Chapter: Reports that excessive veneration of the graves of the righteous turns them into idols worshipped besides Allah.

Malik relates in al-Muwattaʾ that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Allahumma (O Allah), do not make my grave an idol that is worshipped. Allah’s anger was most intense toward a people who turned the graves of their prophets into places of worship.” (1)

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Relevance of this chapter to the Book of Monotheism: In the preceding chapter the author—may Allah have mercy on him—warned against exaggeration regarding the righteous. Here he wishes to show that exaggeration concerning graves is a pathway to polytheism, which contradicts monotheism, by leading to the worship of the dead. He also seeks to caution specifically against such excess.

Biography of Imam Malik: He is Imam Malik ibn Anas ibn Malik ibn Abi ʿAmir al-Asbahi, the Imam of the Abode of Emigration and one of the four great jurists. He died in 179 AH, may Allah have mercy on him.

Allahumma: a vocative form built on a nominative ending; the doubled mīm is an added letter.

Wathan (idol): that which is worshipped without having a carved image—such as graves, trees, pillars, walls, stones, and the like.