The Prohibition of Building Mosques over Graves
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Fatwa No. ( 4932 ):
Q: We noticed in the book [Awwadh al-Tafasir] by Ibn al-Khatib in Surat al-Kahf, verse (21), in the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Kahf 18:21] , we hope you will inform us about the correctness of what the author wrote in his commentary on His saying: [Al-Kahf 18:21]
A: Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his tafsir, regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Kahf 18:21]. Ibn Jarir reported two opinions among those who said this: The first is: that they are the Muslims among them, and the second is: that they are the polytheists among them, and Allah knows best. The apparent view is that those who said this were the people of authority and influence, but are they to be praised or not? There is deliberation on this; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 529. End of quote. And the correct view is that they are to be blamed for this; based on what is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 703Sahih (Darussalam), and what is in the two Sahihs, from A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), that Umm Hababah, and Umm Salimah (may Allah be pleased with them both) mentioned to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) a church they had seen in Ethiopia and the images in it, so he said: Sahih al-Bukhari 434, and in [Sahih Muslim], from Jundub ibn 'Abd Allah al-Bajali (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sahih Muslim 532, and the hadiths on this matter are numerous. And from what has preceded, it becomes clear to the questioner that what Ibn al-Khatib mentioned in his tafsir [Awdh al-Masalik] regarding the permissibility of building mosques over graves is a great error, contrary to what the aforementioned hadiths and others indicate, and contrary to what the people of the Sunnah and the community, from the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and those who followed them in excellence, agreed upon regarding building mosques over graves and constructing upon them; because of the imitation of the Jews and the Christians and those who follow their path, and because that
a means of major shirk (associating partners with Allah). And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We noticed in the book [Awwadh al-Tafasir] by Ibn al-Khatib in Surat al-Kahf, verse (21), in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allah is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, "Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them." Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."
وَكَذَلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِمْ بُنْيَانًا رَبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَى أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مَسْجِدًاWe will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."
لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مَسْجِدًاA: Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his tafsir, regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."
قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَى أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مَسْجِدًاAllah cursed the Jews and the Christians that they took the graves of their prophets as mosques
لعن الله اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجد يحذر ما فعلواMay Allah curse the Jews and Christians, for they took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.
لعنة الله على اليهود والنصارى، اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجدIf any righteous pious man dies amongst them, they would build a place of worship at his grave and make these pictures in it; they are the worst creatures in the sight of Allah.
أولئك إذا مات فيهم الرجل الصالح بنوا على قبره مسجدًا، وصوروا فيه تلك الصور، أولئك شرار الخلق عند اللهBeware of those who preceded you and used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you to do that.
ألا وإن من كان قبلكم كانوا يتخذون قبور أنبيائهم وصالحيهم مساجد، ألا فلا تتخذوا القبور مساجد، فإني أنهاكم عن ذلكa means of major shirk (associating partners with Allah). 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.