before you used to take graves as places of prayer. Beware: do not take graves as places of prayer, for I forbid you to do so.”

In Sahīh Muslim and elsewhere, it is also related that he said:

“Do not sit on graves or pray facing them.”

In the Sahīhs of al-Bukhārī and Muslim, through Abū Saʿīd and Abū Hurayrah—with numerous chains of transmission through others as well—it is related that he said:

“No journey should be undertaken except to three mosques: this mosque of mine, the Sacred Mosque, and al-Aqsā Mosque.”

Mālik was asked about a man who had vowed to visit the grave of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Mālik said: “If he intended the grave, he should not go to it; but if he intended the mosque, he should go to it.” He then cited the hadith:

“No journey should be undertaken except to three mosques.”

Al-Qādī Ismāʿīl recorded this in his Mabsūt.

If someone were to swear an oath by the right of created beings, his oath would not be binding. There is no distinction in this regard between prophets, angels, and others. Allah, blessed and exalted, has a right in which no one shares—neither the prophets nor anyone else. The prophets have their rights, the believers have theirs, and they have rights over one another.

His right, blessed and exalted, is that they worship Him without associating anything with Him, as stated earlier in the hadith of Muʿādh. Worshipping Him includes devoting their religion sincerely to Him, relying upon Him, turning to Him in hope, and setting up no rival to Allah in their love, fear, supplication, or seeking help. Thus, in the Sahīhs of al-Bukhārī and Muslim, it is related that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever dies while calling upon a rival besides Allah will enter the Fire.”

He was asked, “Which sin is the gravest?” He replied, “To set up a rival to Allah when He is the One who created you.”

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