Visiting the Grave of The Prophet (PEACE BE UPON HIM AND HIS PROGENY)

The intensity (the force) of the Wahabis can be estimated by the following belief. 

According to Ibne Tamia traveling to any other place other than the three Mosques, Masjid-e-Nabavi (The Prophet's Mosque in Madina), Masjid-e-Haram (Mosque around the House of God Mecca) and Masjidul Aqsa (The Mosque in Jerusalem, the first Islamic Qibla) is not justifiable. It means going to visit any other mosque is not been allowed, that is to say that only three mosques are to be visited by the Wahabis and the rest were prohibited for them, no other place people could go to visit. Whereas, the Holy Quran says, ‘Oh man you are free to move about on the land of Allah’.  Therefore, not only this belief of Wahabis is empty logic and empty intelligence but the whole school of thought.  

On the other hand, the Holy Quran has, on number of occasions. It invited the humankind to think, considering things.  Only when people started visiting some Holy place, it was Abdul Wahab who rose against the people and started demolishing (destroying) the Holy places and in this way he thwarted (outwitted,  blocked) people from going to visit the Holy places. Thus, he terrorised people and it was marked as the beginning of a religious terrorism.

Ibne Tamia, originator of this belief, has been severely criticized by the Ulemas of Islam, who had flayed (skinned) him, proved him wrong.  As from Taqiuddin Subki Shafi[1] who died in 756 Hijri and clearly many other Ulemas and scholars who will nowhere be considered as narrow-minded persons that they may forbid the people from visiting the Holy places.  

All the students of history and researchers who are particularly interested are bound to pay visits to different places in order to seek knowledge and explore new horizons (limits, boundaries) hidden from them.  

The Wahabis not only forbid the womenfolk to go to the cemeteries to visit the graves, but they are of the views that only three Mosques are the place of visitation and journey. Moreover, they stop them from going to any other place.  

Before Ibne Tamia, there is no written record in history that any Alim or any scholar has issued any such verdict.  Amazingly, Ibne Tamia forbade the people to visit the tomb or Mausoleum of the Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (peace be upon him and his progeny).  Prior to Ibne Tamia the other scholars have emphatically urged the people to go to visit the Prophet’ tomb (peace be upon him and his progeny); and there has been no restrictions laid upon them in this regard.  

As Imam Ghazali, who was a great scholar, died in 505 Hijri? He said regarding the visit of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) tomb or Mausoleum that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said that if anyone having sound finance, sound position and sound health, fails to visit my tomb or Mausoleum then he is disloyal to me (he has done injustice to me, he has grieved me). Gazali has stated this in his book ‘Hayatul Uloom’ along with many other Traditions of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny).  

Further, Qazi Ayyaz Maliki, who died in 544 Hijri, he has written that going to the Mausoleum of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), is Sunnat (tradition).  In short, all the religious scholars have consensus of opinion about it.  Ibnil Haj Mohammad Abdali Kerwani Maliki[2], who died in 738; Considered and gave due weight to visiting the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his progeny) Mausoleum.  Ibne Hajjar Hatamee Makki Shafahee[3], who died in 973 Hijri?  He has cited many logical arguments that the Holy places must be visited and there is no prohibition about it.  It is only Ibne Tamia who is an anti; he does not approve it; he gives his disapprobation; he does not agree to this point.