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Among these is his assumption that visiting the grave of the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is of the same kind as the customary visitation of other people’s graves. He therefore cites visits to al-Baqīʿ, to the martyrs of Uhud, and to his mother’s grave as evidence for it. Another is that he portrays anyone who prohibits travelling to visit his grave or other graves as openly declaring hostility to the prophets and displaying defiance towards them.

Yet it is well known that this is the position of most earlier scholars, including Mālik and most of his followers, Abū Muhammad al-Juwaynī and other followers of al-Shāfiʿī, and most of Ahmad’s earlier followers. His position thus entails that his own imam, Mālik, and other leading religious scholars openly declare hostility to the prophets and defy them.

Even if he had said this about matters in which they were mistaken, he would deserve severe punishment. How much more so when he says it about matters in which they followed the Messenger and his authentic Sunnah, prohibiting what he prohibited! He has thus portrayed someone who obeys Allah and His Messenger, and whose conduct Allah, His Messenger, and His prophets approve, as openly declaring hostility to them and defying them. Concerning the unbelief of someone whom Allah and His Messenger have judged to be a believer.

Someone like this should have the correct position explained to him, and be shown that this position is what was brought by