and when they engage in scholarly discussion, for they intend to offer one another sincere counsel; and during devotional listening, for they listen for Allah’s sake.” Or words to that effect.

The overarching principle here is that whoever performs a deed beloved to Allah and His Messenger—one done for Allah’s sake and with His permission—Allah loves him and looks upon him with love as he performs it. A righteous deed is both sincere and correct: sincere means done for Allah’s sake, and correct means in accordance with Allah’s command. Undoubtedly, sharing meals, conversing, and listening each include things Allah loves, things He does not love, and things combining good and evil, truth and falsehood, benefit and harm. Each is judged accordingly.

Section

Some people deliberately choose to pray and supplicate at what is said to be the grave of a prophet, one of the Companions, or a member of the Prophet’s family, or at similar sites. Others press their bodies, or some part of their bodies, against a grave or against an adjacent piece of wood or other object. This includes someone who deliberately chooses to pray and supplicate on the southeastern side of the Great Mosque of Damascus, at the place said to be the grave of Hūd—although the scholars hold that it is the grave of Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān—or beside the wooden representation beneath which the head of John son of Zechariah is said to lie, and similar practices. Such a person is mistaken, introducing an innovation and acting contrary to the Sunnah; for