What is the ruling on caring for and reviving old houses and dwellings?

Question:
A questioner says: Recently, there has been a spread of caring for and reviving historical sites, which consist of old houses and dwellings that contain no statues or images. Is this permissible?

Answer:
This is a scheme of Shaytan, for exalting the houses of the previous scholars is a means to worshipping them later, and this is from Shaytan. He says, "Preserve the historical sites; you are like other countries that preserve their historical sites. Why are you letting the historical sites be lost?" We were not commanded to preserve historical sites; rather, we were commanded to refrain from exalting them and from inheriting them. What benefit do historical sites bring us? Historical sites bring us no benefit. Only righteous deeds and correct 'aqidah (creed) benefit us. That is what benefits us. As for historical sites, they bring us no benefit; they are ruins, crumbling ruins. What benefit is in them? Yes.