Refuting the suspicion of citing the Prophet’s grave as evidence and differentiating between the approach of the ancients and the moderns

Abstract

This research addresses two misconceptions in Islamic jurisprudence and theology: the use of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) grave within the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah as evidence for permitting the construction of mosques over graves, and the alleged distinction between the methodologies of early and later scholars in evaluating hadith. The first part of the research refutes the argument that the Prophet's grave being located in the mosque justifies the practice of building shrines over the graves of righteous people. It demonstrates that the Prophet's burial was not intended to promote veneration of graves but was carried out with the aim of preventing future idolatry. The second part examines the claim that later scholars merely apply fixed rules in hadith authentication, whereas earlier scholars relied on contextual evidence. The research asserts that the use of contextual cues (al-qarā'in) is integral to the hadith evaluation process, particularly when a narration deviates from established criteria.

Through the examination of authentic narrations from hadith collections such as Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and the analysis of Islamic jurisprudential texts, the study concludes that both the prohibition of constructing mosques over graves and the continued adherence to scholarly methodologies for hadith authentication are consistent with the practices and teachings of early Islamic scholars. The research aims to clarify these issues, emphasizing the importance of preserving the purity of the Islamic tradition and the integrity of prophetic teachings.