What is the ruling on building over graves and taking them as mosques, while refuting the misconception that the grave of the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, was built upon and is inside the mosque, and responding to what was stated in the booklet "Issues Around Which There Has Been Much Discussion and Debate" regarding the ruling on seeking blessings from graves by touching and kissing them, and the ruling on plastering graves and building over them, and clarifying the meaning of the Hadith: "May Allah curse the Jews and Christians; they took the graves of their prophets as mosques"?

The ultimate proof lies in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace be upon him, not in the words of anyone else.

Building over graves is prohibited due to established prohibitions against it. It is not permissible to argue based on the Prophet's grave being inside his mosque, as it was brought in later, and scholars denounced this act. Moreover, the Law has prohibited taking graves as places of worship out of fear of temptation by created beings, not just prostrating to them or praying towards them.

It is disliked to rub oneself against the Prophet's grave, and most scholars have deemed it karahah tahrim (reprehensible to the point of being nearly forbidden). Al-Nawawi holds that it is impermissible, citing evidence for invalidating innovations, and emphasizing that blessings lie in what conforms to the Shari'ah. Ibn Qudamah narrated from Ahmad the dislike of rubbing oneself against the Prophet's grave and kissing it. It is not confirmed that Ibn Umar rubbed against the grave; rather, he touched the minbar. No one else can be analogized to the Prophet, peace be upon him. The default rule for acts of worship is prohibition until evidence for their permissibility is established.

The prohibition of plastering graves has been reported, and most scholars consider it disliked; some even reported a consensus on this. Al-Khadimi (Hanafi) views plastering graves, building over them, and writing on their stones as innovated and void practices. The current plastering of some graves, done to glorify their occupants or out of belief in their ability to bring benefit or repel harm, is not supported by any scholar, as it is a means to clear shirk.