What is the ruling on prostrating to graves according to Imam Al-Dhahabi specifically, and according to other scholars generally? And does his statement: "Likewise, the saying regarding a Muslim prostrating to the grave of the Prophet, peace be upon him, out of reverence and veneration, does not make him an infidel at all, but rather he is disobedient" contradict the saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him: "May Allah curse the Jews and Christians who took the graves of their prophets as places of worship"?

Muslims are unanimous in the prohibition of prostrating to other than Allah, and it is a major sin. Scholars have differed regarding deeming the doer of it an infidel (kafir); some of them hold that it is absolute disbelief, while others elaborate on the matter: if the intention behind it was worship, then he has disbelieved and committed shirk (polytheism); but if the intention was merely greeting and veneration, then he does not become a disbeliever according to some scholars, even though it is a forbidden act. As for the hadith, "May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their prophets as places of worship," it does not mean that this act is disbelief that expels one from the faith, because cursing can be applied to sins that do not reach the level of disbelief.