By the Late Shaykh Alawi(ra)

QUESTION 6:

Is it allowed to build Domes or structures over graves?

ANSWER:

Pseudo scholars define Bid'ah as anything that Nabi Muhammad, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, did not do. However, the true definition of Bid'ah is:

'Anything that has not been done by Nabi Muhammad, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, and does not have an origin (Asl) in the Shari'ah Qur'an and Sunnah'.
Certain people unceremoniously condemn the building of domes on Qubur as Bid'ah, but what about the building of domes on the Moques?

There were no domes on the Mosques in the time of Nabi Muhammad, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, nor were there any carpets, Minarets or Mihrabs. All these designs and structures were added long after the Beloved Nabi's time.Domes were added to amplify the voice of the Imam by making it echo, carpets were added so that people did not have to pray on sand and minarets were added so that people could see the location of the mosque from a distance. Let those who cry "Bid'ah!" build themselves a mosque without a dome, carpet, Mihrab and Minarets.

Let us remember that the Nabi, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, himself put a large stone to mark the grave of his Sahabi Uthman bin Maz'un and said:
(li A'alama bihi Qabra Akhi) i.e. "So that I can know the Qabr of my brother".
(Abu Dawud and Mishkat al-Masabih).

This Hadith is the Asl (Islamic origin) for marking graves, especially that of special people so that they may be KNOWN. The designs and style of structure may change over the centuries, but the Original Idea comes from the Sunnah, as the idea to decorate Masajid.

The most significant proof for the permissibility of having structures over graves is the example of Nabi Muhammad, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, himself. He said that a Prophet should be buried where he passed away. Nabi Muhammad, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, passed away inside his house and was subsequently buried inside it, and the Sahabah did not destroy that structure.

For those who claim that this is an exception applicable only to Nabi Muhammad, sall- Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, firstly, let them prove it from the Qur'an or Sunnah, and secondly, we ask them why Sayyidina Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, radi Allahu `anh, also wanted to be buried inside this structure? The very same holds true for Sayyidina Umar, radi Allahu `anh, who was also buried inside this structure. Their action clearly shows the validity of having a grave in a structure, for non-Prophets as well. Another Hadith often misinterpreted and quoted out of context is where Nabi Muhammad, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, ordered his Sahabah to destroy all the high graves.

In the time of Nabi Muhammad, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, there were no graves of Muslims, only graves of kuffar, which were built high. The Sahabah were thus ordered to destroy the high structures on the graves of the kuffar, not of the Anbiya or Awliya.

A significant evidence to support this is that when Sayyidina Umar, radi Allahu `anh, conquered Syria and Palestine, both lands abounded with great tombs of the honoured Prophets, `alaymu-s-salam, of Allah, subhanaHu wa Ta`ala, e.g. the shrine of Nabi Ibrahim, `alayhi-s-salam, the tomb of Nabi Yusuf, `alayhi-s-salam, Nabi Ya'qub, `alayhis-salam, Nabi Dawud, `alayhi-s-salam, Nabi Sulayman, `alayhi-s-salam.

Sayyidina Umar, radi Allahu `anh, destroyed the idols in Syria and Palestine, but he did not touch the shrines of the beloved Prophets, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, of Allah, subhanaHu wa Ta`ala. Thus the above Hadith refers to the high graves of the kuffar.

In a Sahih Hadith, Nabi Muhammad, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, says that the honour of a Mu'min who has passed away is the same like his honour was when he was alive (Hurmatul Mumini maitan ka Hurmatihi Hayyan).

Allah, subhanaHu wa Ta`ala, says that the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah, subhanaHu wa Ta`ala, are the pious ones. So we respect the pious in the Dunya, and when they pass away, we continue honouring them by venerating their graves (as allowed in Islam of course).

In another Sahih Hadith, it is narrated that when Nabi Muhammad, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, looked at the Holy Ka'bah, he said, "How great are you, oh house of Allah, but I swear by Allah who created me, that the honour the believer is even greater than you". The Holy Quran (Surah al-Haj Ayah 32) says: "And those who venerate the Sha'a'ir Allahi (Signs/Symbols of Allah), then that is from the Taqwa in their hearts". (wa man yuazzim sha'a'ir Allahi fa innaha min Taqwal Qulub)

In the Quran (1:158), the mountains of Safa and Marwah were called Sha'a'ir Allahi, because they are the mountains on which a Waliyyah from the Ummah of Nabi Ibrahim, `alayhi-s-salam, called Hajirah ran seven times.

What about a place where a Wali from the Ummah of Nabi Muhammad's, sall-Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, is resting?

We believe that place is also from the Sha'a'ir Allahi and should be honoured.
It is thus unfortunate that some people want to prohibit us from honouring the Awliya of Allah. They forget that we honour them for the sake of Allah and not as Partners with Allah. No Muslim can ever do that.

There are also Qur'anic evidences supporting the building of structures at graves. Surah al-Kahf, Ayah 21, speaks about the honourable Ashab al-Kahf. According to Tafsir al-Jalalayn, 'The believers' built a Masjid at their Qubur. This was to derive extra blessings from the pious ones buried there, as in the Tafsirs of Khaffaji, Baydawi, Razi and Ruh Al-Bayan.

Also often misinterpreted is the Hadith which says that Allah, subhanaHu wa Ta`ala, cursed the people who have turned the Qubur of Prophets into Mosques.

This Hadith is actually referring to those people who actually pray to the Prophets, and not those who merely pray near the Prophets' graves - to Allah, subhanaHu wa Ta`ala, -for the sake of Barakah.

Every Haji can see that in Madinah, in the Blessed Prophet's (s.a.w) Mosque, people have been praying around the four sides of His Holy and Blessed Qabr ash-Shareef for 1400 years. Was that Shirk?

In Makkah, it is recommended to pray in Hijr Ismail (also called Hateem), as it has the Qabr of Nabi Ismail (a.s) in it as many scholars have said (Qisas al-Anbiya by Ibn Katheer).

In the famous work of Shafi'i Fiqh, Umdat as-Salik, it is clearly stated that what is meant by "making a Qabr a Masjid" is: "praying to it in honour or praying on it (Reliance of the Traveller p.896). "Ittikhaz al-Qubur Masajid" does not mean praying around it or building structures over it. Building something on a Qabr is definitely not allowed as it is disrespectful to the person buried, but establishing the Qabr and building a structure over it is definitely allowed and the universal practice of the Ummah for 1400 years. There is no clear proof against this, only for it.

For 1400 years, the Honourable Tombs of the Great Sons and Daughters of Islam, throughout the Islamic World, have acted as symbols of inspiration and glory for all Muslims, as well as a source of Barakah and Spirituality.

It is indeed sad that, today, while other nations are working hard to maintain the memory of their Heroes and Leaders, We are being are told by certain ignorant 20th scholars to wipe out the memory of Our Heroes and Leaders.

In summary, to kiss the black stone is a Sunnah, to decorate the grave with flowers is a Sunnah, and to destroy the graves of the Awliya is a Bid'ah.

The Sahabah actually used to maintain the graves.

Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music....

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Quran:[18:28]

اے میرے بندے!) تو اپنے آپ کو ان لوگوں کی سنگت میں جمائے رکھا کر جو صبح و شام اپنے رب کو یاد کرتے ہیں اس کی رضا کے طلب گار رہتے ہیں (اس کی دید کے متمنی اور اس کا مکھڑا تکنے کے آرزو مند ہیں) تیری (محبت اور توجہ کی) نگاہیں ان سے نہ ہٹیں، کیا تو (ان فقیروں سے دھیان ہٹا کر) دنیوی زندگی کی آرائش چاہتا ہے، اور تو اس شخص کی اطاعت (بھی) نہ کر جس کے دل کو ہم نے اپنے ذکر سے غافل کردیا ہے اور وہ اپنی ہوائے نفس کی پیروی کرتا ہے اور اس کا حال حد سے گزر گیا ہے

(O My servant!) Stay tenaciously in the companionship of those who remember their Lord morning and evening, ardently seeking His pleasure, (keen on the glimpse of His sight and eagerly aspiring to glance at His radiant Countenance). Your (affectionate and caring) looks must not but focus them. Do you seek the charisma of the worldly life (shifting your attention away from these self-denying devotees)? And (also) do not follow him whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance and who follows but the urge of his (ill-commanding self) and his case has exceeded all bounds.

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Quran:[18:28]

اے میرے بندے!) تو اپنے آپ کو ان لوگوں کی سنگت میں جمائے رکھا کر جو صبح و شام اپنے رب کو یاد کرتے ہیں اس کی رضا کے طلب گار رہتے ہیں (اس کی دید کے متمنی اور اس کا مکھڑا تکنے کے آرزو مند ہیں) تیری (محبت اور توجہ کی) نگاہیں ان سے نہ ہٹیں، کیا تو (ان فقیروں سے دھیان ہٹا کر) دنیوی زندگی کی آرائش چاہتا ہے، اور تو اس شخص کی اطاعت (بھی) نہ کر جس کے دل کو ہم نے اپنے ذکر سے غافل کردیا ہے اور وہ اپنی ہوائے نفس کی پیروی کرتا ہے اور اس کا حال حد سے گزر گیا ہے

(O My servant!) Stay tenaciously in the companionship of those who remember their Lord morning and evening, ardently seeking His pleasure, (keen on the glimpse of His sight and eagerly aspiring to glance at His radiant Countenance). Your (affectionate and caring) looks must not but focus them. Do you seek the charisma of the worldly life (shifting your attention away from these self-denying devotees)? And (also) do not follow him whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance and who follows but the urge of his (ill-commanding self) and his case has exceeded all bounds.

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