Mālik and other leading scholars of Medina disapproved of saying, “I visited the Prophet’s grave, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.” Rather, the Sunnah is simply to greet him with peace when coming to his grave, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, as the Companions and their successors used to do when they came to his grave, as explained elsewhere.

Another such practice is circumambulating something other than the Kaaba. Muslims agree that circumambulation is prescribed only around the much-frequented House. It is therefore impermissible to circumambulate the Rock in Jerusalem, the chamber of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the dome on Mount ‘Arafāt, or anything else. Likewise, Muslims agree that ritual touching and kissing are prescribed only for the two Yemeni corners: the Black Stone is touched and kissed, while the Yemeni Corner is touched.

It has also been said that the Yemeni Corner should be kissed, but this is a weak opinion. As for anything else, neither ritual touching nor kissing is prescribed, including the sides of the House, its two Syrian corners, the Station of Abraham, the Rock, the Prophet’s chamber, and all other graves of prophets and righteous people.

In the two Sahīh collections, Abū Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“May Allah destroy the Jews and Christians: they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.”

In a version recorded by Muslim:

“May Allah curse the Jews and Christians: they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.”