Q: There is a righteous man in our village; when he died, they built a shrine over his grave. We have a custom to go visit him every year, both men and women, and stay there for three days during which we praise Allah, say Tahlil ("La ilaha illa Allah [There is no god except Allah]") and Adhkar (supplications). We hope from the venerable shaykh to offer us guidance and direction on this issue.
A: These activities are not permissible. In fact, they are Bid'ahs (rejected innovations in religion) that have been created by people. It is not permissible to build anything above the graves regardless of whether they are called shrines, domes, Masjid (mosque), or anything else. During the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Companions, the graves in Al-Baqi` were uncovered; they did not have any buildings over them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited building over graves or plastering graves. He (peace be upon him) said: "Allah cursed the Jews and Christians; they made the graves of their prophets places of worship." (Agreed upon by Imams Al-Bukhari and Muslim). Jabir ibn ' Abdullah Al-Ansary (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade plastering graves, sitting on them and building over them." (Reported by Imam Muslim in his Sahih).
or decorating and screening graves is Munkar (unacceptable or disapproved of by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect). They are means to Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah). It is not permissible to build domes, screens, or Masjids over the graves. Likewise, visiting graves in the manner mentioned by the questioner: sitting by them, saying Tahlil, eating food, wiping the grave, supplicating, or offering Salah (Prayer) by a grave, are all Munkar; they are all Bid'ahs that are impermissible. What is lawful is to visit graves, supplicate to Allah for the dead, and leave.
When visiting the graves, one should say: "Peace be upon you, inhabitants of the abodes, believers and Muslims. If Allah wills, we will join you. We ask Allah for well-being for ourselves and for you. May Allah have mercy upon those who have gone ahead of us, and those who come later on!" There are other similar supplications. This is what is lawful, as taught by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to his Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet).
It is reported by Al-Tirmidhy on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that he said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by the graves of the Madinah and said: Peace be upon you, O inhabitants of the graves! May Allah forgive us and you. You have preceded us and we are to follow.
However, staying, eating, drinking, saying Tahlil, offering Salah, or reciting the Qur'an at the graves, all these things are Munkar that have no basis in the purified Shari`ah. As for invoking the dead, appealing to him, and seeking support from him, this is considered major Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah). It is like worshipping the idols of Al-Lat, Al-`Uzza, Manat, and other idols of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
It is obligatory, therefore, to beware of these things and to warn people against doing them and enlightening them about their religion in order to avoid this abominable kind of Shirk. This is the duty of the scholars whom Allah granted comprehension of religion and knowledge of what Allah sent the messengers with. Allah (Glorified be He) says: Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ﺻـﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴـﻪ ﻭ ﺳـﻠﻢ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.
Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)."
Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allâh's (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims." Allah (Glorified be He) also says: Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ): "This is my way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allâh i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism with sure knowledge). And Glorified and Exalted be Allâh (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh; those who worship others along with Allâh or set up rivals or partners to Allâh)." There are many other Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) to the same effect.
When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sent Mu`adh to Yemen, he said to him: You will go to the people of the Book. First of all, invite them to testify that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. According to
another narration of AlBukhari (may Allah be merciful with him): Invite them to worship Allah alone. If they accept this, then tell them that Allah has enjoined five prayers in every day and night upon them. If they accept this, tell them that Allah has obliged them with paying charity taken from the rich and distributed among the poor. If they obey this, then do not take for charity the fine things among their properties. Beware of injustice, for there is no barrier between the supplication of an wronged person and Allah i.e. it is definitely answered. (Agreed upon by Imams AlBukhari and Muslim).
He (peace be upon him) ordered him to first call them to Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/monotheism) and to be free of Shirk, along with believing in the Messenger (peace be upon him) and witnessing that he conveyed the Message.
Accordingly, it is known that calling for reforming the`Aqidah (creed) is given priority over other rulings; since the `Aqidah is the basis of all rulings.
But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.
And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ), as it was to those (Allâh's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."
Scholars everywhere and every time should do their best
to enlighten people about the reality of Islam and to clarify the true `Aqidah with which Allah (Exalted be He) sent down all the messengers (peace be upon them), at the top of them their seal, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). May Allah guide Muslim scholars and laypeople to whatever pleases Him. He is the best One asked for help.