Ruling on Visiting Domes and Graves

Question:
He has another question about those who visit the domes and graves of some of the righteous, as they call them. What is your guidance, Shaykh Abdul Aziz?

Answer:
They know the legislated visitation. They know the visitation of graves, the legislated visitation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Companions that when they visited the graves, they should say:
In another hadith, he said: , and in another hadith, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This and similar phrases are used to make du'a for the deceased.
As for placing domes on graves or mosques, this is not permissible. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) : And it is authentically reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of Jabir in Muslim's Sahih: All of this is prohibited, and they are not to be covered with curtains. All of this is prohibited. Rather, the grave is to be raised from the ground by approximately a hand's breadth so that it is known to be a grave, so that it is not defiled or trampled.
So, the believer informs his brothers and teaches them, and so does the student of knowledge, and so do the scholars. They teach people what Allah has legislated. The believer learns from the scholars and teaches those who come to the graves. He says to them: The legislated visitation is such and such. As for building over graves, or asking the dead, or seeking blessing from the grave's soil, or kissing the grave, or praying at it, all of this is religious innovation. One does not pray at graves, nor are they taken as a place for du'a intended to be made at them, nor for recitation at them. All of this is religious innovation.
Likewise, seeking blessing from them, or seeking intercession from them, or seeking healing, this is of the types of major shirk (associating partners with Allah). If he says: "O my master so-and-so! Intercede for me to Allah," and he says to the dead: "Help me" or "Heal my sick one," this is not permissible. Because the dead person's deeds are cut off after his death .
As for asking him for the healing of the sick, or victory over enemies, or intercession to Allah in such and such, this has been cut off. It is not permissible to ask them. Rather, one asks Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) : "O Allah, heal me... O Allah, give me such and such... O Allah, grant intercession to Your prophets... O Allah, grant intercession to Your Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)... O Allah, grant intercession to the transgressors... O Allah, grant intercession to the angels and the believers." There is nothing wrong with this; you ask Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He).
So, the summary is that Muslims advise one another and teach one another according to the command of the Shari'ah. It is upon the scholars to clarify this and guide the general public to what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has legislated . Among this is teaching the legislated visitation of graves that came in the hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), which was explained earlier.
And they teach that it is not permissible to build over graves, whether domes, mosques, or other buildings, nor to plaster them, nor to sit on them, nor to take them as a place for du'a at them, or prayer at them, or recitation at them. These are religious innovations that are among the means to shirk. Prayer at them and sitting at them for du'a or recitation is among the means to shirk, from religious innovations. As for making du'a to the dead, calling for aid from the dead, making vows for them, and slaughtering for them, this is major shirk. We seek refuge in Allah from the practices of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.