Sunnis Worship At The Prohpet's Tomb
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Last updated
TLDR: Sunnis prostrate and perform Salat at the prophet's tomb and supplicate to him
According to a Hadith attributed to Abu Hurairah, the prophet prohibited turning one’s house into graves.
Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Do not turn your houses into graves. Indeed Shaitan does not enter the house in which Surat Al-Baqarah is recited.”
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ لاَ تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ مَقَابِرَ وَإِنَّ الْبَيْتَ الَّذِي تُقْرَأُ فِيهِ الْبَقَرَةُ لاَ يَدْخُلُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2877 https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2877
Yet, according to another Hadith, the prophet died in ‘Aisha’s home in his bed, and they decided to bury him in his home.
Aishah narrated: “When the Messenger of Allah died, they disagreed over where to bury him. So Abu Bakr said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah saying something which I have not forgotten, he said: “Allah does not take (the life of ) a Prophet except at the location in which He wants him to be buried.’” So they buried him at the spot of his bed.”
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اخْتَلَفُوا فِي دَفْنِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ سَمِعْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَيْئًا مَا نَسِيتُهُ قَالَ “ مَا قَبَضَ اللَّهُ نَبِيًّا إِلاَّ فِي الْمَوْضِعِ الَّذِي يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُدْفَنَ فِيهِ ” . ادْفِنُوهُ فِي مَوْضِعِ فِرَاشِهِ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْمُلَيْكِيُّ يُضَعَّفُ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِفْظِهِ . وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَيْرِ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ فَرَوَاهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَيْضًا .
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1018 https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1018
Also, the Hadith claims that the prophet, just before he died, cursed the Jews and Christians for turning the tombs of their prophets into places of worship.
Narrated by Aisha and Abdullah bin `Abbas: When the last moment of the life of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came, he started putting his ‘Khamisa’ on his face, and when he felt hot and short of breath, he took it off his face and said, “May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for they built the places of worship at the graves of their Prophets.” The Prophet (ﷺ) was warning (Muslims) of what those had done.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، وَعَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالاَ لَمَّا نَزَلَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم طَفِقَ يَطْرَحُ خَمِيصَةً لَهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ، فَإِذَا اغْتَمَّ بِهَا كَشَفَهَا عَنْ وَجْهِهِ، فَقَالَ وَهْوَ كَذَلِكَ “ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ ”. يُحَذِّرُ مَا صَنَعُوا.
Sahih al-Bukhari 435, 436 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:435 See also: https://sunnah.com/muslim:529
During the reign of Ummayad caliph al-Walid (r. 705-715), the prophet’s mosque was expanded to include his tomb and that of Abu Bakr and Umar. Officially turning the prophet’s tomb and that of his closest companions into a place of worship.
Additionally, the Hadith states that the Prophet commanded that all graves be leveled.
Abu’l-Hayyaj al-Asadi told that ‘Ali (b. Abu Talib) said to him: Should I not send you on the same mission as Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) sent me? Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high grave without leveling It. This hadith has been reported by Habib with the same chain of transmitters and he said: (Do not leave) a picture without obliterating it.
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي، الْهَيَّاجِ الأَسَدِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ لِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَلاَّ أَبْعَثُكَ عَلَى مَا بَعَثَنِي عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ لاَ تَدَعَ تِمْثَالاً إِلاَّ طَمَسْتَهُ وَلاَ قَبْرًا مُشْرِفًا إِلاَّ سَوَّيْتَهُ . وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ خَلاَّدٍ الْبَاهِلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، – وَهُوَ الْقَطَّانُ – حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنِي حَبِيبٌ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَقَالَ وَلاَ صُورَةً إِلاَّ طَمَسْتَهَا .
Sahih Muslim 969a, 969b https://sunnah.com/muslim:969a
In 1279 CE (678 AH), during the reign of Mamluk Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun, a dome was built on top of the prophet’s tomb, which also included the tombs of Abu Bakr and Umar. Eventually, this dome has been come to be known as the Green Dome (al-Qubbah al-Khaḍrāʾ / ٱَلْقُبَّة ٱلْخَضْرَاء ).
Hadith: Prophet tells companion not to prostrate at his grave
In the following Hadith, a companion of the prophet was complaining that in certain Persian cities, the people were prostrating to their governor, while he thought they should prostrate to the prophet.
Narrated Qays ibn Sa'd: I went to al-Hirah and saw them (the people) prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, so I said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has most right to have prostration made before him. When I came to the Prophet (ﷺ), I said: I went to al-Hirah and saw them prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, but you have most right, Messenger of Allah, to have (people) prostrating themselves before you. He said: Tell me , if you were to pass my grave, would you prostrate yourself before it? I said: No. He then said: Do not do so. If I were to command anyone to make prostration before another I would command women to prostrate themselves before their husbands, because of the special right over them given to husbands by Allah.
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، عَنْ شَرِيكٍ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ الْحِيرَةَ فَرَأَيْتُهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ لِمَرْزُبَانٍ لَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُسْجَدَ لَهُ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أَتَيْتُ الْحِيرَةَ فَرَأَيْتُهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ لِمَرْزُبَانٍ لَهُمْ فَأَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ أَنْ نَسْجُدَ لَكَ . قَالَ " أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ مَرَرْتَ بِقَبْرِي أَكُنْتَ تَسْجُدُ لَهُ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ . قَالَ " فَلاَ تَفْعَلُوا لَوْ كُنْتُ آمِرًا أَحَدًا أَنْ يَسْجُدَ لأَحَدٍ لأَمَرْتُ النِّسَاءَ أَنْ يَسْجُدْنَ لأَزْوَاجِهِنَّ لِمَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنَ الْحَقِّ " .
Sunan Abi Dawud 2140 https://sunnah.com/abudawud:2140
The Quran informs us that the places of worship belong to God alone and not to mention any other names with God.
[72:18] The places of worship belong to GOD; do not call on anyone else beside GOD.
وَأَنَّ ٱلْمَسَـٰجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدًا
[39:45] When GOD ALONE is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion. But when others are mentioned beside Him, they become satisfied.
وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ ٱشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
Not only do Sunnis call upon the prophet during their Salat when they state their Tashahhud as if the prophet can hear their calls, but they also plastered all the names that they attribute to the prophet on the wall of his masjid.
“Salutations to God and prayers and good deeds. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, as well as God’s mercy and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of God. I bear witness that there is no deity but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger.”
ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّٰهِ وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَاتُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.
at-taḥiyyātu li-llāhi, wa-ṣ-ṣalawātu wa-ṭ-ṭayyibātu. as-salāmu ʿalayka ʾayyuhā n-nabiyyu wa raḥmatu -llāhi wa barakātuhu. as-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādi -llāhi ṣ-ṣāliḥīna. ʾashhadu ʾan lā ʾilāha ʾillā -llāhu wa ʾashhadu ʾanna muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluhū.
The use of “Peace be upon you, O Prophet” ( ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ ) is a direct call upon the prophet of God, who is not only another entity beside God but also dead and incapable of hearing their supplications.
It is absolutely absurd to think that the prophet came to preach the message of strict monotheism and to destroy the idols that the Quraish have set up to rival God, only to have his name and his body venerated as a god beside God.
[3:79] Never would a human being whom GOD blessed with the scripture and prophethood say to the people, “Idolize me beside GOD.” Instead, (he would say), “Devote yourselves absolutely to your Lord alone,” according to the scripture you preach and the teachings you learn.
مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا۟ عِبَادًا لِّى مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِن كُونُوا۟ رَبَّـٰنِيِّـۧنَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ
