What is the Islamic ruling on praying in mosques that contain the shrines of the friends of Allah Almighty? Is building shrines and visiting them to supplicate to Allah permissible or prohibited?

It is an established belief among Muslims that the soul continues to exist after death and is not subject to annihilation or dissolution, for it was created to endure. Accordingly, Islamic law recommends visiting the graves of the deceased in general. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) encouraged this practice by saying, "Visit the graves, for they remind one of death" (recorded by Muslim). He also said in another narration, "...for they remind one of the Hereafter."

The graves most deserving of being visited after that of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) are those of the members of his noble household (Ahl al-Bayt). Their graves are gardens among the gardens of Paradise, and visiting them and showing them love constitute acts of dutifulness and a means of maintaining a bond with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family); Allah Almighty says, "Say, 'I ask of you no reward for it except affection for my near relatives'"
(Quran, 42:23).

Building shrines over the graves of the members of the Prophet's household and the friends of Allah (awliya’), as well as visiting them, is permitted by the Quran, the Sunnah, and the uninterrupted practice of Muslims throughout the generations. Allah Almighty says, "Those who prevailed in the matter said, 'We shall certainly build a mosque over them'"
(Quran, 18:21). This verse establishes the permissibility of building a mosque over the graves of the righteous, seeking their blessings and the traces of their worship.[1]

It was reported in the Prophetic Sunnah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) visited his mother’s grave. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) visited his mother's grave, he began to weep, causing those around him to weep too. He informed them that Allah had permitted him to visit her grave, then said, "Visit the graves, for they remind one of death" (recorded by Imam Ahmad, Muslim in his Sahih, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and others).

Further evidence lies in the practical consensus (ijma' 'amali) of the Muslim Ummah and the approval of its scholars, as Muslims, from the earliest generations to the present day, have performed prayers in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and mosques containing shrines, without any objection.

 

The ruling

Islamic law permits the construction of shrines and recommends visiting them and supplicating to Allah Almighty at these sites. Prayers performed prayers in mosques containing the shrines of the righteous and the friends of Allah are valid, as people turn to Allah alone in supplication and worship, without associating any partners with Him.

 And Allah Almighty knows best.