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The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
The Issues of Demolishing Tombs and Visiting the Graves
One of the most horrendous acts, according to the Sufis and
the Shiites, that ibn Abdul-Wahhaab and his followers performed was
the tearing down of tombs and the prohibition of pilgrimages to graves
and mausoleums. Indeed, to them, this was virtually the final insult
that ibn Abdul-Wahhaab gave to the prophets and the “saints”. Ibn
Suhaim, early on, called the destruction of the tomb of Zaid ibn al-
Khattaab one of the heresies and misguided deeds of the “Wahhabis.” 1
Al-Mahjoob, al-Hadaad, Dahlaan and numerous others joined in this
attack on the “Wahhabis.” 2
The practice of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab was truly
completely consistent with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)—however, averse the
people may be to that fact. One can say with certainty that neither the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) nor any of his
Companions ever built a mosque, mausoleum, tomb or structure over
any grave—neither with the intent of using it as a place of worship nor
even simply for the sake of marking the location. Abdullah ibn
Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab explained the position of the
“Wahhabis” on this issue. He wrote,
Building domes over graves is one of the distinguishing signs and
portents of disbelief. Allah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him) to destroy the idols, even if they were upon
graves of righteous people. Al-Laat 3 was a pious man. When he
died, they gathered around his grave, built a building over it and
honored it. When the people of Taif embraced Islam, they
requested that the tomb of al-Laat not be destroyed for one month,
so that their women and children would not fear, until they entered
1 He is quoted in al-Abdul-Lateef, p. 302.
2 Cf., al-Abdul-Lateef, pp. 302-311. For a description of what the common and
ignorant people actually did of idolatrous and other acts at gravesites, such as
the ones in Madinah, see al-Abdul-Lateef, pp. 325-326.
3 The idol known as al-Laat is referred to in the following verses of the Quran:
“Have you seen al-Laat, and al-'Uzza, and another, the third (goddess), Manat?
What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female? Behold, such would be
indeed a division most unfair! These are nothing but names which you have
devised—you and your fathers—for which Allah has sent down no authority
(whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls
desire! Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their
Lord!” (al-Najm 19-23).