Preserving Historical Sites
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa No. ( 16626 )
Q: I inform your eminence that I am preparing for my doctoral degree, and the professor supervising my thesis has asked me to cover an important topic, namely the Islamic stance on preserving sites and buildings that have a distinctive historical or architectural character . Does Islam encourage the preservation of such buildings or sites, and is it permissible, by way of
example, to preserve a site or building that witnessed important historical or religious events, and is it permissible to convert it into a museum for people to visit?
A: It is not permissible to venerate buildings and historical sites; because that leads to shirk (associating partners with Allah). The common people may believe there is blessing in them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade building over graves and praying facing them; because that is one of the means to shirk. Therefore, it is obligatory to stay away from this action, abandon it, and warn against it. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I inform your eminence that I am preparing for my doctoral degree, and the professor supervising my thesis has asked me to cover an important topic, namely the Islamic stance on preserving sites and buildings that have a distinctive historical or architectural character . Does Islam encourage the preservation of such buildings or sites, and is it permissible, by way of
example, to preserve a site or building that witnessed important historical or religious events, and is it permissible to convert it into a museum for people to visit?
A: It is not permissible to venerate buildings and historical sites; because that leads to shirk (associating partners with Allah). The common people may believe there is blessing in them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade building over graves and praying facing them; because that is one of the means to shirk. Therefore, it is obligatory to stay away from this action, abandon it, and warn against it. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.