—among them Aḥmad and others, on the grounds that Ibn ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with them both, had done so.

As for rubbing oneself against the Prophet’s grave ﷺ or kissing it, they all deemed that blameworthy and forbade it, because they knew that the Prophet ﷺ sought to block every avenue to polytheism, to establish true monotheism, and to dedicate the religion purely to Allah, Lord of all creation.

This explains the difference between asking the Prophet ﷺ—or any righteous person—while he is alive and asking him after his death and absence: during his lifetime no one worships him in his presence. Indeed, when the prophets—peace be upon them—and the righteous are alive, they never allow anyone to associate partners with them; rather, they forbid such acts and punish those who attempt them. For this reason the Messiah, peace be upon him, said: