Why was the Prophet's grave built in the form it is in now
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Fatwa number ( 16732 )
Q: 1- Why was the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) built in the form it is in now, while there is a hadith that forbids Muslims from doing building over graves and decorating them? 2- I ask you to please narrate the story and history of the building of this grave? 3- What is the situation regarding the graves of his household and his Companions? 4- Are there any buildings over graves or decorations of them in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , especially regarding the graves of the major Saudi personalities? 5- Is there a specific law in Saudi Arabia that forbids building over graves? 6- What is your opinion regarding decorating a grave as an expression of love for the deceased or respect for him?
A: First: The Prophet's Mosque was founded by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) upon the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was not buried in it after his death; rather, he was buried in the room of A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) outside the mosque. When Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) died, he was buried next to him in the room. Then when 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) died, he was buried with them in the room. The room of A'ishah was outside the mosque to its left. When 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) expanded the Prophet's Mosque (peace and blessings be upon him), he did not include the room in the expansion,
but the room was only included after the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, in the era of al-Walid ibn 'Abd al-Malik , in the last part of the first century of the Hijrah, and that was not done with the consultation of the scholars. As for the building that exists over the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is late and an innovation, and perhaps their intention with this action was to protect the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Second: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to bury his Companions and his household in al-Baqi' cemetery , and he would level the grave and not add to its earth, nor raise it more than a hand's breadth, and he would not decorate the grave, nor plaster it, nor build anything over it. Third: There are no buildings over graves in the Kingdom, praise be to Allah, and the scholars in this land forbid building over graves and order the leveling of graves in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as they order not to raise the hump of the grave so that it does not exceed a hand's breadth. The Salaf of this Ummah used to advise one another to do so. It is narrated from Abu al-Hayyaj that 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Shall I not send you with what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me with:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1049Sahih (Darussalam) Narrated by Muslim . They forbid writing on graves or decorating them, because that leads to exaggeration regarding the owner of the grave, and that is one of the means of shirk (associating partners with Allah). For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade plastering the grave, sitting on it, and building
over it. The major Saudi personalities do not have graves that are distinguished from other graves; rather, they are buried in the Muslim cemeteries like the rest of the people. Fourth: There is no specific law regarding graves in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ; rather, it is the practice of the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Fifth: It is not permissible to decorate the grave of the deceased with any type of decoration, whether by building, construction, plastering and coloring, or decorating it with writing and drawing, because that is among the things that are forbidden. What should be done for a Muslim who dies is to make du'a' (supplication) for him, to seek mercy for him, to give charity on his behalf, and the like of that. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: 1- Why was the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) built in the form it is in now, while there is a hadith that forbids Muslims from doing building over graves and decorating them? 2- I ask you to please narrate the story and history of the building of this grave? 3- What is the situation regarding the graves of his household and his Companions? 4- Are there any buildings over graves or decorations of them in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , especially regarding the graves of the major Saudi personalities? 5- Is there a specific law in Saudi Arabia that forbids building over graves? 6- What is your opinion regarding decorating a grave as an expression of love for the deceased or respect for him?
A: First: The Prophet's Mosque was founded by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) upon the fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was not buried in it after his death; rather, he was buried in the room of A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) outside the mosque. When Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) died, he was buried next to him in the room. Then when 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) died, he was buried with them in the room. The room of A'ishah was outside the mosque to its left. When 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) expanded the Prophet's Mosque (peace and blessings be upon him), he did not include the room in the expansion,
but the room was only included after the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, in the era of al-Walid ibn 'Abd al-Malik , in the last part of the first century of the Hijrah, and that was not done with the consultation of the scholars. As for the building that exists over the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is late and an innovation, and perhaps their intention with this action was to protect the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Second: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to bury his Companions and his household in al-Baqi' cemetery , and he would level the grave and not add to its earth, nor raise it more than a hand's breadth, and he would not decorate the grave, nor plaster it, nor build anything over it. Third: There are no buildings over graves in the Kingdom, praise be to Allah, and the scholars in this land forbid building over graves and order the leveling of graves in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as they order not to raise the hump of the grave so that it does not exceed a hand's breadth. The Salaf of this Ummah used to advise one another to do so. It is narrated from Abu al-Hayyaj that 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Shall I not send you with what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me with:
That you not leave an elevated grave without leveling it, nor an image without erasing it.
ألا تدع قبرًا مشرفًا إلا سويته، ولا صورة إلا طمستهاover it. The major Saudi personalities do not have graves that are distinguished from other graves; rather, they are buried in the Muslim cemeteries like the rest of the people. Fourth: There is no specific law regarding graves in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ; rather, it is the practice of the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Fifth: It is not permissible to decorate the grave of the deceased with any type of decoration, whether by building, construction, plastering and coloring, or decorating it with writing and drawing, because that is among the things that are forbidden. What should be done for a Muslim who dies is to make du'a' (supplication) for him, to seek mercy for him, to give charity on his behalf, and the like of that. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.