The imams also agreed that one should neither rub against the grave of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, nor kiss it. All of this serves to safeguard monotheism.

One of the roots of associating partners with Allah is taking graves as places of worship. Thus, a number of the early generations commented on Allah’s words:

“They said, ‘Never abandon your gods, and never abandon Wadd, Suwā‘, Yaghūth, Ya‘ūq, or Nasr.’”

They said:

“These were righteous men among Noah’s people. When they died, people gathered devotedly at their graves, then fashioned statues in their likeness. After a long time had passed, they worshipped them.”

Al-Bukhārī reported the substance of this account from Ibn ‘Abbās in his Sahīh. Muhammad ibn Jarīr al-Tabarī and others also related it in their Quran commentaries from several of the early generations. Wathīmah and others related it through several chains of transmission in their accounts of the prophets. I have discussed the foundations of these matters at length elsewhere.

The first to fabricate these hadiths concerning travel to visit shrines erected over graves were adherents of religious innovation among the Rāfidah and others like them, who leave mosques unused and exalt shrines. They abandon the houses of Allah, in which He commanded that His name be remembered and that He alone be worshipped, without any partner. Instead, they exalt shrines where partners are associated with Him, truth is denied, and a religion is invented for which Allah has sent down no authority. The Quran and Sunnah mention mosques, not shrines, as Allah Most High says:

“Say: My Lord has commanded justice. And direct