Built-Up Graves, Qawwali and the Like

Question

What is the ruling on building solid domes over graves with lime and plaster, illuminating them, holding an ‘urs (an annual festival at a saint’s tomb on his death anniversary), singing qawwali (Sufi devotional songs with music) and the like?

Answer

All these things are impermissible and a sin (ma‘siya). [ar]لِمَا رَوَى جَابِرٌ ﵁: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ تَجْصِيصِ الْقُبُورِ وَأَنْ يَكْتُبَ عَلَيْهَا وَأَنْ يُبْنَى عَلَيْهَا. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ[/ar] “…for Jabir ﵁ narrated: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade plastering graves, writing on them and building over them. Narrated by Muslim” (“Shami”, vol. 1, p. 601).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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