mosques should be devoted exclusively to Allah Most High, built solely for His worship, with no created being given a share in that worship. If building a mosque on account of a deceased person is forbidden, the same applies when it is built on account of some other relic, for associating partners with Allah occurs in both cases. This is why Christians used to build churches over the graves of prophets and righteous men, at sites associated with them, and in their names.

This is what Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, feared the Muslims would fall into, and what the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, intended to prevent his community from doing. As Allah Most High says:

“The places of worship belong to Allah, so do not invoke anyone alongside Allah.”

And He Most High says:

“Say: My Lord has commanded justice. Devote yourselves to Him at every place of worship, and call upon Him with sincere devotion to Him alone.”

And He Most High says:

“It is not for those who associate partners with Allah to maintain Allah’s mosques while bearing witness against themselves to their disbelief. Their deeds have come to nothing, and they will remain in the Fire forever.”

“Only those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, give zakah, and fear none but Allah maintain Allah’s mosques. It is they who may hope to be among the rightly guided.”

Had this been recommended, it would have been recommended for the Companions and their successors to pray in all the chambers of his wives and in every place where he stayed during his military expeditions or journeys. It would also have been recommended for them to build mosques there. Yet the early generations did none of this. Allah Most High has not prescribed for Muslims any place to seek out specifically for prayer except mosques, nor any place to seek out specifically for worship except the designated ritual sites. Thus, the pilgrimage sites, such as Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Minā,