There seems to be a big hue and cry about Al Shabaab in Somlia across the net about their destruction of those graves that have been built upon.  Many people have resorted to the abuse of these brothers, who are waging Jihad fisabillah in Somalia, and in doing so they are displaying their ignorance of the details and of the fiqh.

Allah reminds us in The Noble Qur’an that those who fighting Jihad fisabilah are not harmed by these remarks as Allah Himself protects them.

O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islam), Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allah , and never afraid of the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.    (Sura Maidah 54)

I have found that it is the same individuals, who consistently huff and puff at the Mujahadin, that display even worse characteristics by denying legitimate jihad wherever it is being fought.  This flowery and limp wristed attitude towards Islam is very harmful.  

Hadhrat Maulana Yusuf Ludhianvi writes in his book Ikhtilaf-e-Ummat Aur Sirat-e-Mustaqeem about the impermissability of building over graves with structures etc.

The Hadith wherein Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) had prohibited the building up of solid walls around graves has been mentioned previously. Our Aimmah of the Ahle Sunnat have ruled this act as being Haraam based on the above-mentioned narration. 

Imaam Muhammed (rahmatullahi alaih) – one of the senior students of Imaam Abu Hanifah (radhiAllaahu anhu) – states:

“We do not deem as correct (and permissible) to cover the grave with more sand than what was taken out therefrom. We regard as Makrooh (e-Tahrimi) the building up of (walls around) graves and plastering them (with mud or concrete). Indeed Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) had forbidden the building up of and solidifying graves. This is our Mahdhab and this is Imaam Abu Hanifah’s view also.” [Kitaabul Aathaar]

Since our Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) had instructed Hadhrat Ali (radhiAllaahu anhu) to flatten all those graves which were high, Imaam Shaafi (rahmatullahi alaih) states that based upon this narration, he noted that in Makkah Mukarramah, the Aimmah had given the instructions that all built up graves be broken down. [Sharah Muslim Nawawi, page 312, vol.1]

From this we can safely gauge that those Auliyaah whose graves have been built up and solidified, they are completely free and not responsible for such accretions and innovations. They had never desired, liked or encouraged such actions. The responsibility of these innovations must be borne by the worldly leaders and rulers, who had acted in contradiction of the blessed words of our Nabi (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) and innovated these detestable actions. Nowadays people have begun to accept these tomb s and built up graves as being a standard and a measure of piety and Wilaayat. You may also have experienced for yourselves where some tradesman used a dream or „Ilhaam? (Divine Inspiration) as a proof for building up some fake grave, wherafter the ignorant ones would go and worship at that grave. 

Inna Lillaahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Ra`jeoon. Nevertheless, almost every reputable Hanafi Kitaab, for example, Aalimgiri, Qaadhi Khaan, Durrul Mukhtaar, Kabeeri, etc. have stated this act as being totally impermissible. Allaamah Ibn Aabideen Shaami (rahmatullahi alaih) states:

“As far as building up of graves, I have never seen consent being granted for it anywhere.” [Page 237, vol.2]

Hadhrat Thanaaullaah Paani Pati Hanafi (rahmatullahi alaih) states: “And those graves (tombs) of the Auliyaah that are built up high, and lamps are lit there and all other such actions which take place there, are ALL HARAAM.” [Mala Budda Minhu, page 84]

These Somali brothers are upholding the shari’a and are fighting to establish it further.  Mistakes will be made along the way, this isn’t one of them,  May Allah excuse any error in their effort and may He bless them with victory. Amin

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