‘Never abandon your gods; never abandon Wadd, Suwāʿ, Yaghūth, Yaʿūq, or Nasr.’” They explained:

These were the names of righteous men among Noah’s people. When they died, people devoted themselves to staying at their graves. Then, after a long time had passed, they made their images into idols.

Devoting oneself to staying at graves, rubbing one’s hands over them, kissing them, supplicating beside and among them, and similar practices were the origin of associating partners with Allah and worshipping idols. For this reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, said:

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

The scholars agreed that anyone visiting the grave of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, or the grave of any other prophet or righteous person—including the Companions, the Prophet’s household, and others—must neither rub his hands over it nor kiss it. Indeed, there is no inanimate object in the world that it is prescribed to kiss except the Black Stone. It is established in the two Sahīh collections that ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“By Allah, I know that you are a stone that can neither harm nor benefit. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, kiss you, I would not have kissed you.”

For this reason, the imams agree that it is not a recommended practice to kiss or touch with one’s hand the two corners of the House adjoining the Hijr enclosure, the walls of the House, the Station of Abraham, the Rock in Jerusalem, or the grave of any prophet or righteous person.

The jurists even differed over placing one’s hand on the pulpit of our master, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, when it still existed. Mālik and others disapproved of this because it was a religious innovation. It is reported that when Mālik saw ʿAtāʾ do this, he declined to take knowledge from him, whereas permission was granted by