the graves of their prophets as places of worship.”

It is reported in the Sunan that he said: “Do not make my grave a place of festivity, and send blessings upon me wherever you are, for your blessings reach me.”

It is reported in the Sahīh that, during the illness from which he did not recover, he said: “May Allah curse the Jews and Christians; they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.” He was warning against what they had done. ‘Ā’ishah—may Allah be pleased with her and her parents—said: “Were it not for that, his grave would have been left exposed, but it was disliked that it should be made a place of worship.”

In Sahīh Muslim, it is reported that he, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, said five days before his death: “Those who came before you used to take graves as places of worship. Beware! Do not take graves as places of worship, for I forbid you to do so.”

In Sunan Abī Dāwūd, it is reported that he said: “May Allah curse women who visit graves and those who establish places of worship and lamps over them.”

For this reason, our scholars said that it is not permissible to build a mosque over graves. They also said that it is not permissible to vow anything for a grave or for those residing beside it—whether money, oil, wax, livestock, or anything else. All such vows are vows to disobey Allah. It is established in the Sahīh that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, said: “Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him; and whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him.” The scholars differed as to whether someone who makes such a vow must offer the expiation for a broken oath; they held two views.

For this reason, none of the imams of the early generations said that prayer at graves or at grave shrines is recommended or possesses any special merit, or that