
Abdul Razzaq (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated that people used to come to graves and sacrifice animals there. This is similar to what others did with their animals. Imam Abu Dawood (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated this with an authentic chain from Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him).
Some people justify building domes and shrines over graves by referring to the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) own grave. However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) never commanded the construction of a dome over his grave, nor did the Rightly Guided Caliphs, nor anyone from the Tabi‘in during the first six centuries after his passing. It was only after this time that the dome over his grave was built by the Egyptian ruler Qalawun al-Salihi (who was known as al-Malik al-Mansur) in 1278 AH. He did not do this based on a scholarly fatwa or in accordance with Islamic law, but rather as a state action. Yet, the grave worshipers gave it a religious status. Therefore, citing this ruler’s actions as evidence is baseless because the only valid evidence is derived from the Quran and Sunnah. All other arguments hold no weight in the eyes of Shariah. For further research, refer to Tahqiq an-Nusrah bi Talkhis Ma‘alim Dar al-Hijrah.
Following any scholar, whether they are a prominent scholar or not, is not permissible if they go against the Quran and Sunnah or violate a ruling. However, even if a scholar makes a mistake, they will still be rewarded if they fulfill the conditions of ijtihad, but it is not permissible for anyone to follow them in their error. We have already explained this at the beginning of our discussion, so there is no need for repetition.
Response:
This argument is not acceptable because scholars have always narrated the Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that curse those who do such actions and have demonstrated that such practices are haram in Islamic law. Scholars have taught these Hadiths in madrasas and to the caretakers of graves. The teachings have been passed down from generation to generation, from the time of the Sahabah to the present day. These Hadiths have been mentioned in the famous books of the Hadith scholars, and historians and biographers have also documented them in their books. Therefore, it cannot be said that no objections were raised by Muslims, as the scholars of every era have presented evidence that such practices are prohibited, and those who engage in them are deserving of a curse.
Look at how they have clarified the positions of all the schools of thought. This indicates a consensus among the scholars, despite their different opinions, that there is no disagreement on the prohibition of these practices. It is also evident that three of the schools have clearly stated their prohibition, while one school views it as disliked, but with the understanding that it is makruh tahrimi. Therefore, how can it be said that building domes and shrines over graves is permissible and that no one objected to it?
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"These people, when a righteous person among them died, they would build a mosque over his grave."
(Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Page 201)
For this reason, they were cursed, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned his Ummah against following their actions, as they had turned the graves of their pious ones into mosques. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who is the best of creation, the leader of all the messengers, and the most beloved to Allah, forbade his Ummah from turning his grave into a place of worship or an idol or shrine. He is the ultimate role model for his Ummah, especially for scholars and virtuous people who are most deserving of following his example. Yet, how can it be permissible to follow individuals whose actions require correction when such grave violations occur at their graves?
Ultimately, the true standard of excellence is found in the person of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). His virtue surpasses all others and is the only one that matters. If these practices are forbidden at the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and those who engage in them are cursed, then what about the graves of others in this Ummah?
Excellence has no place in legitimizing what is forbidden and sanctioning what is condemned.
May Allah forgive us. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, who has guided us to the right path and blessed us with the ability to follow the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
And peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, the servant and Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and companions.
The Beginning of Idol Worship and Grave Worship
The first instance of idol and grave worship began among the people of Prophet Noah. As mentioned in the Quran:Allah Almighty says:
قَالَ نُوحٌ رَبِّ إِنَّهُمْ عَصَوْنِي وَاتَّبَعُوا مَنْ لَمْ يَزِدْهُ مَالُهُ وَوَلَدُهُ إِلَّا خَسَارًا * وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا كُبَّارًا * وَقَالُوا لَا تَذَرُنَّ آلِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَلَا سُوَاعًا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًا
(Surah Noah, 71: 21-23)
(Translation: "Noah said: 'My Lord, they have disobeyed me and followed those whose wealth and children only increase them in loss. And they devised a tremendous plot. And they said: Do not abandon your gods, especially Wadd, Suwa’, Yaghuth, Ya’uq, and Nasr.")
These were righteous men from the descendants of Prophet Adam. During their lifetimes, people followed them. However, when they passed away, their followers conspired to make their images and statues, thinking it would increase their zeal in worship. Thus, they made these images and statues. When those people also passed away and their progeny grew up, they were told that their ancestors used to worship these images and statues and seek rain from them. Eventually, their followers began worshiping these idols. This led to the entire Arab community becoming idol worshipers.
In Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that these were righteous people from the time of Prophet Noah. When they died, their followers would stay by their graves. Later, they made images and statues of them, and after some time, they began worshiping them. (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Tafsir)
This account is further corroborated by the narration from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) in Sahih Muslim and other books of Hadith.
Prohibition of Building Mosques on Graves
Once, Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) visited Abyssinia and saw a church filled with pictures and idols. She mentioned this to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who said:"These are the people who, when a righteous person among them died, they would build a place of worship over his grave and make images in it. They are the worst of creation in the sight of Allah." (Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Page 20)
Ibn Jarir mentioned in the interpretation of the verse "Have you seen Al-Lat and Al-Uzza" that Al-Lat was a man who used to prepare meals for the pilgrims. After he died, people began to worship his grave.
In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated by Jundub ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said a few days before his death:
"Behold! Those who came before you would take the graves of their prophets as places of worship. Beware! Do not do that. I forbid you from doing so." (Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Page 69)
In Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, it is narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the Angel of Death came to take the soul of the Prophet (peace be upon him), he removed the cloth from his blessed face and said:
"May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their prophets as places of worship." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Page 639; Nail al-Awtar, Volume 4, Page 97)
In Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him), during his illness before his death, said:
"May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their prophets as places of worship. If it were not for this, his grave would have been prominent, but it was feared that it would be taken as a place of worship." (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Mishkat, Volume 1, Page 19)
Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated with an authentic chain from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"The worst people are those upon whom the Hour will come, and those who take graves as places of worship." (Al-Fath al-Rabbani, Volume 24, Page 50)
Imam Ahmad and the scholars of Sunan narrated from Zaid ibn Thabit that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"May Allah curse those women who visit graves, those who build mosques over them, and those who illuminate them." (Nail al-Awtar, Volume 4, Page 97)
Command to Demolish Domes and Structures over Graves
In Sahih Muslim and other Hadith books, it is narrated by Abu al-Hayyaj al-Asadi that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) called him and said:"Shall I not send you on a mission upon which the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent me? That you deface every idol and level every elevated grave." (Mishkat, Volume 1, Page 147; Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Page 312)
Note: Approximately half a century ago, when King Khalid's father, King Abdulaziz (may Allah have mercy on him), took control of the government, he ordered the demolition of domes and structures in Saudi Arabian graveyards based on this Hadith. This act caused great distress among those who venerate graves. They accused the King of disrespecting the graves of the Ahl al-Bayt, the Sahabah, and the pious predecessors. However, when the King invited prominent scholars and asked them whether building domes and structures over graves was permissible according to the Quran and Sunnah, none could prove its legitimacy.
The Legal Status of Domes and Mausoleums
In Sahih Muslim, there is a narration from Thumama ibn Shafi (may Allah be pleased with him), which provides evidence that any elevated grave exceeding the prescribed limit in Shariah must be demolished.One way to elevate a grave is by building a dome over it, which is undoubtedly and unequivocally prohibited. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) tasked Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) with demolishing such structures.
Ibn Hibban narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade plastering graves, sitting on them, and building structures over them." (Mishkat, Volume 1, Page 148)
In Sahih Muslim, an additional phrase is found:
"And he forbade writing on graves."
Al-Hakim stated that the prohibition of writing on graves is based on an authentic Hadith that meets the conditions of Sahih Muslim. This Hadith is both authentic and rare.
Building a wall around a grave is also prohibited.
This Hadith explicitly states that building structures over graves is forbidden, and this prohibition also applies to constructing walls around graves, as commonly seen where a wall is built around a grave, even just a hand span or higher. This implicitly extends to domes, mosques, and large mausoleums, as the grave is typically in the middle or on one side. A basic understanding reveals this clearly, similar to saying that a king built a wall around a city or settlement, where the wall surrounds the city or settlement. It doesn’t matter whether the city is in the middle or a little away from the center.
Whoever claims that the prohibition does not apply to the above situations is unfamiliar with the Arabic language and the meanings in which Arabs use these terms.
The Inability of the Dead to Benefit or Harm
When it is established that elevating graves, building domes, mosques, and mausoleums over them is prohibited, and those who do so are cursed by the Prophet (peace be upon him), it becomes clear that these actions lead to severe divine anger. Sometimes the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent someone to demolish them, describing such practices as those of Jews and Christians. He also forbade turning his grave into an idol or a place of annual gatherings, unlike what some people do today by organizing specific days for visiting graves and holding festivals around them.They sacrifice animals and perform rituals near these graves. These actions are well-known to everyone and signify how these misguided individuals have abandoned the worship of Allah, who created them, provided for them, will cause them to die, and then resurrect them on the Day of Judgment. Instead, they worship the deceased, who lie under tons of soil and cannot bring any benefit or harm to themselves, let alone to others.
As Allah instructed the Prophet (peace be upon him) to say:
لَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا
(Surah Al-A’raf, 7:188)
(Translation: "I do not possess for myself any benefit or harm...")
Similarly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to his beloved daughter Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her):
"O Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad! I will be of no avail to you before Allah."
Reflect on how the Prophet (peace be upon him), the best of mankind, conveyed Allah’s command clearly that he did not possess the power to benefit or harm even his closest relatives. If this is the case with the Prophet (peace be upon him), what can be said about others who are not infallible like the Prophets? The best that can be said about them is that they are members of the Muslim Ummah and the Islamic community. These people are utterly powerless, just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) expressed his helplessness.
It is astonishing that people attribute to ordinary individuals powers that they claim even the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not have. How can such misguided beliefs prevail? These grave worshipers are clearly deluded... Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.
We have explained this in detail in our treatise Ad-Durr an-Nadeed fi Ikhlas Kalimat at-Tawhid.
The Dangers of Building Domes and Mausoleums over Graves
It is undeniable that the spread of such beliefs among people stems from Satan's deception, making the elevation of graves and the construction of domes over them seem appealing. Satan has adorned these acts, encouraging people to cover graves with cloths, plaster them with lime, and decorate them with patterns. When an ignorant person sees such a grave, he is awestruck by its appearance and the rituals performed around it. The decorations, lights, and fragrances intensify his respect and reverence for the person buried there. His mind is overwhelmed, and his heart begins to harbor deviant beliefs. This is one of Satan’s strongest methods to mislead people.As a result, this person’s attachment to Islam gradually weakens, and eventually, he starts attributing divine powers to the dead, believing that they can grant him benefits or remove hardships, powers that only Allah possesses. At this point, he ceases to be part of the monotheistic community and joins the ranks of the polytheists.
Sometimes, a person becomes entranced by a grave on the first encounter, leading to immediate idolatry. The sight of the grave’s grandeur makes him prostrate before it, believing that it belongs to a divine or pious figure, and that people derive religious and worldly benefits from it. Consequently, he deems himself unworthy compared to the buried figure and humbles himself before the grave.
Fabricated Stories about the Occupants of Graves
Often, Satan and his allies among humans station themselves at such graves, deceiving visitors and instilling fear in their hearts. They concoct stories about the deceased, which ignorant people are unable to discern. These lies are then presented as miracles of the righteous buried there, spreading rapidly among the public. These stories are frequently mentioned in gatherings and discussed as if they were true events.Through this method, their falsehood spreads widely, and people begin to accept it as truth. Those who hold good opinions of these deceivers quickly believe their tales without any hesitation. They then propagate these stories in their own gatherings, further spreading the falsehood.
Vowing to Graves
The outcome of such practices is that ignorant people become entangled in polytheistic beliefs, falling into a grave spiritual calamity. They begin to dedicate their finest wealth to these graves, spending it with the hope of receiving immense rewards and blessings. They believe that this is a significant act of worship, an obedient service, and a good deed that will be accepted. This fulfills the objectives of those whom Satan has placed as caretakers at the grave. These caretakers use various tactics to instill awe and fear in the hearts of people and fabricate stories to deceive them, all with the intention of extracting wealth from the naive and unaware. Through this cursed and satanic method, the income generated from graves increases, and the caretakers of these graves accumulate wealth through unlawful means.If one were to calculate the wealth that those who are deeply devoted to graves have spent, it would amount to enough to feed the inhabitants of a large Muslim city. If the wealth they have devoted to these false vows were sold, the amount raised would be sufficient to support a large community of poor people. All of this is nothing but sin and disobedience.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in a Sahih Hadith:
"There is no fulfillment of a vow in disobedience to Allah."
(Mishkat, Volume 2, Page 297)
This vow is similar because it does not seek the pleasure of Allah. Instead, all such vows invoke the wrath and displeasure of Allah. These vows lead the person who makes them to elevate the dead to the status of deities. This causes instability in their religious commitment, making them stumble repeatedly. When a person spends their beloved and cherished wealth, Satan plants the seed of love and reverence for the grave in their heart, increasing their belief in the sanctity of the grave and leading to exaggerated reverence for the occupant. Eventually, they become ensnared in false beliefs and are unable to return to the path of Islam. We seek refuge with Allah from such disgrace and humiliation.
There is no doubt that if someone were to ask these deceived individuals to spend their offerings to the grave on acts of goodness and obedience, they would refuse. Such an idea would never even cross their minds.
Reflect on how deeply Satan has entangled them in confusion and how he has made them fall into a pit of misguidance—a pit so dark that it is filled with nothing but darkness.
The Dangers of Elevating Graves
Elevating graves, plastering them, and making them beautiful and durable have many negative consequences. Some of these have already been mentioned. However, there are many more dangers and harms associated with raising graves, which throw a person outside the fold of Islam and cast them down from the lofty heights of faith.One such danger is that many people slaughter their best livestock at graves, intending to gain the favor of the deceased, hoping to derive some benefit. In such cases, the sacrifice is made for someone other than Allah, which constitutes idolatry. There is no difference between sacrificing near an erected stone idol and sacrificing at a grave. Changing the name does not transform falsehood into truth or affect the halal or haram nature of the act. If someone changes the name of wine and drinks it, this act does not cease to be sinful; it remains a sin, and the ruling for the one who drinks wine applies. This is agreed upon by all Muslims.
Sacrifice as an Act of Worship
There is no doubt that sacrifice is an act of worship, just like other forms of sacrifice, such as ransom or the Eid sacrifice. When someone takes an animal to a grave and sacrifices it, their intent is nothing but to honor and venerate the deceased, seeking benefits or protection from harm. There is no doubt that this is an act of worship. It is enough of a sin that you even consider it. There is no power and no strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"There is no slaughtering at graves in Islam."
(Sunan Abi Dawood, Book on the Dislike of Slaughtering at Graves, Volume 3, Page 209)
Abdul Razzaq (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated that people used to come to graves and sacrifice animals there. This is similar to what others did with their animals. Imam Abu Dawood (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated this with an authentic chain from Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him).
Summary of the Discussion
Elevating graves, building domes over them, and constructing mosques are practices that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never permitted; rather, he forbade them, as we have previously mentioned.Some people justify building domes and shrines over graves by referring to the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) own grave. However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) never commanded the construction of a dome over his grave, nor did the Rightly Guided Caliphs, nor anyone from the Tabi‘in during the first six centuries after his passing. It was only after this time that the dome over his grave was built by the Egyptian ruler Qalawun al-Salihi (who was known as al-Malik al-Mansur) in 1278 AH. He did not do this based on a scholarly fatwa or in accordance with Islamic law, but rather as a state action. Yet, the grave worshipers gave it a religious status. Therefore, citing this ruler’s actions as evidence is baseless because the only valid evidence is derived from the Quran and Sunnah. All other arguments hold no weight in the eyes of Shariah. For further research, refer to Tahqiq an-Nusrah bi Talkhis Ma‘alim Dar al-Hijrah.
Following any scholar, whether they are a prominent scholar or not, is not permissible if they go against the Quran and Sunnah or violate a ruling. However, even if a scholar makes a mistake, they will still be rewarded if they fulfill the conditions of ijtihad, but it is not permissible for anyone to follow them in their error. We have already explained this at the beginning of our discussion, so there is no need for repetition.
Refutation of Imam Yahya ibn Hamza’s Argument
Imam Yahya argued that Muslims have built domes and shrines over graves without facing objections, which is clear evidence of their permissibility.Response:
This argument is not acceptable because scholars have always narrated the Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that curse those who do such actions and have demonstrated that such practices are haram in Islamic law. Scholars have taught these Hadiths in madrasas and to the caretakers of graves. The teachings have been passed down from generation to generation, from the time of the Sahabah to the present day. These Hadiths have been mentioned in the famous books of the Hadith scholars, and historians and biographers have also documented them in their books. Therefore, it cannot be said that no objections were raised by Muslims, as the scholars of every era have presented evidence that such practices are prohibited, and those who engage in them are deserving of a curse.
The Fatwas of the Four Imams
Imam Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from his teacher, Sheikh Taqi ad-Din Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), a great scholar among the righteous predecessors, that building mosques over graves is prohibited. He further mentioned that the students of Imam Ahmad, Imam Malik, and Imam Shafi‘i (may Allah have mercy on them) also declared it haram. A group of scholars viewed it as generally disliked, but this was understood to mean makruh tahrimi (a level of dislike equivalent to prohibition). We do not suspect them of wrongdoing but maintain good thoughts about them because they would never permit something explicitly forbidden by Shariah and associated with a curse.Look at how they have clarified the positions of all the schools of thought. This indicates a consensus among the scholars, despite their different opinions, that there is no disagreement on the prohibition of these practices. It is also evident that three of the schools have clearly stated their prohibition, while one school views it as disliked, but with the understanding that it is makruh tahrimi. Therefore, how can it be said that building domes and shrines over graves is permissible and that no one objected to it?
Building Domes and Shrines over Any Grave is Impermissible
Consider how building domes and shrines over the graves of scholars and virtuous people can be exempted, given the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Hadith that we have already mentioned.The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"These people, when a righteous person among them died, they would build a mosque over his grave."
(Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Page 201)
For this reason, they were cursed, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned his Ummah against following their actions, as they had turned the graves of their pious ones into mosques. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who is the best of creation, the leader of all the messengers, and the most beloved to Allah, forbade his Ummah from turning his grave into a place of worship or an idol or shrine. He is the ultimate role model for his Ummah, especially for scholars and virtuous people who are most deserving of following his example. Yet, how can it be permissible to follow individuals whose actions require correction when such grave violations occur at their graves?
Ultimately, the true standard of excellence is found in the person of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). His virtue surpasses all others and is the only one that matters. If these practices are forbidden at the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and those who engage in them are cursed, then what about the graves of others in this Ummah?
Excellence has no place in legitimizing what is forbidden and sanctioning what is condemned.
May Allah forgive us. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, who has guided us to the right path and blessed us with the ability to follow the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
And peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, the servant and Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and companions.