Sahih Muslim The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer

May the curse of Allah be upon the Jews and Christians; they took the graves of their prophets as mosques

Chapter: The prohibition of building masajid over graves and placing images therein; and the prohibition of taking graves as masajid

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 529

Narrator:Ā’ishah

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَقُمْ مِنْهُ ‏"‏

لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ ‏"

‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said during his illness from which he did not recover:

"May the curse of Allah be upon the Jews and Christians; they took the graves of their prophets as mosques." She said: If it were not for that, his grave would be made prominent; yet, it was feared that it might be taken as a mosque.

Reported by Muslim (No. 529), Al-Bukhari (No. 1330, 1390, 4441, 4443), An-Nasa’i (No. 2046), Ahmad (No. 22931, 23372, 23748, 23976, 24953, 24982, 25146, 25149) and Ad-Darimi (No. 1367).

Explanation

‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) informed that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said during his illness that became severe and led to his death: May Allah curse the Jews and Christians and expel them from His mercy, for they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship by building over graves, praying at them, or facing them in worship. Then she (may Allah be pleased with her) said: If it were not for that prohibition and warning from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and the Companions' fear that his grave might be treated the way the Jews and Christians treated the graves of their prophets, his grave would have been made apparent and prominent.

Lessons

This is one of his final advices, which indicates its significance and the need to give it careful attention.
The emphatic prohibition and strict forbiddance of taking graves as places of worship or intentionally praying at them, except for the funeral prayer, as this leads to venerating the deceased, circumambulating his grave, touching its corners, or calling upon his name—all of which are acts and means of Shirk (polytheism).
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was so attentive and careful about Tawhīd (monotheism) and fearful about venerating the graves, for this leads to Shirk.
Allah Almighty protected His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) from having acts of Shirk committed at his grave. He inspired his Companions and those who came after them to safeguard his grave by keeping it from being made prominent.
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) adhered to the Prophet's advice and were diligent in preserving Tawhīd.
The prohibition of imitating the Jews and Christians, and that building over graves is one of their practices.
Offering prayer at the graves or towards them falls under taking the graves as places of worship, even if no mosque is built there.

Explanation in Arabic

تخبر عائشة أم المؤمنين رضي الله عنها، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال في مرضه الذي اشتد عليه ومات فيه: لَعَنَ اللهُ اليهود والنصارى، وطَرَدَهم من رحمته؛ وذلك لأنهم اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجد، وذلك بالبناء عليها أو الصلاة عندها أو إليها.

ثم قالت رضي الله عنها: ولولا ذلك النهي والتحذير من النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وخوف الصحابة من أن يُفعل بقبر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كما فُعل اليهود والنصارى بقبور أنبيائهم لأُظهر قبره وأبرز.

هذا من وصاياه الأخيرة مما يدل على أهميتها والعناية بها.
النهي الأكيد، والتحريم الشديد من اتخاذ القبور مساجد، وقصد الصلاة عندها غير صلاة الجنازة؛ فذلك ذريعة إلى تعظيم الميت والطواف بقبره والتمسح بأركانه والنداء باسمه، وكل ذلك من الشرك ووسائله.
شدة اهتمام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم واعتنائه بالتوحيد وخوفِه مِن تعظيم القبور؛ لأن ذلك يفضي إلى الشرك.
الله تعالى صانَ نبيَّه عليه الصلاة والسلام عن أن يُعْمَلَ الشرك عند قبره، فأَلْهَم أصحابَه ومَن بعدهم، أن يصونوا قبره من أن يبرز.
عمل الصحابة رضي الله عنهم بوصية النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وحرصهم على التوحيد.
النهي عن التشبه باليهود والنصارى، وأن البناء على القبور من سننهم.
من اتخاذ القبور مساجد الصلاة عندها وإليها، ولو لم يُبْنَ مسجدٌ.

Classical commentary

An-Nawawi — Sharh Sahih Muslim

قَوْلهَا : ( غَيْر أَنَّهُ خُشِيَ أَنْ يُتَّخَذ مَسْجِدًا ) ضَبَطْنَاهُ ( خُشِيَ ) بِضَمِّ الْخَاء وَفَتْحهَا وَهُمَا صَحِيحَانِ.…

Scholars’ grades

Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih Muslim).

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1330

Aisha said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) in his fatal illness said, 'Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians because they took the graves of their Prophets as places for praying."' Aisha added, "Had it not been for that, the grave of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) would have been made prominent but I am afraid it…

لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى، اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسْجِدًا ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1390

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in his fatal illness said, "Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians, for they built the places of worship at the graves of their prophets." And if that had not been the case, then the Prophet's grave would have been made prominent before the people. So (the Prophet (ﷺ) ) was…

لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى، اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ ‏"‏‏.‏ لَوْلاَ ذَلِكَ أُبْرِزَ قَبْرُهُ، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ خَشِيَ أَوْ خُشِيَ أَنَّ يُتَّخَذَ مَسْجِدًا‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 4441

`Aisha said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said during his fatal illness, "Allah cursed the Jews for they took the graves of their prophets as places for worship." `Aisha added, "Had it not been for that (statement of the Prophet ) his grave would have been made conspicuous. But he was afraid that it might be…

لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ، اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 4443

`Aisha and `Abdullah bin `Abbas said, "When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) became ill seriously, he started covering his face with his woolen sheet, and when he felt short of breath, he removed it from his face and said, 'That is so! Allah's curse be on the Jews and the Christians, as they took the graves…

لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى، اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ ‏"‏‏.‏ يُحَذِّرُ مَا صَنَعُوا‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2046

"May Allah curse people who take the graves of their prophets as Masjids."

"‏ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ قَوْمًا اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 22931