4.5. THE PROPHET’S GRAVE
The presence of the Prophet’s grave in his masjid in Madinah can neither be used to justify the placing of bodies in other masjids nor the building of masjids over graves. The Prophet did not order that he be buried in his masjid, nor did his companions put his grave into the masjid. The companions of the Prophet wisely avoided burying the Prophet in the local graveyard for fear that later generations would become overly attached to his grave. ‘Umar, the freed slave of Ghafrah, related that when the sahaabah (companions of the Prophet gathered to decide on the Prophet’s burial, one said: “Let us bury him in the place where he used to pray.” Abu Bakr replied, “May Allah protect us from making him an idol to be worshipped.” Others said, “Let us bury him in al-Baqee’ (a graveyard in Madeenah) where his brothers among the Muhaajireen (migrants from Makkah) are buried.” Abu Bakr replied: “Verily burying the Prophet in al-Baqee‘ is detestable because some people may try to seek refuge in him which is a right belonging only to Allah. So, if we take him out (to the graveyard), we will ruin Allah’s right, even if we carefully guard the Messenger’s grave.” They then asked, “What is your opinion, O Abu Bakr?” He replied, “I heard Allah’s Messenger say: ‘Allah has not taken the life of any of his prophets except that were buried where they died.” Some of them said, “By Allaah, what you have said is pleasing and convincing.” Then they made a line around the Prophet’s bed (in ‘Aa’eshah’s house) and dug the grave where his bed was. ‘Alee, al-‘Abbaas, al-Fadl, and the Prophet’s family took his body and prepared it for burial.
‘Aa’eshah’s house was separated from the masjid by a wall and it had a door through which the Prophet used to enter the masjid to lead salaah. The companions sealed off this doorway in order to complete the separation of the Prophet’s grave from his masjid. Consequently, the only way that his grave could be visited at that time was from outside the masjid.
Expansions of the masjid took place in the time of the second Caliph ‘Umar and the third Caliph ‘Uthmaan. But both of them cautiously avoided the inclusion of either ‘Aa’eshah’s house or that of any of the other wives of the Prophet. Expansion in the direction of the houses of the wives of the Prophet (r) would have automatically included the Prophet’s grave in the masjid. However, after the death of all the sahaabah who were in Medinah, Caliph al-Waleed ibn ‘Abdil- Malik (reign 705-715 C.E.) was the first to extend the masjid in an easterly direction. He included ‘Aa’eshah’s house inside the masjid, but demolished the houses of the other wives of the Prophet. The expansion was reported to have been carried out by al-Waleed’s governor ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez.
When ‘Aa’eshah’s house was included inside the masjid, a high circular wall was built around it so that it would not be visible at all from inside the masjid. Two additional walls were later built at an angle from the two northern corners of the house in such a way that they met each other forming a triangle. This was down to prevent anyone from facing the grave directly.
Many years later, the familiar dome was added to the roof of the masjid and was placed directly above the Prophet’s grave. The grave was later surrounded by a brass cage with doors and windows, and the walls of the grave itself were draped in green cloth. In spite of the barriers which have been placed around the Prophet’s grave, the error still remains to be corrected. Walls should once again be placed to separate it from the masjid so that no one could pray in its direction nor visit it inside the masjid.
By Bilal Philips
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