The Meaning of the Hadith: Do Not Make My Grave a Festival

Question:
The questioner says: What is the meaning of the hadith, O Allah, , and the hadith ?

Answer:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say, “O Allah, do not make my grave a festival.” He said, “Do not make your houses graves, and do not make my grave a festival,” meaning that you gather at it. It is not permissible to gather at the grave of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him); rather, one should greet him when coming from a journey and then leave. One should not sit at it, nor should people gather at the grave of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), nor at any other grave, because this is one of the means to shirk (associating partners with Allah).
“O Allah, do not make my grave an idol to be worshipped.” An idol is anything worshipped other than Allah, such as a grave, a tree, a stone, or a statue. This is what is called an idol.
As for a statue, it is what is in the form of an image, in the shape of an animal or a human, among the things worshipped. This is what is called a statue. Yes.