Is visiting shrines or mausoleums permissible (halal) or forbidden (haram)? Please clarify.

- It is forbidden to build shrines and mausoleums over graves, because that is a reprehensible innovation contrary to the guidance of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who forbade plastering graves, building over them, and writing on them. He also cursed whoever took graves as mosques or lit lamps upon them.

- A mosque built over a grave must be demolished, and the deceased must be exhumed if buried in a mosque, for a mosque and a grave do not coexist in the religion of Islam.

- The Prophet's guidance regarding visiting graves is to supplicate for their occupants, invoke mercy upon them, and seek forgiveness for them, not to supplicate the dead, seek intercession through them, or associate partners with Allah through them.

- It is forbidden to visit shrines and mausoleums if the intention is to supplicate the dead and seek their aid, as that leads to shirk (polytheism) and bid'ah (innovation).

- If the visit is solely for the purpose of greeting and supplicating for the dead, the matter is to be considered, because the visitor may not be safe from witnessing evil and being unable to denounce it, which would make him a partner in it. In such a case, he must leave the place if he cannot denounce it.

- It is permissible to greet the dead when passing by graves without visiting shrines.