Majmu' al-Fatawa - Ibn Taimiya - (27/106)

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was also asked:

Concerning “those who visit the graves of prophets and righteous people,” such as the grave of Abraham and others: they approach the tomb and kiss it. The custodians of the site approach whoever arrives and bring him to the tomb, teaching visitors this practice and approving of their doing it.

Is this something that Allah Most High and His Messenger have commanded, or not? Is there any reward or recompense for it, or not? Is it part of the religion with which Allah, glorified be He, sent His Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—or not? If it is not, yet some people believe it to be part of the religion and practise it on that basis, must they be forbidden from doing so, or not? Did any of the four imams consider this recommended, or not? Did the Companions and their successors practise it, or not?

If any of the custodians or others engage in this practice, instruct others to do it, or approve of it in return for a payment they receive or for some other reason, will the ruler be rewarded for preventing them from doing so, or not? If they do not desist, may the ruler remove from office those among them who refuse to desist, or not?

Are the earnings people derive from such practices wholesome or tainted? Are they entitled to such earnings, or should these be taken from them and spent on

وَسُئِلَ - رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ -: عَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ " الزَّائِرِينَ قُبُورَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ " كَقَبْرِ الْخَلِيلِ وَغَيْرِهِ فَيَأْتُونَ إلَى الضَّرِيحِ وَيُقَبِّلُونَهُ وَالْقُوَّامُ بِذَلِكَ الْمَكَانِ أَيْ مَنْ جَاءَ يَأْتُونَهُ وَيَجِيئُونَ بِهِ إلَى الضَّرِيحِ فَيُعَلِّمُونَهُمْ ذَلِكَ وَيُقِرُّونَهُمْ عَلَيْهِ. فَهَلْ هَذَا مِمَّا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بِهِ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْ لَا؟ وَهَلْ فِي ذَلِكَ ثَوَابٌ وَأَجْرٌ أَمْ لَا؟ وَهَلْ هُوَ مِنْ الدِّينِ الَّذِي بَعَثَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ بِهِ رَسُولَهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمْ لَا؟ وَإِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ كَذَلِكَ وَكَانَ أُنَاسٌ يَعْتَقِدُونَ أَنَّ هَذَا مِنْ الدِّينِ وَيَفْعَلُونَهُ عَلَى هَذَا الْوَجْهِ فَهَلْ يَجِبُ أَنْ يُنْهَوْا عَنْ ذَلِكَ أَمْ لَا؟ وَهَلْ اسْتَحَبَّ هَذَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ الْأَئِمَّةِ الْأَرْبَعَةِ أَمْ لَا؟ وَهَلْ كَانَتْ الصَّحَابَةُ وَالتَّابِعُونَ يَفْعَلُونَ ذَلِكَ أَمْ لَا؟ وَإِذَا كَانَ فِي الْقُوَّامِ أَوْ غَيْرِهِمْ مَنْ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ أَوْ يَأْمُرُ بِهِ أَوْ يُقِرُّ عَلَيْهِ لِأَجْلِ جُعْلٍ يَأْخُذُهُ أَوْ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَهَلْ يُثَابُ وَلِيُّ الْأَمْرِ عَلَى مَنْعِ هَؤُلَاءِ أَمْ لَا؟ وَهَلْ إذَا لَمْ يَنْتَهُوا عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَهَلْ لِوَلِيِّ الْأَمْرِ أَنْ يَصْرِفَ عَنْ الْوِلَايَةِ مَنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهِ مِنْهُمْ أَمْ لَا؟ وَالْكَسْبُ الَّذِي يَكْسِبُهُ النَّاسُ مِنْ مِثْلِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ هَلْ هُوَ كَسْبٌ طَيِّبٌ أَوْ خَبِيثٌ؟ وَهَلْ يَسْتَحِقُّونَ مِثْلَ هَذَا الْكَسْبِ. أَمْ يُؤْخَذُ مِنْهُمْ وَيُصْرَفُ فِي