For this reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prohibited taking his grave as a place of prayer or a place of recurring gatherings. During his final illness, he said:

“Allah’s curse be upon the Jews and Christians: they took the graves of their prophets as places of prayer.”

He was warning against what they had done. Al-Bukhārī and Muslim both recorded this in their Sahīhs.

He also said:

“O Allah, do not make my grave an idol that is worshipped. Allah’s wrath was severe against people who took the graves of their prophets as places of prayer.”

Mālik related this in his Muwatta’. He also said:

“Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising Jesus, son of Mary. I am only a servant, so say: ‘Allah’s servant and Messenger.’”

Related by both al-Bukhārī and Muslim.

He also said:

“Do not say, ‘What Allah wills and Muhammad wills.’ Rather, say, ‘What Allah wills, then Muhammad wills.’”

A Bedouin said to him, “What Allah wills and you will.” He replied, “Have you made me a rival to Allah? Rather, what Allah alone wills.”

Allah Most High said to him:

“Say, ‘I have no power to benefit or harm myself except as Allah wills. Had I known the unseen, I would have acquired much good, and no harm would have touched me.’”

Allah Most High also said:

“Say, ‘I have no power to benefit or harm myself.’”

And He said:

“You do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills.”

And He said:

“You have no say in the matter.”

This is the true realization of monotheism, even though he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the most honoured of all creation before Allah and holds the highest rank with Him.

Al-Tabarānī related in his al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr that a hypocrite was harming the believers. Abū Bakr said, “Come, let us seek the help of Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, against this hypocrite.” The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him, “Help is not to be sought from me; help is to be sought only from Allah.”

Near the end of Sahīh Muslim, it is related that he said five days before his death: “Indeed, those who lived