Umm Salamah (RA) mentioned to Allaah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that in Abyssinia she saw a church full of pictures and statutes. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
"When a righteous man or pious worshipper among them dies, they build a place of worship over his grave and set up all kinds of pictures and statutes. They are the worst of all creatures before Allaah. They combine the two evils; worshipping the graves and making graven images and statutes" (Bukhari).
Aisha (RA) also reported that, "When death approached Allaah's Messenger (peace and blessings be, upon him), he began to draw a piece ,of cloth (beef sheet) over his face (some times covering and Sometimes removinq because of " distress). He said in this state:
Allaah's curse be upon the Jews and the Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets as places of worship. Had there not been fear of making the Prophets grave a place of worship, his grave would have been as open as the grave of his Companions. (Bukhari)
Jundub bin Abdullaah (RA) said, "I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say only five days before his death:
"I am free and clear towards Allaah of having any of you as my Khalil (specially close friend). Verily, Allaah has taken me as His Khalil just as He had taken Ibrahim (peace be upon him) as a Khalil. If I would have taken anyone from my Ummah as a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr (RA) as a Khalil. Beware those who preceded you used to make their Prophets graves into places of Worship. Beware! Don't take (any) graves as places of worship. I forbid you to do so." (Muslim)
He forbade this at the end of his life. After this forbidding of taking graves as Masjid (place of worship), he cursed anyone who did any such deed within this context. Prayer at the graves is one of these deed, even if no Masjid has been built.
This is the meaning of his words: "He feared (his grave) would be taken as a Masjid. "The Companions never built any place of worship around his grave Any place which is intended for prayer, or where prayer is performed has indeed been taken as Masjid. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"The-most evil men are those upon whom the (signs of) Hour (of Resurrection) comes while they are still living those who take graves as pIace of worship (Masjid)" (Ahmad)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited