The Ruling on Building Shrines over Graves

Question:
After this, we move to the Kingdom of Morocco via a message sent by a listener who says: My lord, Hamid al-Bakwari. Brother al-Bakwari has three questions, one of which is: What is the ruling on shrines in Islam? Is it obligatory to visit places other than the sacred sites, such as visiting a shrine, for example? What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in this matter? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
As for shrines, there is a detail to consider. Shrines are graves. The Sunnah is to raise them from the ground by the width of a handbreadth so that it is known that they are graves and so that they are not desecrated. For this reason, in the hadith of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) : .
As for what concerns building on them, making them into mosques, and placing domes over them, this is not permissible. This is an abomination in the view of the scholars, and it is a religious innovation. It is one of the means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). For this reason, the noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith: .
In Sahih Muslim, from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): .
So it is not permissible to build over graves, neither a mosque, nor a dome, nor anything else. It is also not permissible to plaster them, because this is one of the means to shirk, one of the means by which they are exalted, called upon besides Allah, and sought for aid, and thus shirk occurs. Building over graves, placing domes on them, mosques, and lamps are among the forbidden means, among the means to shirk. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against them and cursed their people.
So it is obligatory for every Muslim to be cautious of this, and not to build over a grave, neither a mosque, nor anything else, nor a dome, nor to plaster it, nor to place a lamp on it, nor curtains. All of this is not permissible. Rather, this is among the means to shirk, because building around the curtains, around the lamps, around the mosques, around the dome, all of this is among the means of exalting them and shirk.
And if one calls upon the dead person and says: "O my master," or "O so-and-so, help me," or "aid me," or "heal my sick one," or "I am under your protection and your guardianship," all of this is major shirk. All of this is the work of the first polytheists. So it is obligatory to be cautious of this. Likewise, circumambulating the graves, going around them, hoping for their blessing, hoping for the virtue of their people, and hoping for their benefit, this is major shirk.
As for if one is ignorant and thinks that circumambulation is a Sunnah like the Ka'bah, circumambulating for Allah, drawing near to Allah, this is an abominable religious innovation, and it is among the means to shirk. But if he circumambulates to draw near to the owner of the grave, then this is major shirk, like if he called upon him, or sought aid from him, or made a vow to him, or slaughtered for him. All of this is major shirk.
So it is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman to be cautious of this. The only lawful visitation is to visit the graves to greet them and make du'a' (supplication) for them, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , and he said (peace and blessings be upon him): .
So he comes and says: . This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught the Companions. He taught them this (peace and blessings be upon him) when they visited the graves to say: . This is the lawful visitation. Then he leaves. He does not pray at the grave, nor does he recite at it, nor does he circumambulate it, nor does he ask it to fulfill a need. All of this is not permissible. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.