are overtaken by the Hour while still alive, and those who take graves as places of prayer.” There are many hadiths and reports on this subject.

For this reason, the Companions did not travel to the grave of Abraham, Allah’s intimate friend, or to the graves of other righteous people. Nor did they travel to visit Mount Sinai, the blessed spot and sacred valley mentioned by Allah in His Book, where He spoke directly to Moses. Indeed, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not visit Mount Hirā’, nor did his Companions, either during his lifetime or after his death, although it was there that revelation descended upon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. During Hajj, they visited no places in Mecca other than the sacred sites, such as the Sacred Mosque, Minā, Muzdalifah and ‘Arafah.

Likewise, none of the Prophet’s Companions would specifically seek to supplicate at the grave of any prophet: neither the grave of our Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, nor the grave of Abraham, nor any other prophet’s grave. For this reason, leading scholars such as Mālik and others stated that this is a religious innovation. Rather, when they came to the Prophet’s grave, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, they would greet him with peace and send blessings upon him. As Mālik mentioned in al-Muwatta’, when Ibn ‘Umar came to the Prophet’s grave, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, he would send blessings upon him and upon Abū Bakr and ‘Umar.

Another report relates that he would say:

“Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you, O Abū Bakr. Peace be upon you, my father.”

Then he would leave.

Anyone who acquires tainted wealth, such as this man who commands people to practise religious innovations