on them. Neither the compilers of the authentic hadith collections nor those of the reliable Sunan collections, such as Abū Dāwūd and al-Nasā’ī, narrated them, for they are weak—indeed, fabricated—as scholars have explained in their discussions of them. Those who visited him during his lifetime, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, were among those who emigrated to him. Were someone who came after them to spend gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not equal a mudd given by any one of them, or even half of it. Even by fulfilling the obligatory duties, such a person does not equal the Companions. How, then, could he equal them through voluntary acts, through something that is not an act of devotion, or through something that is prohibited?

Mālik, may Allah be pleased with him, disliked someone saying, “I visited the Prophet’s grave, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.” He disliked this wording because the Sunnah did not use it concerning his grave. Scholars have offered various explanations for this. Others permitted this wording on the basis of the general hadiths concerning visiting graves. Like all other scholars, Mālik recommended travelling to Medina and praying in the Prophet’s mosque, as well as greeting him and his two Companions at their graves, following the example of Ibn ‘Umar. Mālik was among the most knowledgeable people concerning this, for he had seen the Successors who had seen the Companions in Medina. He therefore recommended following the early generations in this matter and disliked anyone introducing an innovation there.

He thus disliked a man standing and supplicating for a long time at the Prophet’s grave, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, because the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, did not do that.

Mālik also disliked the people of Medina going to the Prophet’s grave, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, every time they entered the mosque, because the early generations did not do that.

Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

“Never will