for Friday prayer or in congregation; if they pray in them at all, they do so only individually. As for shrines, they venerate them more than mosques, to the point that they may regard visiting them as preferable to performing Hajj to Allah’s Sacred House, calling such visits “the greater pilgrimage.” Ibn al-Mufīd, one of their scholars, wrote a book entitled “The Rites of Pilgrimage to Shrines,” in which he included falsehoods and statements unlike those found among any other group. Although other groups also have some degree of associating partners with Allah, falsehood, and religious innovation, these are more prevalent among them.

The more closely a person follows Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the more fully he affirms Allah’s oneness and devotes his religion sincerely to Him. As he departs from following him, his religion diminishes accordingly. If he strays far from him, forms of associating partners with Allah and religious innovation appear in him that do not appear in those who follow the Messenger more closely.

It is worship in mosques that Allah has commanded in His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger; worship in them constitutes maintaining them. The Exalted says:

“And who is more unjust than one who prevents Allah’s name from being mentioned in His mosques?”

He did not say, “Allah’s shrines.” The Exalted also says:

“Say, ‘My Lord has commanded justice. Direct your faces toward Him at every mosque, and call upon Him, devoting your religion sincerely to Him.’”

He did not say, “at every shrine.” Those devoted to shrines do not devote their religion sincerely to Allah; rather, they engage in a degree of associating partners with Him. The Exalted 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 maintain Allah’s mosques