Chapter Four
Common Objections and Their Answers

Someone may object: “If the Sacred Law has established that building mosques over graves is forbidden, there are nonetheless many texts that appear to suggest the contrary.” We shall examine the most prominent of these proofs:

First: The Almighty says in Surat al-Kahf, “Those who prevailed in their affair said, ‘We will surely build a place of worship over them.’” The relevance of this verse is that, according to the books of exegesis, those who uttered this statement were Christians; therefore, erecting a place of worship over graves was part of their religious law. Moreover, the law of previous communities is binding for us whenever Allah relates it without condemning it—and here He reports it without any disapproval.

Second: The Prophet’s grave—peace and blessings be upon him—lies within his noble mosque; if it were