and this is akin to the obligatory charity that Allah has commanded.

The second, by contrast, is a form of associating partners with Allah and violating the rights of Allah and His servants. An authentic report relates that when Allah Most High revealed:

“Those who believe and do not mix their faith with wrongdoing,”

this troubled the Prophet’s Companions, who said, “Which of us has not wronged himself?” The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied:

“What is meant here is associating partners with Allah. Have you not heard the words of the righteous servant: ‘Indeed, associating partners with Allah is a tremendous wrong’?”

He also said, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“O Allah, do not let my grave become an idol that is worshipped.”

Allah Most High has said:

“And they said, ‘Never abandon your gods; never abandon Wadd, Suwā‘, Yaghūth, Ya‘ūq, or Nasr.’”

A group of the early generations said: These were righteous men among the people of Noah. When they died, the people kept vigil at their graves and made likenesses of them. This marked the beginning of idol worship, and it is of the same nature as the religion of the Christians.

The Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—and their Successors did not specifically seek to supplicate at the grave of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or at anyone else’s grave. Rather, the leading scholars disapproved of standing at the Prophet’s grave to supplicate. They said, “This is an innovation that neither the Companions nor their Successors practised.” Instead, they would greet him and his two Companions with peace and then leave.