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INTERNATIONAL PEACE COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN ARICA

CONTENTIOUS ISSUES LECTURE SERIES (PART TWO)

Topic of the Week:

THE HUKM OF PRESERVING AND BUILDING AROUND THE GRAVES

OF THE GREAT MEN OF ISLAM

Presented by:

SHAYKH FAKHRUDDIN OWAISI AL-MADANI

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��� ا ا���� ا�����

QUR’AN

THE GRAVES OF ANBIYA AND AWLIYA HAVE BEEN PRESERVED BY STRUCTURES, AS

BLESSED PLACES OF WORSHIP AND CONTEMPLATION THROUGHOUT HISTORY

THE HOLY QUR’AN CONFIRMS THIS! SURAH AL-KAHF IS NAMED AFTER A TOMB!

ALLAH (SWT) SAYS IN SURAH AL-KAHF (18:21), DESCRIBING FOR US WHAT HAPPENED

AFTER THE 7 AWLIYA CALLED THE ASHAB AL-KAHF DIED:

�ل ا���� ����ا ��� أ��ه� �����ن �� ر��� أ��� ��� !�إذ ����ز��ن ����� أ��ه� #"���ا ا���ا ����� ��� ����� ��()ا

(Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. (Some) said, "Construct a

building over them, their Lord knows best about them.” (But) Those who prevailed over

their affair said, "Let us surely BUILD A PLACE of God’s Worship (Masjid) over them)

GREAT IMAMS OF TAFSIR SUCH AS AL-TABARI, AL-RAZI, AL-SUYUTI, AL-NASAFI, IBN-

KATHIR AND OTHERS MENTION THAT THOSE WHO BUILT THE PLACE OF WORSHIP BY THE

GRAVES OF THE ASHAB AL-KAHF WERE THE BELIEVERS

�وا���� ����ا ��� أ��ه� ه� ا�,���ن ��� ا��01/ ، .ن ا��() إ!� ����- ا�,���ن ، وأ��!� ا�2�#�ون #"���ا ا���ا ����� ���

IMAM AL-BURUSAWI STATED IN HIS TAFSIR RUH AL-BAYAN:

�ل��ء: :9���8 #7 ا���و�6ي ا�4�م �� ��@? �أ� ا�0�1�ء و ا.و���ء و ا�<��ء ���ر ��� با�"�A إذا ��G ��0"�وا F ��� ا�<��E أ��� #7 ا��<C��� ��D ا�"1) آ�نH ��"ا�

“To build the domes over the graves of the Ulama, Awliya and Salihin is a permissible

matter, if the objective of it is to honor them in the eyes of the masses, so that they don’t

undermine them”

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SUNNAH

SIMILARLY! WHEN OUR PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) PASSED ON, HE WAS ALSO BURIED

INSIDE A BUILT-UP STRUCTURE (A ROOM WITH 4 WALLS, DOOR, AND A ROOF)

THIS WAS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS OWN WISH!!!

TIRMIDHI NARRATES THAT HE (SAW) SAID:

�ل� I�(1ا�7 ��2 ا� -�� �ل :ر7J ا� ،-���! �� �K�L ��6و -��� :6M> �� ر�6ل ا ��H ا

� إF #7 ا��NJ ا��ي �G0 أن �)#���! ��O ا �روا8 ا�����ي .#�- �

Sayyidna Abu-Bakr (RA) narrated that he heard the Prophet (SAW) say:

“Allah does not take the life of a prophet except in a place he would like to be buried in”.

WHY WOULD THE PROPHET (SAW) WISH FOR THAT IF IT WAS HARAM?

THE PROPHET (SAW) ALSO STATED, AS IMAM MALIK NARRATED:

���ي :(<F Q ا���� ��Rو (�>�. C��روا8 �

“O Allah do not make my grave, an idol that is worshipped”

ALLAH SURELY ACCEPTED HIS DUA.

HIS HOLY TOMB HAS ALWAYS BEEN COVERED WITH A STRUCTURE AND THIS DUA OF HIS

CLEARLY PROVES THAT THE BUILT-UP TOMB OF A HOLY PERSON IS NOT AN IDOL

OR ELSE IT WOULD MEAN HIS DUA WAS NOT ACCEPTED

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IJMAA

NONE OF THE SAHABAH OBJECTED TO HAVING THE PROPHET (SAW)’S GRAVE INSIDE A

STRUCTURE, RIGHT NEXT TO THE BLESSED MASJID

SAYYIDAH AISHA (RA) CONTINUED TO MAKE SALAH IN HER ROOM, NEXT TO THE GRAVE

SAYYIDNA ABU-BAKR (RA) AND SAYYIDNA UMAR (RA) WERE ALSO BURIED INSIDE THE

SAME STRUCTURE BY THEIR WISH. NO ONE FROM THE SAHABAH SAID:

“IT’S HARAM TO HAVE THEIR GRAVES INSIDE A STRUCTURE”

ABSOLUTELY NO ONE FROM THE FIRST THREE GENERATIONS OF ISLAM (SALAF) HAD A

PROBLEM WITH THE EXISTENCE OF THIS “KRAMAT/MAZAAR/MAQAM” IN THEIR MIDST.

IN FACT, THEY USED TO UPKEEP AND RENOVATE IT. SAYYIDUNA UMAR AND SAYYIDUNA

ABD-ALLAH BIN AL-ZUBAYR BOTH RENOVATED THE WALLS OF THE PROPHETIC TOMB!!!

THIS MEANS THERE IS AN IJMAA (CONSENSUS) OF THE SALAF ON THE PERMISSIBILTY OF

HAVING A STRUCTURE COVERING THE GRAVES OF ANBIYA AND AWLIYA

IJMAA IS THE THIRD DECISIVE EVIDENCE IN SHARIAH AFTER QURAN AND SUNNAH

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OBJECTIONS

THOSE WHO OBJECT TO BUILDING STRUCTURES ON GRAVES USE 3 AHADITH

WE WILL QUOTE EACH ONE AND PROVIDE THE CORRECT EXPLANATION OF IT

THE FIRST HADITH IS:

����� ����� ���� ����� �������� ����� �� ���

“May Allah curse the Jews and Christians!

They took the graves of their prophets as Masajid”

(NARRATED BY BUKHARI)

THE CORRECT EXPLANATION:

���D>: -Aو ��� ��ري: �<�� ا�T�(0 ا:��ذ ا�"��ر ���A) ا��(�د ��Uا� �"�ل ا�0�#V ��) ا /��H ك�L ن وه��Rم وا.و��HX� آ�ن�Yا� ()�� �وه�ا ا�<��، ��]�ق ا��V9 .و���د:��، آ

���M: و�"�"�-، وM��R أ��د�[- ����E �- و�,�)ة ���� ����Yا� �� EY@�� T�(� : �ل ر�6ل ا��د وا��1�رى ا:��و ���ر أ!���@�� �<� ا ا��� (J�� 7#- ا��ي �� �"� ��- ��H ا ���- و ��6

(A���( M���ي ���� ��#��F ذ�C، أ��زوا ���8، ��� أ!- 7Ya أن ���� ��()ا أ:

THE TERM “MASAJID” IN THIS HADITH REFERS TO A PLACE OF SUJUD NOT A “MOSQUE”.

SO THE HADITH MEANS: THE JEWS AND CHIRSITNAS WERE CURSED FOR MAKING SUJUD

TOWARDS THE GRAVES OF THEIR PROPHETS (I.E MAKING IT THEIR QIBLAH)

PROOFS:

1-THE NARRATOR OF THE HADITH, SAYYIDA AISHA (RA) HERSELF CONFIRMS THIS

INTERPRETATION. FOR SHE SAID AFTER NARRATNG THE HADITH:

“WAS IT NOT FOR THAT HADITH, THEY WOULD HAVE LEFT HIS GRAVE EXPOSED (FOR ALL

TO SEE). BUT HE (SAW) DID NOT WANT IT TO BECOME A PLACE OF SUJUD.”

*****

2-THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS MAKE SUJUD TO THE GRAVES OF THEIR PROPHETS, NOT

MAKE THEM MASJIDS. THEIR PLACES OF SHIRK ARE NEVER CALLED “MASJID”

*****

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3-IF THE HADITH REFERS TO “MAKING A MOSQUE BY NABI’S GRAVE" THEN THIS UMMAH

WOULD BE CURSED FOR 1400 YEARS, WHILE THE PROPHET (SAW) PRAISED THAT PART OF

THE MASJID THAT IS NEXT TO HIS GRAVE CALLING IT A “GARDEN OF JANNAH”.

HE SAID:

" ��� ����� EJي و����ي روE�)ض ا�� "�� ر���� روا� ا����ري و ا�

“WHAT IS BETWEEN MY QABR AND MY MASJID IS A GARDEN FROM JANNAH”

*****

4-GREAT HADITH SCHOLARS OF ALL MADH-HABS CONFIRM THIS MEANING.

IMAM IBN-HAJAR (THE SHAFI’I) WRITES IN HIS WORK AL-ZAWAJIR (1/121):

,�ل ا�*��� ا( )�� ا�'�&%# $# ا�"وا!� � ا������: وا���ذ ا���� ����ا ����� ا���ة إ��� أو ����

"Taking the grave as a Masjid means praying to it or on it"

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IMAM IBN-ABD-AL-BARR (THE MALIKI) WRITES AS IN HIS WORK AL-TAMHID (5/45):

,�ل ا( ��� ا��� : 4�3ل : : ���9 ,��ي �7%� 3��- و���3 �456 و���3 $�� ا2&� 01/ ا. ��- � $�9 ذ�D وآ�ن ر?4ل ا. �7- ا. ���� و?�; A53ر أ�57(� و?��� أ�&� � ?4ء ��7= ا>�; ,��'; ا�3A 4�7ا إ�- ,�4ر أ���6�'; وا��Aوه� ,��F و����ا آ%� G��7 ا�F��E4 (�>و�Eن ا�&# آ�46ا ���3ون

إ��'� وK�3%64'� وذ�D ا��Jك ا>آ��

“He meant do not make my grave an Idol you pray and make Sujud towards, and

worship………as the previous nations used to pray towards the graves of their prophets

and made it their Qiblah and place of Sujud, just as the polytheists used to make Sujud to

their idols, and that is the greatest Shirk”

*****

IMAM AL-TURPUSHTI (THE HANAFI) WRITES IN HIS WORK SHARH AL-MASABIH (2/420):

L3�( #$ M�)��%�2ح ا� #$ #&J)و,�ل ا�&4ر ) ���� ;'�ه4 ) �� ا. ا��'4د ا��Aوا ,�4ر أ���6 .Dو,�� ا����دة $# ذ� ;'� �%�K�����ج ��- و!'� : أ)�ه%�: آ�46ا ���3ون ���4ر ا>���6ء،

و�6�E'%�: أ6'; آ�46ا �3ون ا���ة $# ��ا$ ا>���6ء وا�&4!� إ�- ,�4ره; $# )��- ا���ة وا����دة .

“The (above) hadith means two things: They (i.e. the Jews and Christians) used to make

Sujud towards the graves of their Prophets, to honor them and worship them. Secondly:

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they used to pray by the graves of their Prophets by facing their graves in prayer and

worship”

*****

SHAYKH-AL-ISLAM IMAM IBN-HAJAR AL-ASQALANI SAYS IN HIS FAT’H AL-BARI QUOTING

THE RENOWNED IMAM AL-BAYDAWI:

�ل ا�0�#V ا�� �(� #7 #�/ ا���ري �1/525

E��� �� �eY!�� و�(<��!��D>: ء��وي �� آ�!M ا����د وا��1�رى ��()ون �"��ر ا.!��fل ا�����و� �� أ:�� ��()ا �e# Cذ� Q]� �� ����ا� Nو�� ���>� �!�Rأو ����A��ن #7 ا�g1ة !�0ه� وا:��وه

��/ و�1) ا����ك ���"�ب ��- H ار�A 7#ا����)ـ C7 ذ�# Qa(� g# 8�0! -Aا��� Fو -� ��D>ا�� F

“The Jews and Christians used to make Sujud to the graves of their Prophets to glorify

them, and made it a Qiblah for their prayers and Idols that are worshipped. Therefore they

were cursed, and the Muslims were prohibited from doing that. As for the one who makes

a Masjid near (the grave of) a pious person, to seek his Barakah, and not to glorify him

and pray towards him, then such a person is not included in the condemnation”

*****

5-THE PROPHET (SAW) HIMSELF CONFIRMED THIS MEANING IN HIS STATEMENT:

����4ا ��- ا���4ر و: ���4ا إ��'�{�7- ا. ���� و ?�; ,�ل ر?4ل ا.: روى ���; :{

“Do not sit on the graves and do not pray towards it”

6-THE PROPHET (SAW) MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 90 PROPHETS BURIED

INSIDE THE HARAM OF MAKKAH NEAR THE HOLY KA’BAH (AS NARRATED IN AN

AUTHENTIC HADITH BY BUKHARI’S USTADH, IMAM ABDUR-RAZZAQ), AS WELL AS 70

PROPHETS BURIED INSIDE THE MASJID AL-KHEEF IN MINA (AS NARRATED IN AN

AUTHENTIC HADITH BY IMAM AL-BAZZAR)!!!

IF THE WAHHABI-SALAFI INTERPRETATION OF THE HADITH IS CORRECT, THEN IT WOULD

MEAN THAT BOTH THE HARAMS OF MAKKAH AND MADINA, AS WELL AS THE MASJID OF

MINA ARE CURSED PLACES…GOD FORBID!

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THE SECOND HADITH IS:

��-�� ��� ر7J اA ل�� "<)�j- و��6 أن :(i1 ا�"��ر وأن �!�� ا�����H 7 ا ���- و��� : �� وأن ���� ��������

Jabir (RA) said: “The Prophet (SAW) forbade that the graves should be plastered, or be sat

upon, or a building should be built over them”

(NARRATED BY MUSLIM)

THE CORRECT EXPLANATION:

LIKE MANY OTHER AHADITH, THE ORDER HERE IS A GENERAL ONE, FOR THE GRAVES OF

ORDINARY PEOPLE IN PUBLIC GRAVEYARDS AND WHERE THERE IS NO NEED FOR SUCH

STRUCTURES. WE AGREE ON THAT. IT DOES NOT HOWEVER APPLY TO THE GRAVES OF

IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES OF ISLAM WHOSE GRAVES NEED TO BE PRESERVED

PROOFS:

1-IF THE ORDER TO NOT TO BUILD UPON THE GRAVES INCLUDED THE GRAVES OF ANBIYA

AND AWLIYA AS WELL; THEN IT WOULD MEAN THAT ALL THE SAHABAH OF THE PROPHET

(SAW) AGREED ON COMITTING THIS MAJOR SIN, BY BURYING THE PROPHET (SAW) AND

HIS TWO COMPANIONS INSIDE A BUILDING, WHICH THEY MAINTAINED

AS OPPOSED TO THE SHIA SECT, WE AHL-US-SUNNAH BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR

THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF THE SAHABAH TO AGREE ON SOMETHING HARAM

*****

2-THE PROPHET (SAW) HIMSELF MARKED THE GRAVE OF ONE OF HIS CLOSEST AND

EARLIEST SAHABAH TO DIE (SAYYIDNA UTHMAN BIN MAZ’UN) BY PUTTING A LARGE

STONE ON HIS GRAVE. HE (SAW) THEN SAID (as narrated by Abu-Dawud and Ibn-Majah):

7aا ��� ��� ��>��

"This is to mark the grave of our brother"

*****

3-THE SAME HADITH STATES THAT THE SAID STONE WAS SO LARGE THAT THE MAN WHO

WAS ORDERED TO CARRY IT COULD NOT MANAGE. SO THE PROPHET (SAW) HIMSELF

CARRIED IT WITH DIVINE POWER. IMAM BUKHARI NARRATES FROM THE TABI’I KHARIJAH

THAT THIS STONE WAS SO LARGE THAT YOUTH OF MEDINA WOULD CHALLENGE EACH

OTHER TO ATTEMPT JUMPING OVER IT!

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�ن �� �D<�ن ��� ]� ��� G]� ا��ي E�Rو �!(Lن ، وإن أ��ب ز�� �[�L ن�رأ���7 و!�0 ���وز8)�

THIS PROVES THAT IT IS SUNNAH TO MARK THE GRAVES OF IMORTANT MEN!!!

THE PROPHET (SAW) MARKED IT WITH A VERY LARGE STONE, WHICH WAS

GOOD ENOUGH FOR THAT ERA, JUST LIKE HIS MASJID HAD A ROOF OF DATE-PALM TREES,

WITH NO DOMES OR MINARET, WHICH WAS FINE FOR THAT ERA

ARCHITECTURE AND ITS REQUIEMENTS DEVELOP OVER TIME BUT THE CONCEPT OF

MARKING AN IMPORTANT PERSON’S GRAVE REMAINS A SUNNAH.

TODAY MASJIDS AND TOMBS ARE MARKED BY DOMES FOR EXAMPLE.

THE ACTION OF THE PROPHET (SAW) PROVES THAT THE HADITH QUOTED BY THE

OBJECTOR DOES NOT MEAN THAT ABOSULTELY NO MARKING SHOULD BE DONE OF THE

GRAVE. THE ACTION OF THE PROPHET (SAW) LIMITS THE STATEMENT OF JABIR (RA)

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4-THE SAHABAH AND TABI’IN MARKED IMPORTANT GRAVES WITH STRUCTURES:

TABARANI, IBN-ASAKIR, IBN-ISHAQ AND IBN AL-ATHIR NARRATE THAT WHEN THE SAHABI

SAYYIDUNA ABU-BASIR (RA) DIED IN AN ENCAMPMENT BETWEEN MAKKAH AND MEDINA,

ANOTHER SAHABI SAYYIDUNA ABU-JUNDAL (RA) PRAYED ON HIM AND BUILT A MASJID

NEXT TO HIS GRAVE (TO MARK ITS PLACE). THIS WAS DONE IN THE PRESENCE OF 300

SAHABAH AND NONE OBJECTED. WHEN THE PROPHET (SAW) WAS INFORMED OF THIS, HE

ALSO DID NOT OBJECT!

IMAM MALIK NARRATES IN HIS MUWATTA THAT WHEN UMM AL-MU’MININ

ZAYNAB (RA) PASSED AWAY, SAYYIDUNA UMAR (RA) PUT A TENT OVER HER

GRAVE

*****

IMAM IBN-SHABBAH NARRATES IN HIS TARIKH AL-MADINAH THAT SAYYIDNA AQIL

BIN ABI-TALIB (RA) BUILT A ROOM OVER THE GRAVE OF UMM AL-MU’MININ RAMLA

(RA) AFTER IT HAD DELAPIDATED

*****

IMAM BUKHARI NARRATES THAT WHEN THE RENOWNED TABI’I, AL-HASAN THE SON

OF IMAM AL-HASAN BIN ALI (RA) PASSED AWAY, HIS WIFE (WHO WAS FATIMAH THE

DAUGHTER OF IMAM HUSAYN) PUT UP A LARGE TENT OVER HIS GRAVE. THIS WAS IN

THE FIRST CENTURY OF ISLAM AND NO ONE OBJECTED

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*****

IMAM IBN-ABI-SHAYBAH NARRATES THAT WHEN THE FAMOUS SAHABI

SAYYIDUNA IBN-ABBAS (RA) PASSED AWAY, HIS STUDENT THE GREAT TABI’I,

MUHAMMAD BIN AL-HANAFIYYAH (THE SON OF IMAM ALI) BUILT A STRIUCTURE

ABOVE HIS GRAVE

*****

5- BASED ON THE ABOVE, THE GREAT IMAM AL-HAKIM (WHO WAS AN IMAM OF THE

SALAF ERA) STATED IN HIS COMMENTARY ON THIS HADITH THAT:

“THE SCHOLARS HAVE NOT ACTED UPON THESE AHADITH. FOR THE IMAMS OF THE

MUSLIMS, FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST, HAVE INSCRIPTIONS ON THEIR GRAVES. AND

THAT IS A PRACTICE THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN FROM THE SALAF TO THE KHALAF

(EARLIER TO LATER GENERATIONS)”

�ل ��وا��2 ا����ء �� ا���7 أ��د�T :�01/ إR�) 370/1( ا���)رك #7 ا�0�آ� �E ��� ا�"��ر: "n�� Q>؛ ا��� ا����� أ@q# Eن ������L � �� ا���s أ8�a أ�� وه� ���ره�، ��� ���2ب و���

s��ل". ا���� #��2ن: ا���ز�7 ��Aإ

*****

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THE THIRD HADITH IS:

� أ�7 ا����ج ا.6)ي �� �� ��روى ��!(�67�� -�� ر7J ا

�ل �-�� �<[�7 ���- ر�6ل ا ��H ا ���- و��� �j- و��6 �أ�<[C �� :أ!- �:

-���6 Fإ �#�Y� ا��� Fو -��u Fإ F�F :)ع :[

Sayyiduna Ali Ibn Abi-Talib (RA) said to Abu’l-Hayyaj al-Asadi:

"Shall I send you with a duty which the Prophet (SAW) had sent me with? Destroy every Idol and level down every raised Grave”

(NARRATED BY MUSLIM)

THE CORRECT EXPLANATION:

THE ORDER HERE WAS FOR THE GRAVES OF THE KUFFAR ONLY AND NOT MUSLIMS.

TO USE THIS HADITH TO ATTACK THE GRAVES OF ANBIYA AND AWLIYA IS A TOTAL

MISINTERPRETATION OF THE HADITH AND IT’S INTENT

PROOFS:

�ل ��ري ا�0�#V أ�)Uا� : Eه���ا��01/ ��)!� أ!- أراد ���ر ا��Yآ�� ا��7 آ�!�ا �")�6!�� #7 ا�( E������E –ر7J ا ���� –وg� 7#د ا�92�ر ا��7 ا0��#�� ا�01# Fوإ ��>� Q�R��)��Q ذآ� ا��

�����E �"��ر ا����� ، و�) �� أن ���ر ا�Y�)اء آ� -#ga ��� E���!E>9:�� M ، وأن و�Q ا�01��� ا���6ل ��H ����- ���- و��� �j- و��6 اHو– ���� آ�!E>9:�� M –ر7J ا

- The “raised graves” that the Prophet (SAW) ordered Ali (RA) to level were the graves of

DISBELIEVERS, not Muslims. THIS WAS AFTER THE CONQUEST OF MAKKAH, when there

WERE no tombs of any Muslims in Arabia then! What proves this further is that Ali (RA)

was ordered to destroy the “Idols and the Graves” together. This was because while many

Arabs had outwardly claimed to accept Islam, they had not yet destroyed their Idols and

the Tombs of their idol-worshipping forefathers. Ali (RA) was sent to destroy them, as

Muslims are not supposed to preserve the Tombs of their non-Muslims ancestors.

-In the same vein, Ali (RA) sent that person to destroy the Idols and graves of a Kuffar

community that had accepted Islam, after one of the conquests.

- Note that this destruction of the Idols and Tombs of the Kuffar as well, was only done

after those Kuffar communities had claimed to accept Islam. It was not enforced upon

them. Compare that with modern Salafi-Wahhabi terrorists who bomb the Tombs of

Sahabah, Ahl al-Bayt and Awliya against the wishes of the local populations!

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*****

- Explaining the chapter in Sahih al-Bukhari entitled “Are the graves of the Polytheists to

be exhumed to build a Mosque in their place”, the great Hadith master Shaykh-al-Islam

Imam aI-Hafiz Ibn-Hajar al-Asqalani writes (Fat’h al-Bari, p.624)):

�ب� Qه x��: ر���� وأ:����� ا.!���ء ���ر �� ���ه� دون أي: ا�(�ه���Y� Eآ7 � 7# Cذ� �� E!���� ���!q# F E�� ��Yآ��ا ��gف ، ��� ا4ه

“Meaning not the graves of the Prophets and their Followers, as there is disrespect to

them in that, as opposed to the polytheists who have no sanctity”

- Even the above rule of destroying the Tombs of disbelievers was only limited to Arabia,

and not elsewhere. For the Sahabah did NOT destroy the Tombs of disbelievers in any

other land they conquered. For example, they conquered Egypt but did NOT destroy the

Pyramids, which are the Tombs of the PHAROAHS.

- It is also known that the Sahabah conquered Palestine and Syria and did not destroy the

many Tombs of the Prophets there. Rather, they established the Ummayad Mosque

around the Tomb of Nabi Yahya (John the Baptist), and none of the Salaf (early Muslims)

objected to praying there. Note that the Tomb of Nabi Yahya (AS) is inside the actual

Mosque, on a side. It is still there.

- Note that Sayyiduna Ali (RA) himself buried the Prophet (SAW) with his own hands inside

the Room of Sayyiduna Aisha (RA)…a Fully built Structure!!!!

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OTHER OBJECTIONS AND FALSE CLAIMS

OBJECTION: DIDN’T IMAM SHAFI’I CALL FOR THE DEMOLITION OF ALL TOMBS?

ANSWER

NO. IMAM SHAFI’I STATED THAT ONLY UNNESSECARILY BUILT STRUCTURES IN PUBLIC

GRAVEYARDS MAY BE DEMOLISHED BY THE AUTHORITIES IF THERE IS A NEED. THE

REASON FOR THAT BEING: “THEY TAKE UP PUBLIC SPACE” (WHICH IS WAQF)

AFTER THAT, HE CLEARLY STATES THAT:

“BUT IF THE TOMBS WERE LOCATED IN PRIVATE PROPERTY, THEN THEY WILL NOT BE

DEMOLISHED” (KITAB AL-UMM)

M!�� #�� أر ا�9"��ء �<���ن ذ�q# .Cن آ��# ���� �� E2� )م�ة �� �Fا�� �� Mرأ� (��#<7: وYل ا���ا�"��ر #7 أرض ��2�� ا��:� 7# ���:�� أو ور�R�� �<)ه� �� ��)م 7Lء أن ���� ���� وإ!� ��)م

� ه)م إن� F -2�� ()�- أ��# gK� (�0� ��� س� ذ�I�f�# C أ�) #�- �)#� #g ا�"�� ��NJ ا���س����

SO IT’S CLEAR THAT ACORDING TO IMAM SHAFI’I, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH

BUILDING A STRUCTURE OVER A GRAVE AS LONG AS IT’S NOT IN A PUBLIC GRAVEYARD!!!

IMAM AL-NAWAWI CONFIRMED THIS IN HIS AL-MAJMU’ (5/266):

�ء �N ا��2اهE وF ��)م ���-L ��ز ���ء �A -2�� 7# ��"ن ا��� وإن آ���0Hل أ��

“OUR SHAFI’I ULAMA SAID: AND IF THE TOMB WAS IN HIS PRIVATE PROPERTY, IT WOULD

BE PERMISSIBLE FOR HIM TO BUILD WHATEVER HE WANTS, THOUGH IT’S NOT

RECOMMENDED. AND IT CANNOT BE DEMOLISHED (BY THE AUTHHORITIES).”

MORE STATEMENTS OF ULAMA:

ANOTHER GREAT SHAFI’I IMAM AL-SHARBINI OF EGYPT STATES QUOTING OTHER SHAFI’IS:

�ل ا��]�G ا�7�U� 7# 7����Y ا��0�ج:� Cآ�� �رة ���ر ا.!���ء >� E�Hأ!- :(�ز ا�� ���Hن #7 ا�����Yذآ�8 ا� �� 8(�,� (��ل ا�� L��E و�

��0��� #�- �� إ���ء ا�?��رة وا����ك #qن ��A -��fاز ��رة ���ر ا�1� ��0��ا!���. وا�1

“IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO DEDICATE MONEY TOWARDS THE MAINTENANCE OF THE TOMBS

OF PROPHETS AND SAINTS AS IT ASSISTS IN UPKEEPING THEIR ZIYARAH AND THE SEEKING

OF THEIR BARAKAH”

15

*****

THE GREAT 6TH

CENTURY HANBALI IMAM IBN-MUFLIH STATES QUOTING OTHER

HANBALIS:

��G ا�����: 2/213ا�� ��9/ #7 ا��9وعH �0روذآ�وا� G : 7# ة��Dو� M��و E�"� سe� F،-2��

“THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CONSTRUCTING A DOME OR A ROOM (OVER A GRAVE)

AS LONG AS IT’S IN YOUR OWN PROPERTY”

*****

THE GREAT HANAFI JURIST IMAM IBN-ABIDEEN OF SYRIA STATES QUOTING OTHER

HANAFIS:

Q����} �� ا��M آ�ن إذا ����ءا �F 8�2 وYء ا�� ذ�C ذآ�. ا����E ا�"��� ��� #7 وا���دات، وا�<�7# ���)�� ا�� -��L��

“AND IT WAS ALSO SAID THAT ITS IS NOT MAKRUH TO BUILD ON GRAVES, IF THE

DECEASED WAS FROM THE SAINTLY SHAYKHS, ULAMA OR FAMILY OF THE PROPHET

(SAW), AND IF IT WAS IN PRIVATE GRAVEYARDS”

*****

IN FACT, HIS PREDECESSORS IN THE HANAFI MADH-HAB, IMAM AL-TUMURTASHI AND

IMAM AL-HASKAFI STATE THAT IT’S THE CHOSEN OPINION:

�ل��ء ���- ��#N وF: ا.�1�ر :���� #7 ا���:�7L ا�4�م �� .Q�� و.ا����ر وه�, �- �eس F: وCل آ�����ء ���- ��#N وF: ا����ر ا�)ر #7 ا�79210 ا�4�م �� .Q��ا����ر وه�, �- �eس F: و .

“IT WAS SAID: NO STRUCTURE SHOULD BE BUILT ON TOP. AND IT WAS SAID: THERE IS NO

PROBLEM WITH IT. AND THAT IS THE PREFERRED OPINION”

*****

ANOTHER HANAFI MASTER OF HADITH, MULLA ALI QARI EMPHATICALLY STATES IN HIS

AL-MIRQAT FI SHAR’H AL-MISHKAT (BAB AL-DAFN)

�ل و� gري ��7 ا�����} ر��� ��� ا����ء ا���s أ��ح �) و: Yء ا�� ��?وره� ا�Y��ر�� وا�<���(��س ������0ا و ا���س�

16

“AND THE SALAF HAVE PERMITTED THE BUILDING OVER THE GRAVES OF SAINTLY

SHAYKHS AND FAMOUS ULAMA, SO THAT PEOPLE MAY VISIT THEM AND SIT THERE

CONVENIENTLY”

*****

OBJECTION: BUT ISNT THERE A DANGER OF SHIRK IF WE BUILD TOMBS?

ANSWER

NO, THERE ISNT, BECAUSE THE PROPHET (SAW) CONFIRMED THAT HIS UMMAH WILL NOT

COMMIT SHIRK AFTER HIM. READ THE FOLLOWING AHADITH:

��� �� �"�E ��) 428 ر�� �)�T ،23 ا��2�ب ا�[�!7، �)(ا�( E0�0H #7 ا����ري ا�4�م روى� 7Jر ��1# ���� �aج و��6 ���- ا ��H ا���7 أن ��- ا ��� Qأ�) أه -:gH ��� M�ا� ، �R

وإ!7 ، ا�ن ��7J إ�� .!�D وا وإ!L �2��� ، 7��) وأ!� ، #��2u إ!7: #"�ل ا���� إ�� ا!�1ف�ف �<)ي أن :�Yآ�اaأ �� �) أ�]�a M?ا@� �9�:�/ ا.رض ، وإ!7 وا

- IMAM BUKHARI NARRATES THAT THE PROPHET (SAW) WENT TO VISIT THE GRAVES OF

THE MARTYERS OF UHUD, PRAYED THERE, THEN STOOD UP ON A PULPIT AND SAID:

“WALLAHI! I DO NOT FEAR THAT YOU WILL COMMIT SHIRK AFTER ME”

*****

- IMAM IBN-MAJAH NARRATES THAT THE PROPHET (SAW) SAID:

�ف �� أ�aفaك أ��7 ��� أ�Yا��79 ا� ، �� :<�)ون إ!�2 أ��ل ��M إ!7 أ��H ، Fو��2 ، �(�ا و �لوأ ، L E�9a��ة� ��U� ا

“WHAT I FEAR THE MOST FOR YOU IS SHIRK! I AM NOT SAYING THAT YOU WILL WORSHIP

IDOLS AND STONES. NO! BUT I MEAN HIDDEN DESIRES AND ACTIONS DONE THAT ARE

NOT FOR ALLAH’S SAKE”

*****

17

OBJECTION: BUT ISNT VISITING GRAVES, TOUCHING THEM OR MAKING DUA BY

THEM ALL PART OF SHIRK?

ANSWER

NO, NO, NOT AT ALL!

ABOUT VISITNG GRAVES:

THE PROPHET (SAW) CLEARLY ORDERED US TO VISIT THEM:

“I had prohibited you from visiting graves, but now I permit you, so VISIT THEM”

� آ�M !����2 �� ز��رة ا�"��ر #?وروه

(Narrated by Muslim and Tirmidhi and classified as mutawatir).

NOTE: If graves are to be visited, then they MUST be preserved.

*****

- The Prophet (SAW) also taught his wife Aisha (RA), the method of greeting the

“inhabitants of the graves” (Narrated by Muslim).

This proves the permissibility of visiting graves, for women.

*****

- Some critics state that visitation of graves is only permitted for general graveyards, but

not a specific grave. However, this claim is contradicted by MANY authentic narrations,

among them the one that on the way back from Makkah, when the Prophet (SAW) passed

the village of Abwa, he stopped there, searched for the grave of his mother, and made a

point of going to visit it (Narrated by Muslim and classified as mutawatir).

*****

- It is also authentically narrated that the Prophet (SAW) would walk from his home all the

way to the graves of the Martyrs of Uhud to greet them and pray there

(Narrated by Muslim)

*****

18

ABOUT MAKING DUA BY THE GRAVESIDE:

- It is narrated in numerous authentic hadith that the Prophet (SAW) would go and visit

the graveyard of Baqi, at day and night, would address the buried ones directly with the

words: “As-Salamu Alaykum…We will join YOU”, and make Dua there!

إ!� ��F �2"�ن...ا��gم ����2

(Narrated by Muslim)

- It is narrated that during the reign of Sayyiduna Umar (RA) there was a severe drought,

so a Sahabi (Bilal bin al-Harith) came to the GRAVE OF THE PROPHET (SAW) and addressed

him saying:

“O Messenger of Allah! Pray for rain for your Ummah, for they are in disaster”!!!

So the Prophet (SAW) appeared to that man in a dream and said:

“Greet Umar for me and tell him that the people will get the rain (soon), and remind him

to be just.”

So the man went to Umar (RA) and told him that, so Umar (RA) cried!

� ���D ا��ار \�زن �%� ,�ل: أ�7ب ا���س ,Y5 $# ز��ن �%�، $��ء ر!9 ا�- ,�� ا���# �7- ا. ���� و?�; $��ل : �3 ر?4ل ا. ا?&�_ >�&D $�6'; ,�ه��4ا. $^�- ا��!9 $# ا�%��م $��9 �� : أ,�يء �- ا��!9 �%� $^\��� $��- �%� ^$ , a��ا� a����) D��� : �� 9,م وأ\��� أ6'; 4��3ن و�ا�� �%�

M�57 و,�ل : �3 رب �� ءا�4 ا: �� ��"ت. روا� ا���'�# (�?��د

ا���# �7- ا. ,� ,�� ,�� ا��?4ل $'Aا ا���5(# , وهAا ا��!9 ه4 (�ل ( ا��5ث ا�%"6# ا���5(# . ��&��ك $�; �3�� ���� �%� و: �������1 و?�;

M�57 � رواF3 أ(# M��7 وروى ا( f) F��2?��د { :ي �� 6��و,�ل ا�e$�5 ا( )�� $# $&M ا���ر �%� $��ء ر!9 إ�- ,�� ا���# �7- ا. ���� أ�7ب ا���س ,Y5 $# ز� : ا��%�ن � ���D ا��ار ,�ل

�# ا��!9 $# ا�%��م 6f$! �� 9��$'; ,� ه��4ا �3 ر?4ل ا. ا?&�_ >�&D : و?�; $��ل$ :�%� G�... اL3�5ى و,� رو. ا� i�? #$ �(ا��5ث ا�%"6# أ ) ل�آ4ر ه4 (A%ي رأى ا�%��م ا�Aا�*&4ح أن ا�

F)�5�اهـ.}ا�.

This Hadith was narrated by al-Bayhaqi, ib-Abi-Shaybah and Bukhari in his Tarikh with

SAHIH CHAINS.

19

ABOUT TOUCHING THE GRAVESIDE:

IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO TOUCH OR KISS A GRAVE IF ONE WISHES TO, BECAUSE:

- THERE IS NO AYAH OR HADITH PROHIBITING THAT

- SOME SENIOR SAHABAH DID IT WITHOUT OBJECTION!

IMAM AHMAD BIN HANBAL NARRATED THAT THE GREAT SAHABI SAYYIDUNA ABU-AYYUB

AL-ANSARI (RA) PUT HIS FOREHEAD ON THE GRAVE OF RASUL-ALLAH (SAW) SO (THE

GOVERNER OF THE TIME) MARWAN, WO WAS PASSING BY LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID:

“WHAT IS THIS MAN DOING”? THEN ABU-AYYUB TURNED AT HIM, SO MARWAN

RECOGNIZED HIM AND LEFT. SO ABU-AYYUB SAID:

“I DID NOT COME TO THE STONES (OF THE GRAVE). I CAME TO RASUL-ALLAH (SAW)”

(THE HADITH WAS AUTHENTICATED BY AL-HAKIM AND AL-DHAHABI)

�64�د ا�0�آ� ���)رك #7 روي�::0�01- ��� ���- ا��ه�7 ووا#"- ا�0�آ� 00H- ا��01/ �

ا��20 �� ��وان #� ��H ا ���- و��6 ا ر�6ل ��� ��� وA�- وNJ ا.!1�ري أ��ب أ�� أن �ل"# :�� N�1� ه�ا؟ !M9��� �� إ!7: أ��ب أ�� #"�ل و��f، ��وان #<�#- ��- ا ر7J أ��ب أ�� #

و روا8 ا�4�م أ�) #7 ���)8 .ا ر�6ل أ:�M إ!� ا�0(� ءات

FOR THIS REASON, WHEN IMAM AHMAD BIN HANBAL WAS ASKED:

“IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO TOUCH THE MINBAR AND QABAR OF THE NABI (SAW) AND KISS

THEM FOR BARAKAH AND SEEKING ALLAH’S PLEASURE?”

IMAM AHMAD (IMAM OF THE SALAF) REPLIED:

“THERE IS NOTHNG WRONG WITH THAT”!!!

-��e6 �� QAا�� n� ���� 7و��6 ا��� -��� ��"�� و�Q>9 و�"��- ��- و����ك ��H ا� Q]� Cأو ذ� �ل ، �?وQA ا إ�� ��"�با ���C ���) ه�ا !�0"# :F سe� C���

(NARRATED BY HIS OWN SON IN KITAB AL-ILAL)

*****

DO NOTE THAT IF MERE KISSING OR HONORING OF STONES OR OBJECTS CONNECTED TO

ALLAH’S FRIENDS WAS SHIRK, THEN ALL MUSLIMS WILL BE MUSHRIKS FOR KISSING THE

BLACK STONE, PRAYING BEHING THE MAQAM IBRAHIM (STONE FOOTPRINTS OF NABI

IBRAHIM) AND HONORING THE MOUNTAINS OF SAFA AND MARWAH WHERE A FEMALE

SAINT HAD RAN 500 YEARS AGO! THE BLESSED KA’BAH IS ALSO STONES AND BRICKS!

*****

20

FINAL WORDS:

THE PURPOSE OF THIS presentation was to elaborate on the mainstream Sunni view with

regards to the preservation of tombs, as practiced by the majority of Muslims over 1400

years. We do not deny that there were some Ulama who went against the practice of the

majority, and we respect their right to differ. However we also expect their followers to

respect the Way of the Majority AND NOT ENFORCE THEIR VIEWS ON US!

*****

At a time when the Zionists are getting bolder and bolder in desecrating the tombs of the

Sahabah and Islamic holy sites in Palestine, it is sad that the Salafi Sect has taken this

violent course in propagating its ideology. Wahhabi ideologues from Saudi Arabia such as

the fanatic shaykh Rabi al-Madkhali congratulated “Our Salafi youth of Libya” for their

destruction of the Tombs of Sahabah! WE SAY: HASBUNA ALLAH WA NI’M AL-WAKIL!

*****

SOME CONCLUDING PROPHETIC GUIDANCE:

I wish to conclude this paper with three authentic Ahadith of the Prophet (SAW) that

relate to this ugly phenomenon (the ahadith have been authenticated by the Salafi

scholar Albani as well):

(1)

The Prophet (SAW) said:

“Breaking the bones of a dead person is the same as breaking his bones when alive”

(Narrated by Abu-Dawood, Ibn-Majah and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal)

� إن آ�� ��D ا�,�� ���� �[Q آ��8 ��

ود وا�� ��EA وأ�) و���ه�،روا8 أ�� دا

-00Hو �H�! E���3/214ا.���!7 #7 إرواء ا�Q��U آ��C �0)ث ا��ه

(2)

The Sahabi Amarah bin Hazm (RA) stated:

“The Prophet (SAW) saw me sitting on a grave so he said: O Man! Get off the grave!

Do not hurt the person in the grave and he won’t hurt you”

(Narrated by al-Tabarani, Imam Ahmad, al-Hakim and Ibn Abi-Shaybah)

21

�ل �?م �� ��رة ���:

7!jر�6ل ر � و��6 ���- ا ��H ا���A ��� ����ل "# �� G��H ��"ا�"�� �� ا!?ل ا�

F ذي,: G��H ��"ا� Fو Cذ�,�

ا�E��L 7# ،s�1 أ�7 وا��و ا�0�آ� #7 ا���)رك وأ�) #7 ا���) ا����2 #7 ا�]��ا!7 روا8

�ل�،3/285ا���ري #�/ �0H/، إ�6�د8: �(� ا�� ا�0�#V و

-00Hو E���3566 ر�� �)�T ا������0H G/ #7 ا.���!7آ��C �0)ث ا��ه

(3)

The Prophet (SAW) said:

Allah has stated:

“Whoever hurts a Wali (Friend) of Mine, I will declare war on him”

(Narrated by Bukhari)

�ل�و��6 ���- ا ��H ا ر�6ل

�ل ا إن�7 ��دى ��: � ����0ب jذ!�- #") و���

روا8 ا����ري

aj و����� د��ا!� أن ا�0) رب ا�<