(Explanation of the etiquettes of visiting the Prophet's grave: The Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen's critique of this verse, stating that it is an exaggeration by Ibn al-Qayyim and a slip on his part) So we stand before
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The Shaykh : He says:
" So we stand before the grave in a humble stance or a submissive stance *** abasing ourselves in secret and in public
As if he were alive and speaking in the grave *** so the standers are bending their necks "
This is from Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him); there is no doubt that it is an exaggeration. The Companions did not stand at the grave of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in this manner of standing that Ibn al-Qayyim described. This humility is a humility that should not be for anyone but the Lord of the worlds (Mighty and Majestic). Even the Companions, with the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) alive before them, did they come to him with this manner of exaltation? Look, now he says:
" So we stand before the grave in a submissive stance *** abasing ourselves in secret and in public
As if he were alive and speaking in the grave *** so the standers are bending their necks "
Meaning... like this. This is not valid except for Allah. And this is, in reality, one of the slips that we hope Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will forgive Ibn al-Qayyim for, because it is not a trivial matter. So we say to Ibn al-Qayyim: Did Ibn 'Umar, when he was greeting the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and Abu Bakr and his father, stand in this manner of standing? Did he stand bending his neck? Did he stand submissive as if he were before Allah (Mighty and Majestic)? The answer is no. And we know that Ibn al-Qayyim and others who are below the level of the Companions cannot be in their reverence for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as the Companions were in their reverence for the Messenger, ever. So we ask Allah to forgive him.
" That awe possessed them, and it seized *** those limbs with much trembling those limbs with much trembling "
Even this, glory be to Allah. He says that from the awe of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), it possessed them until their limbs were trembling from the intensity of the awe. This is not appropriate. It is not appropriate for a person to stand before the grave of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to this extent. It is true that a person, when he stands, feels that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent to all people, that he conveyed the message and fulfilled the trust, and that he advised the Ummah and struggled in the path of Allah. But to stand in this manner of standing that Ibn al-Qayyim described? No, by Allah.
" So we stand before the grave in a humble stance or a submissive stance *** abasing ourselves in secret and in public
As if he were alive and speaking in the grave *** so the standers are bending their necks "
This is from Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him); there is no doubt that it is an exaggeration. The Companions did not stand at the grave of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in this manner of standing that Ibn al-Qayyim described. This humility is a humility that should not be for anyone but the Lord of the worlds (Mighty and Majestic). Even the Companions, with the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) alive before them, did they come to him with this manner of exaltation? Look, now he says:
" So we stand before the grave in a submissive stance *** abasing ourselves in secret and in public
As if he were alive and speaking in the grave *** so the standers are bending their necks "
Meaning... like this. This is not valid except for Allah. And this is, in reality, one of the slips that we hope Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will forgive Ibn al-Qayyim for, because it is not a trivial matter. So we say to Ibn al-Qayyim: Did Ibn 'Umar, when he was greeting the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and Abu Bakr and his father, stand in this manner of standing? Did he stand bending his neck? Did he stand submissive as if he were before Allah (Mighty and Majestic)? The answer is no. And we know that Ibn al-Qayyim and others who are below the level of the Companions cannot be in their reverence for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as the Companions were in their reverence for the Messenger, ever. So we ask Allah to forgive him.
" That awe possessed them, and it seized *** those limbs with much trembling those limbs with much trembling "
Even this, glory be to Allah. He says that from the awe of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), it possessed them until their limbs were trembling from the intensity of the awe. This is not appropriate. It is not appropriate for a person to stand before the grave of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to this extent. It is true that a person, when he stands, feels that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent to all people, that he conveyed the message and fulfilled the trust, and that he advised the Ummah and struggled in the path of Allah. But to stand in this manner of standing that Ibn al-Qayyim described? No, by Allah.