Leveling Raised Graves

Bismillah ar rahman ar raheem

– The Sheikh (muhammad ibn abdul wahab ) went on teaching and preaching. Gradually, he exerted himself on action and practically removing polytheism when he noticed that his call to Islam had no effect on some. Thus he undertook the task of practically removing what was abailable and possible to be removed from the traces of polytheism. It was against the background that he said to Prince Uthman that the dome of the grave of Zaid radiallahu anhu should be demolished.

Zaid bin al khattab radiallahu anhu was the brother of umar bin khattab radiallahu anhu. He was one of the martyrs who died in their fighting against musalimah al khaddhab in 12A.H. He was buried there and later on a dome was built over the grave said to be his grave.

Prince Uthman readily accepted the sheikh’s demand, as said before, and the dome was deomlished. And thank Allah none of its traces remain now.

There were other graves such as the one said to be of Derar Bin Awzar radiallahu anhu. It had once a dome which was then demolished.-
Imam Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhab His Life and Mission by Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin abdullah ibn baz

Ofcourse those opposed to the mission of the noble Sheikh Muhammad ibn abdul wahab are angered by his actions of demolishing the raised graves. The question is was he right or was he wrong?

Perhaps they think that Ali ibn abu Talib radiallahu anhu was a ‘wahabi’

Ali ibn abi Talib radiallahu anhu said to abul hayyaj al asadi radiallahu anhu
“Shall I charge you with a duty which the Prophet salalahu alayhi wa salam charged me with? Destroy every idol or statue, and level down every raised grave.” (Sahih Muslim)

Nay perhaps they consider the Prophet Muhammad ibn abdullah salalahu alayhi wa salam to be a ‘wahabi’ (naudhubillah)

The Prophet salalahu alayhi wa salam forbade plastering graves, sitting on them, or erecting structures on them or to include it in a structure” (Sahih muslim)

From that which has reached us from the Sunnah is that the Prophet Muhammad salalahu alayhi wa salam forbade erecting structures on graves (as you will see contrary to the sunnah some amongst sufiya making domes over the graves of their so called awliya). Not only this but it seems the shia rafidah who believe that they are truely followers of Ali ibn abu talib radiallahu anhu actually are opposed to what he was upon. Especially the issue of having structures over graves and domes. As we all know that the shia have many dome structures over the graves of their imaams in which they will go to in order to ask for their needs and supplicate to the dead inhabitants.

Also Aisha radiallahu anha reported

“When the Messenger of Allah salalahu alayhi wa salam felt sick he covered his face with a piece of cloth, and whenever he suffered pain, he uncovered his face and said: “The curse of Allah is upon the jews and christians who have taken the graves of their prophets for places of worship.” He said that warning against what they did. Had it not been for that, he would have ordered his grave to be raised, but he feared that it would be taken for a masjid.” (Bukhari, muslim and others)

SubhanAllah! Imagine of the Prophet Muhammad salalahu alayhi wa salam saw what the people are doing with the graves of so called saints. Certaintly , based on the information from the Sunnah we would think he would be against it. Yet, some people claim to be upon the sunnah yet they act contrary and argue for that which is contrary.

Imaam ibnul qayyim may Allah be merciful to him said:

“He who compares the practice of the Messenger salalahu alayhi wa salam and his commands and prohibitions with regards to graves, and the practice of his companions with the rituals that people practice today, he can see the two sides of comparison are too contradictory and opposed to one another that they can never be reconciled. The messenger of Allah salalahu alayhi wa salam forbade performing salat while facing graves, but people today do so. And he forbade including graves in the mosques, and people today construct mosques around them and call them places of ritual visitation in opposition to the houses of Allah. And he forbade lighting candles on graves, and people today do so, and assign properties as endowment for this particular purpose. And he forbade making tombs as places for ritual celebrations, and people do so just as they celebrate the Eid or even more. He ordered leveling graves according t othe following hadith in which Ali said to Abul Hayyaj al asadi

‘Shall i charge you with a duty which the Prophet salalahu alayhi wa salam charged me with? Destroy every idol or statue, and level down every raised grave.” (Sahih muslim)

May Allah Subhannahu wa Ta’ala protect us from following that which is contrary to His Noble Speech and the guidance of His Noble Messenger salalahu alayhi wa salam