Commenting on the will of the Grand Shaykh of Al-Azhar ‘Abdul-Ḥalīm Maḥmūd to bury his body inside the Masjid (mosque)

From ‘Abdul-‘Azīz ibn ‘Abdullāh Ibn Bāz to His Eminence doctor ‘Abdul-Ḥalīm Maḥmūd, the grand Shaykh of Al-Azhar, may Allāh guide him and make him a source of support to the truth. Āmin! As-salāmu ‘alaykum waraḥmatullāhi wabarakātuh (May Allāh's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!) I read the article written by Shaykh Muḥammad ‘Alī ‘Abdul-Raḥīm, head of Jamā’at Anṣār Al-Sunnah (supports of the Prophet's Sunnah) which was published in Al-Tawḥīd Magazine, Sha’bān 1397 A.H. The article cited a report published in Al-Jumhūriyyah newspaper on the seventh of May, 1977. The report reads: Shaykh ‘Abdul-Ḥalīm Maḥmūd the Grand Shaykh of Al-Azhar built a Masjid (mosque) in Bilbeis. He made a will that he be buried in this Masjid when he dies. I advise Your Eminence not to execute this will, as it is in contradiction to the objectives of Allāh's Purified Shar’ (Law). Masjids are built for the purpose of offering Ṣalāh (Prayer), making Dhikr (Remembrance of Allāh), Du’ā' (supplication), seeking Allāh's forgiveness and reciting the Noble Qur'ān. I was much annoyed and astonished to hear that you have made such a will, which I hope to be a fabricated story. Many journalists are notorious for publishing false news with the aim of tarnishing the image of people. We also exclude the possibility of your being ignorant of the ruling on building graves inside Masjids. Many authentic and explicit ḥadīths are expressive of the prohibition of building graves inside Masjids as this constitutes a means leading to Shirk (associating others with Allāh in His Divinity or worship). Many laymen and ignorant people start to join the dwellers of these graves in the worship of Allāh by invoking them beside Him and making them partners along with Him in seeking benefit, repelling harm or fulfilling needs. This fact is proved by the practices of the ignorant people who visit the graves of Al-Badawī and Al-Ḥussein and other graves revered by the ignorant. It is not beyond your knowledge that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ was authentically reported to have cursed the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their prophets as places of worship. In another ḥadīth narrated by Muslim in his Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic book of ḥadīth) on the authority of Jundub Ibn ‘Abdillāh Al-Bajalī -raḍhiyallāhu 'anhu- that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Beware of those who preceded you and used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you to do that.” There is no doubt that burying the dead inside Masjids falls under the prohibition of taking them as places of worship as mentioned in the ḥadīth. Your Eminence should not have this will carried out in case it is proved that you have made it. You have to announce this in local papers while naming the reasons that made you retract your previous opinion so that you can discharge yourself of the responsibility before Allāh (عز وجل) and no one could think that you approve of this grievous act, which contradicts Prophet Muḥammad's ﷺ Sharī’ah. Since you are an ideal for Muslims, you have to be aware of introducing an act into religion whereby you will burden its sin alongside the sin of those who act upon or permit it until the Day of Resurrection. If the news is falsely attributed to you, you should announce this in local newspapers in order to discharge yourself of responsibility. I ask Allāh to make us and you a source of guidance and support to the truth! May He grant us all steadfast adherence to His Dīn (religion), for He is Most Generous, Ever-Gracious. As-salāmu ‘alaykum waraḥmatullāhi wabarakātuh (May Allāh's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!) 📚[Majmū’ Al-Fatāwā Ibn Bāz, Vol. 8 - P. 332]