The Ruling on Approaching the Grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Some people say that our scholars exaggerate in preventing people from approaching the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Why do they prevent people, when the Prophet said, “O Allah, do not make my grave an idol to be worshipped”? This is a supplication, and the supplication of the Prophet is answered. So what is your response to that?
Answer:
It is a response to himself; the questioner has answered himself. He asks why the scholars prevent people from approaching, while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not make my grave a festival.” They prevented them because of this hadith, so that the grave does not become a place of gathering, a place of frequent visitation, and a place of habitual practice. What is prescribed is to greet the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for one who has come from a journey. If one has come from a journey, he prays in al-Masjid al-Nabawi; if it is the time for an obligatory prayer, he prays the obligatory prayer, and if it is not the time for an obligatory prayer, he prays two rak'ahs in al-Masjid al-Nabawi. Then he goes and greets the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his two companions to the extent of saying, “Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.” If he describes him with the attributes by which Allah described him, such as conveying the message, fulfilling the trust, advising the nation, and striving in the cause of Allah, there is no harm. These are among his attributes (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he moves back and greets Abu Bakr, moving back toward the east and greeting Abu Bakr at the distance of an arm’s length. Then he moves back the distance of an arm’s length and greets 'Umar, and then he stops. As for sitting, rubbing against the chamber, standing, or making supplication at the chamber, or anything similar to that, this is forbidden, because this is making his grave (peace and blessings be upon him) a festival.
Yes, because they say that the head or face of Abu Bakr is opposite the shoulders of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), meaning that each one is slightly behind the other. And that the head or face of 'Umar is opposite the shoulders of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). Yes.
Some people say that our scholars exaggerate in preventing people from approaching the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Why do they prevent people, when the Prophet said, “O Allah, do not make my grave an idol to be worshipped”? This is a supplication, and the supplication of the Prophet is answered. So what is your response to that?
Answer:
It is a response to himself; the questioner has answered himself. He asks why the scholars prevent people from approaching, while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not make my grave a festival.” They prevented them because of this hadith, so that the grave does not become a place of gathering, a place of frequent visitation, and a place of habitual practice. What is prescribed is to greet the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for one who has come from a journey. If one has come from a journey, he prays in al-Masjid al-Nabawi; if it is the time for an obligatory prayer, he prays the obligatory prayer, and if it is not the time for an obligatory prayer, he prays two rak'ahs in al-Masjid al-Nabawi. Then he goes and greets the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his two companions to the extent of saying, “Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.” If he describes him with the attributes by which Allah described him, such as conveying the message, fulfilling the trust, advising the nation, and striving in the cause of Allah, there is no harm. These are among his attributes (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he moves back and greets Abu Bakr, moving back toward the east and greeting Abu Bakr at the distance of an arm’s length. Then he moves back the distance of an arm’s length and greets 'Umar, and then he stops. As for sitting, rubbing against the chamber, standing, or making supplication at the chamber, or anything similar to that, this is forbidden, because this is making his grave (peace and blessings be upon him) a festival.
Yes, because they say that the head or face of Abu Bakr is opposite the shoulders of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), meaning that each one is slightly behind the other. And that the head or face of 'Umar is opposite the shoulders of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). Yes.
Source
الفوزان -أشرطة- أسئلة وأجوبة من دروس التوحيد - الفوزان - أسئلة التوحيد - 5 — archive.org (31:47)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.