We have mosques named after the prophets (peace be upon them), such as the Mosque of the Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him), and there is a grave in this mosque which is attributed to this prophet.
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The questioner : We have a number of mosques named after the prophets, such as the Grand Mosque of the Prophet Yunus and other grand mosques, and there is the resting place of that prophet inside the mosque. People go and pray in these mosques. In the hadith, the meaning of which is: Sahih al-Bukhari 4441, what is the ruling on their action? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Naming mosques after the prophets is not appropriate, because this is done as a means of drawing near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) or seeking blessing in the names of the prophets. Drawing near to Allah by means He has not prescribed, or seeking blessing by means He has not made a cause for blessing, is not appropriate; rather, it is a type of religious innovation.
As for the presence of the graves of the prophets in these mosques, it is a lie with no basis. The grave of no prophet is known except the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The graves of all the prophets are unknown. So whoever claims, for example, that the Mosque of the Prophet Yunus was the resting place of Yunus or the grave of Yunus, has spoken without knowledge. Likewise, the rest of the mosques or places that are said to contain something of the graves of the prophets; this is speech without knowledge.
As for the validity of prayer in mosques built over graves, if the grave preceded the mosque, meaning the mosque was built over the grave, then the prayer in it is not valid, and the mosque must be demolished. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 3453, 3454.
As for when the mosque preceded the grave, meaning the mosque was standing and built, and then someone was buried in it, it is obligatory to dig up the grave and bury the deceased in what people are buried in. The prayer in this mosque, which preceded the grave, is valid, except if the grave is facing the worshippers, for prayer toward graves is not valid. As in *Sahih Muslim*, from the hadith of Abu al-Marsad al-Ghanawi, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1050Sahih (Darussalam).
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh.
Allah cursed the Jews for they took the graves of their prophets as places for worship.
لعن الله اليهود اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجدThe Shaykh : Naming mosques after the prophets is not appropriate, because this is done as a means of drawing near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) or seeking blessing in the names of the prophets. Drawing near to Allah by means He has not prescribed, or seeking blessing by means He has not made a cause for blessing, is not appropriate; rather, it is a type of religious innovation.
As for the presence of the graves of the prophets in these mosques, it is a lie with no basis. The grave of no prophet is known except the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The graves of all the prophets are unknown. So whoever claims, for example, that the Mosque of the Prophet Yunus was the resting place of Yunus or the grave of Yunus, has spoken without knowledge. Likewise, the rest of the mosques or places that are said to contain something of the graves of the prophets; this is speech without knowledge.
As for the validity of prayer in mosques built over graves, if the grave preceded the mosque, meaning the mosque was built over the grave, then the prayer in it is not valid, and the mosque must be demolished. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
May Allah's Curse be on the Jews and the Christians for they build places of worship at the graves of their prophets." (By that) he intended to warn (the Muslim) from what they (i.e. Jews and Christians) had done.
قاتل الله اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجد، يحذر ما صنعواAs for when the mosque preceded the grave, meaning the mosque was standing and built, and then someone was buried in it, it is obligatory to dig up the grave and bury the deceased in what people are buried in. The prayer in this mosque, which preceded the grave, is valid, except if the grave is facing the worshippers, for prayer toward graves is not valid. As in *Sahih Muslim*, from the hadith of Abu al-Marsad al-Ghanawi, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not sit on the graves nor perform Salat towards them.
لا تجلسوا على القبور ولا تصلوا إليهاThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh.