Just a few days ago one of the Shāfiʿī muftis passed away. His relatives wanted to bury him in one of the old mosques on the eastern side of Damascus, but the Ministry of Religious Endowments objected, and the burial did not take place there. We thank the Ministry for these commendable positions and for its vigilance in preventing burials inside mosques, asking Allah, Blessed and Exalted, that its motive in issuing this prohibition be His good pleasure and adherence to His law, not other considerations—political, social, or otherwise.

We also hope that this will be a blessed beginning on its part toward cleansing the mosques of the crowding innovations and abominations within them—especially since the Minister of Religious Endowments, His Eminence Shaykh al-Baqūri, has taken noble stands in combating many of these evils, foremost among them the construction of mosques over graves. He has spoken beneficial words on this topic, which we shall cite at the appropriate place, if Allah wills.

And it is truly lamentable for every sincere believer that many mosques in—