The Ruling on praying in Mosques which have Graves in the Middle of Them

Question:

Is it permissible to pray in mosques which have graves of the Awliya' of Allah in the middle of them?

Answer:

Mosques which are built over graves should not be prayed in, whether the inhabitants of the graves therein are righteous people or others, because the Messenger forbade this, warned against it, and cursed the Jews and Christians for doing it. It is reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Prophet said:
"The curse of Allah is upon Jews and Christians who turned the graves of their Prophets into praying place.

It is also narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that Umm Salamah and Umm Habibah, may Allah be pleased with them both, mentioned to the Prophet a church in the land of Ethiopia in which there were pictures. He said:
Those people, whenever a pious man died among them, they built a praying place on his grave, and posted in them those

pictures. Those are the most evil creatures in the sight of Allah.

And Muslim narrates in his Sahih, on the authority of Jundub bin 'Abdullah Al-Bajali, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said:
"Verily, those who were before them used to take the graves of their righteous folk as places of prayer. So do not take the graves as places of worship, for I forbid you to do so.

These authentic Hadiths and others narrated with the same meaning all prove that it is unlawful to pray in mosques which contain graves, just as they prove it is unlawful to build mosques over graves, and that those who do so are cursed. It has been authentically reported from him, from the Hadith of Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that he forbade the plastering of graves, building over them and sitting on them.

Thus, it is incumbent upon those charged with authority over the Muslims in all Islamic countries to prohibit building over graves and taking them as mosques, as it is incumbent upon them to prohibit plastering over them and sitting on them and writing upon them, in implementation of these authentic Hadiths and to prevent any pretext for excessive behavior regarding the inhabitants (of the graves) and committing Shirk through them. We ask Allah to grant those charged with authority over the Muslims success, wherein lies righteousness for the worshippers and the nations; and that He help them in His Religion and protect His Law from that which contradicts it through them. Verily, He is the All-Hearing, Who answers (prayers).

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