What is the ruling on praying in a mosque that contains a grave which is venerated and worshipped other than Allah?

The questioner : May Allah bless you. Praying in a mosque that contains a grave which is venerated and worshipped other than Allah, and around which people perform circumambulation with clear signs of this, is something found in some Muslim lands today.

The Shaykh : If we clarify this, we look at whether the mosque was the first or the grave was the first?

The questioner : It is not possible to give you an answer.

The Shaykh : Prayer is valid in a single mosque, but a person fears fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), so he avoids it out of fear of fitnah only.

The questioner : In reality, people have little knowledge and a love for the righteous, and they accept one another. Why do we declare them disbelievers?

The Shaykh : In any case, we restrict it. A person may go and pray in this mosque, stand up, and preach to the people, explaining that this is haram (forbidden). But if fitnah is feared because this man has his status in the society, and if he prays there he will mislead the people, then at that time he does not pray there; he prays in his home.