The Ruling on Praying in a Mosque That Contains a Grave

Question:
What is the ruling on praying in a mosque that has a grave in it? This grave is located directly behind the qiblah wall, and the only thing separating the mosque from the grave is the qiblah wall, which runs the entire length of the mosque. Please note that the grave was built, or the mosque was not built to honor the grave, but rather because the land behind the grave was open desert. I tried to pray in another mosque that was a little farther away, but I was unable to, so I returned to that mosque. Please guide us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
There is a distinction here. If the mosque was built for the sake of this grave, to draw near to it, as is found in some countries where people build over graves and shrines to draw near to the dead and call upon them for aid, and the like of what the grave-worshippers do, then it is not permissible to pray in this mosque, because it is a mosque built over a grave. Even if a wall separates the grave from the mosque, as long as the mosque was built next to the grave out of the belief that this grave benefits and harms, then this mosque is not allowed to remain, and it is not permissible to pray in it. Rather, it must be demolished and moved away from the grave, due to the prohibition of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) from taking graves as mosques, and his prohibition (peace and blessings be upon him) from building over graves, because this is one of the greatest means of shirk (associating partners with Allah). As for if the mosque was built without any intention regarding the grave, and the grave existed previously, surrounded by a wall, and the mosque was built near it without any intention of belief or any connection between the mosque and the grave in any way, then the best, the best, and the most preferable is to move the mosque away from the grave, because this creates a shubhah (doubtful matter), even if only in the long run. So, whenever it is possible to move mosques away from graves, this is an obligatory matter. However, it is not like the first case. If a person prays in it, and the mosque was not built for the sake of the grave, then his prayer is valid. But it is obligatory to move the mosque away from the grave, and to place a road or something between them that separates the mosque from the grave. Yes.