ONE HADITH A DAY

O Allah, do not make my grave an idol that is worshiped

Narrated by Ahmad · Authentic

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: «اللهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْ قَبْرِي وَثَنًا، لَعَنَ اللهُ قَوْمًا اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ».

“Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Allah, do not make my grave an idol that is worshiped. Allah cursed the people who took the graves of their prophets as places of worship."”

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated to his Lord to not make his grave like an idol that people worship by extolling it and facing it in prostration. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that Allah Almighty banished and expelled from His mercy those who took the graves of their prophets as places of worship, for taking them as places of worship is conducive to worshiping and having faith in them.

Benefits

• Exceeding the limits set by the Shariah with regard to the graves of the prophets and the righteous people turns them into idols worshiped apart from Allah. So, we should beware of the means leading to Shirk (polytheism).
• It is not permissible to visit the graves to show reverence to them and perform worship there, regardless of the closeness of those buried to Allah.
• It is prohibited to build mosques over the graves.
• It is prohibited to perform prayer at the graves, even if no mosque is built there, except for prayer for a dead person upon whom the funeral prayer has not been offered.

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