SHRINE/TOMB/GRAVE/PUTTING ETC. OBJECTION AND ANSWER

BUILDING SHRINE/TOMB/GRAVE/PUTTING FLOWER.. ETC. OBJECTION AND ANSWER


TOPICS COVERD IN THIS ARTICLE

Tombs of Prophets

Proof of building of tombs around a grave

Answering Objection :Prostrating towards a grave(doing sajda)

On the issue of kissing a Shrine/grave Or putting head on grave.

On the issue of kissing a Shrine/grave Or putting head on grave.

Prophet’s (صلی اللہ علیھ وآلھ وسلم) Grave

FATAWA BY Ala Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (rah)

Answering Objection To put pictures near grave

Answering Objection Hadith of Visiting only 3 mosques is allowed

Answering Objection:Omer (radhiallah) cutting Tree where Prophet (صلی اللہ علیھ وآلھ وسلم) took biyah fearing people will worship it

Answering Objection : Hadith of Sahih muslim on Building over the grave

Answering Objection: Issue of building mosque over a grave

Objection: Putting flowers on the graves

On issue of elevation of graves


Proofs of building Shrines/


Tombs of Prophets

It is a Sunnah to build tombs/shrines around the graves of Prophets (alaih salam) ,Salafs (RA) and Awliya al-Ikraam (rah). Although for public graveyards and ordinary muslims it is not allowed.

The First tomb in islam

Grave of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is “INSIDE” room of the house of Ayesha (ra)

The Second tomb in islam

Grave of Sayyidna Abu Bakr (RA) is in a room of the house of Ayesha (ra) buried next to Prophet (Peace be upon him)

The Third tomb in islam

Grave of Sayyidna Umar Ibnul Khattab (ra) is in a room of the house of Ayesha (ra) buried next to Prophet (Peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr (ra)

So it was a practice of Sahaba to bury Prophet (As) and Caliphs not openly but inside a Room or in other words a “CONSTRUCTED SHRINE”

Answering misquotation of Hadith and Objections

Hadith states Sahih Muslim Volume 2, Book 23, Number 414

Narrated ‘Urwa:

Aisha said, “The Prophet in his fatal illness said, ‘Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians because they took the graves of their Prophets as places for praying.”

‘ Aisha added, ” Had it not been for that the grave of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) would have been made prominent but I am afraid it might be taken (as a) place for praying.

The above hadith is quoted for jews and christians not for muslims who took their Prophets as God, Son/daughter of God. Lets see how the classical scholars view it.




Imam Ibn Hajar al – Haytami(in his Zawajir) quotes the hadith from Ahmad, Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “May Allah curse the Jews and Christians; they have taken the tombs of their prophets as places of worship.”

He said, “The reason for considering it an enormity is obvious

He explains, however, that, “Taking a grave as a place of worship means to pray on the grave or towards it.The prohibition, moreover, applies exclusively to the grave of someone venerated… under the two conditions:

A) that the grave is of someone who is honored and venerated;

B) and that the prayer is performed towards or on the grave with the intention of gaining the blessing of it, or out of reverence for it. (from: al-Zawajir, Reliance w21)

And this is only if one prays so close to it that if praying the prayer of those attentive (looking down), the grave would be within one’s sight.

[end quote ]

Hence praying salat towards the grave or doing sajda infront of it as christians/jews used to do it is haram.No one is history of Islam took this hadith as proof of prohibiting building of tombs/shrines over Pious muslims graves.


Proof 1:- of building of tombs around a grave

Quran states:

Thus did We make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. (Some) said, “Construct a building over them”: Their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair said,“Let us surely build a place of worship over them.” (Quran 18:21)

Authentic classical Tafsir for this verse

Tafsir Number 1

Qadhi Thana Ullah Panipatti (Rahimuhullah) writes in his great Tafsir al Mazhari: After the death of Ashaab al Kahf a dispute occurred between Muslims and non-muslims, The Muslims said that they will make a Masjid over them because they were of our faith whereas the disbelievers said they will build other buildings on it where people will live….This Ayah is proving that Mosques could be made near graves of Awliya in order to say salaat in them, Tabarruk is also attained through the tombs of Awliya [Tafsir al Mazhari Volume No.7, Page No. 123-124]

Tafsir Number 2

Tafsir by Imam Bayzawi (rah) says: “From this it is understood that to erect a Mausoleum for the special people, i.e. Pious Saints and Ulema, is permissible”.

Tafsir Number 3

Tafsir by Imam Fakhrud’deen Razi (rah) writes:

أن بعضهم قال: الأولى أن يسد باب الكهف لئلا يدخل عليهم أحد ولا يقف على أحوالهم إنسان. وقال آخرون: بل الأولى أن يبني على باب الكهف مسجد وهذا القول يدل على أن أولئك الأقوام كانوا عارفين بالله معترفين بالعبادة والصلاة

Translation: Some people said that the door of the cave should be closed so that nobody can enter it and the Ahwaal (of Ashab e Kahf) are kept hidden. Some people said that It is better to build a mosque at the door, this saying proves that these people were “ARIFEEN OF ALLAH WHO BELIEVED IN WORSHIPPING AND PRAYER”[Tafsir al Kabeer, Volume No. 5, Page No. 475]

Imam al-Razi also said:

ثم قال تعالى: {قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۴ عَلَىٰۤ أَمْرِهِمْ} قيل المراد به الملك المسلم، وقيل: أولياء أصحاب الكهف، وقيل: رؤساء البلد: {لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا} نعبد الله فيه ونستبقي آثار أصحاب الكهف بسبب ذلك المسجد

Translation: And when Allah said {Those who prevailed over their affair} this refers to the “MUSLIM RULER” or the Awliya of Ashaab al Kahf (i.e. their momineen friends) or the leaders of town. {We will surely build a Mosque over them} so that we can “WORSHIP ALLAH” in it and due to it we will “PRESERVE THE RELICS OF ASHAAB AL KAHF”[Tafsir al-Kabeer, 5/475]

Tafsir Number 4

In “Tafseer Roohul Bayaan”, Vol. 3, according to the verse: “To build over the graves of the Ulema, Awliya and the Saliheen is a permissible act with this condition that the motive is that the greatness of these pious people must be made apparent so that the people don’t think that it is an ordinary grave.”

Tafsir Number 5

Imam Hakim (Rehmatullah Alaih) said in his Tafsir

قال الذين غلبوا على أمرهم} وهم المؤمنون, وكانوا غالبين في ذلك الوقت

Translation: {Those who prevailed over their affair} refers to the “MOMINEEN” and they prevailed over this matter in that time [Tafsir al Wahidi under 18:21]

Tafsir Number 6

Imam Jalal ud-din Suyuti (Rehmatullah Alaih) and Al Muhalli (Rehmatullah Alaih) explain in Tafsir al Jalalyn:

يَتَنَـٰزَعُونَ} أي المؤمنون والكفار {بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْۖ} أمر الفتية في البناء حولهم {فَقَالُوۤا۴} أي الكفار {ٱبْنُوا۴ عَلَيْهِم} أي حولهم {بُنْيَـٰنًاۖ} يسترهم {رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۴ عَلَىٰۤ أَمْرِهِمْ} أمر الفتية وهم المؤمنون {لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم} حولهم {مَّسْجِدًا} يصلى فيه، وفعل ذلك على باب الكهف.

Translation: They were disputing, that is, the believers and the disbelievers, among themselves their affair, the affair of the youths, with regard to building something around them [as a monument]; so they, the disbelievers, said, ‘Build over them, that is, around them, a building, to cover them up; their Lord knows them best.’ Those who prevailed regarding their affair, the affair of the youths, “NAMELY THE BELIEVERS”

We will verily set up over them, around them, a place of worship’, for prayers to be performed therein. And this indeed took place at the entrance of the cave.[Tafsir al Jalalyn, Volume No.1, Page No. 389]

Tafsir Number 7

Imam Nasafi (Rehmatullah Alaih) writes in his Tafsir al Nasafi:

قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۴ عَلَىٰۤ أَمْرِهِمْ} من المسلمين وملكهم

وكانوا أولى بهم وبالبناء عليهم {لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم} على باب الكهف {مَّسْجِدًا} يصلي فيه المسلمون ويتبركون

Translation: {Those who prevailed over their affair} these are the “MUSLIMS AND THE RULERS” who said to build over them i.e. on the door of cave a Masjid so that “MUSLIMS CAN PRAY IN IT AND SEEK TABARRUK” [Tafsir al Nasafi, Volume No.3, Page No. 18]

Tafsir Number 8

Imam Abu Hayyan al Andalusi (Rehmatullah Alaih) said:

وروي أن التي دعت إلى البنيان كانت كافرة أرادت بناء بيعة أو مصنع لكفرهم فمانعهم المؤمنون وبنوا عليهم مسجداً

Translation: The person who told to make a building over them was a Kafir woman, she told to make a Church over them where deeds of Kufr can take place, however the momineen stopped her and made a Masjid over there instead [Tafsir Bahr al Muheet, Volume No. 7, Page No. 158]

Tafsir Number 9

Allama Ibn Jawzi (Rehmatullah Alaih) who is considered the most strict scholar and revered highly by Salafi Muslims, he states in his Tafsir under 18:21

قال ابن قتيبة: يعني المُطاعين والرؤساء، قال المفسرون: وهم الملك وأصحابه المؤمنون اتخذوا عليهم مسجداً

Translation: Ibn Qutayba (Rehmatullah Alaih) said that the Mufasireen said: People who made Masjid were the (Muslim) King and his Momineen companions [Tafsir Zaad ul Maseer, Volume No. 5, Page No.124]

Tafsir Number 10

Imam Shahab ud-din Khafaji (Rehmatullah Alaih) wrote:

مسجد ايدل على جوازا لبناء على قبور الصلحاء ونحوهم كما اشار الي فى الكشاف وجواز الصلوة فى ذلك البناء

Translation: (Making mosque on cave) ”IS PROOF OF MAKING MOSQUES OVER THE GRAVES OF SALIHEEN” just like It is mentioned in Tafsir al Kashaaf and It is “PERMITTED” to pray inside this construction [Imam Khafaji in Inayatul Qadhi, Volume No. 6, Page No. 87, Published by Dar us Sadir, Beirut, Lebanon]

Tafsir Number 11

Mullah Ali Qari (Rehmatullah Alaih) writes:

أما من اتخذ مسجدا في جوار صالح أو صلى في مقبرة وقصد الإستظهار بروحه أو وصول أثر ما من أثر عبادته إليه لا للتعظيم له والتوجه نحوه فلا حرج عليه ألا ترى أن مرقد إسماعيل عليه السلام في المسجد الحرام عند الحطيم ثم أن ذلك المسجد أفضل مكان يتحرى المصلى لصلاته والنهي عن الصلاة في المقابر مختص بالقبور المنبوشة لما فيها من النجاسة كذا ذكره الطيبي وذكر غيره أن صورة قبر إسماعيل عليه السلام في الحجر تحت الميزاب وإن في الحطيم بين الحجر الأسود وزمزم قبر سبعين نبيا

Translation: Anyone who builds a mosque near the grave of an upright person or prays in the tomb (Maqbara) or intends to ask for help through the Ruh of that upright person or intends to seek barakah from his left overs, If he does all that without the intention of giving him Tazeem or doing tawajuh towards him ( in prayer) “Then there is nothing wrong in that, don’t you see that Grave of Hadrat Ismail(A.S) is inside the Masjid ul Harram near the hateem and to Pray there is Superior than anything else ” however to pray near the graves is only forbidden when the soil becomes dirty because of Najasat of deceased… In the Hateem near Hajr al Aswad and Mizaab there are “Graves of 70 Prophets” [Mirqat, Sharh al Mishqaat, Volume No. 2, Page No. 202]

Mullah Ali Qari (Rehmatullah Alaih) also said:

وقد أباح السلف البناء على قبر المشايخ والعلماء المشهورين ليزورهم الناس ويستريحوا بالجلوس فيه

Translation: The early Muslims (Salaf) have considered it Mubah (i.e. allowed) to build over the graves of famous Mashaikh and Ulama so that people can visit them and sit there (easily) [Mirqaat Sharh al Misshqaat, Volume No. 4, Page No. 69]

So Indeed the Prophets, Mashaikh and Saliheen do not come under the prohibition because the grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him), Abu Bakr (Radhi’Allah anho), Umar (Radhi’Allah anho) and many other Prophets and Saliheen have remained “BUILT OVER”

Tafsir Number 12

Ibn khatir in his tafsir writes.

م { قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُواْ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مَّسْجِدًا } حكى ابن جرير في القائلين ذلك قولين: [أحدهما] أنهم المسلمون منهم.

Translation: “When the people of the cave went into the cave, some people close to the entrance of the cave said, ‘Build a mosque so we can worship Allah.’ The people who said this were Muslims” [Tafsir Tabari, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Sura al-Kahf, verse 21]

Tafsir Number 13

The famous commentator of Sahih Bukhari and leading scholar in sight of Sunnis and Salafis/wahabisies.

Imam Ibn Hajr al Asqalani (rah) writes in his magnificent Fath ul Bari

In view of the fact that the Jews and Christians were taking the graves of their Prophets as their qibla for the purpose of respect, and were paying attention towards them at the time of their prayers, their graves took the position of idols. For this reason the Muslims have been forbidden from this action. However, if someoneconstructs a mosque near the grave of a pious person for the prupose of seeking tabarruk and not for prostration or paying attention towards them, he will never be included in this prohibition.

( Ibn Hajr al-‘Asqalani, Fath al-bari, vol. 3, p. 208)

Proof 2:- of building of tombs around a grave

Hadrat Umar (Ra) wish to get buried beside Tomb of Prophet(saw) in a Room

Al-Bukhari narrates in his Sahih, Book of Jana’iz:

When `Umar was stabbed he sent his son `Abd Allah with a message to `A’isha to “Ask her if I can be buried with my two companions,” that is, in her room, next to the Prophet and Abu Bakr. `A’isha replied: “I wanted the spot for myself, but I shall put him [`Umar] before me today.” It had been her habit that if a man from among the Companions asked her that spot she would always refuse. She herself gave the following instructions before her death: “Bury me with my lady-friends (the wives of the Prophet in al-Baqi`) [but do not bury me with the Prophet in the house, for I dislike to be held in reverence (inni akrahu an uzakka)." Ibn `Umar came back

with the news, whereupon `Umar said: "NOTHING IN THE WORLD WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN THAT RESTING-PLACE." [Narrated by al-Bukhari in his Sahih.]

Why did Hadrat Umar (ra) wanted to get buried in a room and not outside , Why is Hadrat Abu Baker (Ra) buried in a Room , A tomb is also a room built around the grave ,and it proves its a sunnah

The Tomb of Aqah Karim (صلی اللہ علیھ وآلھ وسلم) is the greatest proof of this practice , Other tombs of Sahabas (Ra) were demolished by Al saud otherwise they too were present throughout history of islam.

Proof 3 of building of tombs around a grave

Hadiths proving tombs of 70 Prophets (as) Tomb

5769- وعن ابن عمر أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏

‏”‏في مسجد الخيف قبر سبعون نبياً‏”‏‏.‏

رواه البزار ورجاله ثقات‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn Umar (RA) from Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) who said: In (fi) the Mosque of al-Khayf there is Qabr of 70 Prophets (together)

Imam al Hafidh Ibn Hajr al Haythami (rah) said:

رواه البزار ورجاله ثقات‏

It is narrated by Al-Bazzar and all its narrators are “THIQA” (i.e. Hadith is absolutely sahih) [Majma az Zawaid Volume No.3, Page No.640 Bab fi Masjid al Khayf, Hadith #5769]

Proof 4 of building of tombs around a grave

Jesus Will Be Burried Next to our Prophet’s (may God bless him and grant him peace) Tomb

Jesus, son of Mary, will come down to the world… He will marry, . . . live for 45 years and then die. He will be buried with me [Mohammed] in my grave. Then I and Jesus, son of Mary, will stand up in one grave between Abu Bakr and `Umar. (Mishkat-ul-Masabih, 40:4)

Jesus will marry and have a child after he returns. After he dies, the Muslims will perform his funeral prayer and bury him at the Rauza-i-Aqdas (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, 65)

This hadith itself proves that Hadrat Esa (aleh islam) will be buried in Prophet (صلی اللہ علیھ وآلھ وسلم) Tomb along with him

Proof 5 of building of tombs around a grave

محمد قال :اخبرنا ابو حنيفة قال حدثنا سالم الافطس قال: ما من نبي الا ويحرب من قومة الي الكعبة يعبد رحبا وان حولحا لقبر ثلاث ماة نبي

Muhammad said: Abu hanifa informed us saying that salim as aftas narrated to us saying ” There is no Prophet who has no fled from its people towards the kaaba to worship Allah, and around it there are graves of 300 Prophets.

[pg 150,Kitab al-Athar of Imam al-Shaybani as published by Turath Publishing in London]

Proof 6 of building of tombs around a grave


محمد قال :اخبرنا ابو حنيفة قال حدثنا
عطاء بن الساءب قال :قبر حود وصالح وثعيب عليحم السلام في المسجد الحرام



Muhammad said: Abu hanifa informed us saying that Ata ibn as saib narrated to us saying the graves of Prophet Hud, Salih and Shuaib [aleh islam] is in Masjid Al Haram
[In pg 150,Kitab al-Athar of Imam al-Shaybani as published by Turath Publishing in London]






Answering Objection :Prostrating towards a grave(doing sajda)

This is clearly haram even if sajda e tazeemi , Sunni muslims donot believe in doing Sajda towards a grave as Shariah prohibits it ,

it has already in miskat ul mabasih page 161 Vol 1 hadith 694

و عن عطا ء بن ىسار قال قال رسؤل الله صلی اللہ علیھ وآلھ وسلمااللهما كا تجعل قبرى وثنا يعبد اشتد غضب الله علئ قوم اتخز وا قبور انبيا حى ام مسا جد رواحما لق مرسلق

Hadrat Ata Bin Siyar narrated that Prophet (صلی اللہ علیھ وآلھ وسلم) said that donot make my grave an idol after I die may Allah curse this nation who made graves of their Prophets (as) into prostration places (worship places)

Scan page: www.razanw.org/modules/sunnib…id=18&page=162

Here above strictness forbidding prostration is narrated in the hadith , and by making places of worshipping it means making it prostration place, this has already been mentioned by imam ibn e hajar (Rah) in same thread

so any one who does Sajda to is haram, any muslims who does it is not follow ahle sunnah wal jammat


On the issue of kissing a Shrine/grave Or putting head on grave.


PROOF 1

It is also narrated that Mu`adh ibn Jabal and Bilal came to the grave of the Prophet and sat weeping, and the latter rubbed his face against it.

► Ibn Majah 2:1320,

►Ahmad,

►al-Tabarani,

►al-Subki, and Ibn `Asakir

PROOF 2

Dawud ibn Salih said: “[The governor of Madina] Marwan [ibn al-Hakam] one day saw a man placing his face on top of the grave of the Prophet. He said: “Do you know what you are doing?” When he came near him, he realized it was Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. The latter said: “Yes; I came to the Prophet, not to a stone.,

► Ibn Hibban in his Sahih,

►Ahmad (5:422),

►Al-Tabarani in his Mu`jam al-Kabir (4:189) and his Awsat according to Haythami in al-Zawa’id (5:245 and 5:441 #5845 Book of Hajj, “Section on the honoring of the dwellers of Madina, chapter on placing one’s face against the grave of our Master the Prophet ” and #9252 Book of Khilafa, “Chapter on the leadership of those unworthy of it”),

►al-Hakim in his Mustadrak (4:515);

► both the latter and al-Dhahabi said it was sahih.

► It is also cited by al-Subki in Shifa’ al-siqam (p. 126)

►and Ibn Taymiyya in al-Muntaqa (2:261f.)

Prophet’s (صلی اللہ علیھ وآلھ وسلم) Grave

Imam al-Dhahabi said: “Ahmad ibn Hanbal was asked about touching the Prophet’s grave and kissing it and he saw nothing wrong with it. His son ‘Abd Allah related this from him. If it is asked: “Why did the Companions not do this?” We reply: “Because they saw him with their very eyes when he was alive, enjoyed his presence directly, kissed his very hand, nearly fought each other over the remnants of his ablution water, shared his purified hair on the day of the greater Pilgrimage, and even if he spat it would virtually not fall except in someone’s hand so that he could pass it over his face. Since we have not had the tremendous fortune of sharing in this, we throw ourselves on his grave as a mark of commitment, reverence, and acceptance, even to kiss it. Do you not see what Thabit al-Bunani did when he kissed the hand of Anas ibn Malik and placed it on his face saying: “This is the hand that touched the hand of the Messenger of Allah “? Muslims are not moved to these matters except by their excessive love for the Prophet , as they are ordered to love Allah and the Prophet more than their own lives, their children, all human beings, their property, and Paradise and its maidens. There are even some believers that love Abu Bakr and ‘Umar more than themselves.
[Al-Dhahabi, Mu'jam al-Shuyukh (1:73 #58).]

“‘Abd Allah ibn Ahmad said: “I saw my father take a hair that belonged to the Prophet , put it on his mouth, and kiss it. I believe I saw him put it on his eyes. He also dipped it in water and drank the water to obtain cure. I saw him take the Prophet’s bowl (qas’a), wash it in water, and drink from it. I saw him drink Zamzam water in order to seek cure with it, and he wiped his hands and face with it.” I say: Where is the quibbling critic of Imam Ahamad now?

It is also authentically established that ‘Abd Allah asked is father about those who touch the pommel of the Prophet’s e pulpit and touch the wall of the Prophet’s e room, and he said: “I do not see any harm in it.” May Allah protect us and you from the opinion of the Khawarij and from innovations!

[ Al-Dhahabi, Siyar
A'lam al-Nubala' (9:457). Ch. on Imam Ah.mad, section entitled Min adabih]

NOTE from :-

Ala Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (rah)

Even after above Sahih hadiths and opinion of salafs Mujadad Ala Hadrat Imam Ahmed Raza khan (rah) said

He states: there are diverse opinions amongst the scholars regarding kissing graves. It is an act which lies between two things: something that allows the practice: love and something that disallows it: adab respect.Hence, the one who does it through overwhelming love is not criticized because this act is proven from the sahabah. Though, it is better for the general public to be precautious.] Our scholars have explicitly stated that one should stand at least four feet away from the grave, so how would one kiss it!?

(Fatwa Ridhwiyah, 9:528)

Answering Objection : Doing Tawaaf of graves