ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam Hussain Bin Ali (as) Prayer Before Any Object In SHIA'ISM, NAMAZ (or prayer or worship) is due to none but to God, and God alone. If any one prays before any object of His worship, it is not objected by Islam. One can offer his prayers before anything even a grave, if the individual does not mean the object as the object of his worship.

It is in this spirit and with this point of the faith in view that prayers in the holy Shrines of NAJAF, KARBALA, MASHHAD, etc. are offered, and offering prayers in such sacred places, though they are not mosques, or in places sanctified by dedication to the memories of the godly ones, is definitely commendable and has its 'FAZEELAT' or the Grade of Excellence, is without the least opposition or prejudice to the excellence of the prayers offered in a mosque.

DEDIICATION OF ANY PLACE AS MEMORIAL WITH REGARD FOR IT Erecting a mosque or any such premises in memory of any sacred object or event, has been allowed by the holy QUR'AN. See about the Mosque commanded to be raised at the spot where lay the 'AS'HAABE-KAHF' the Sleepers of the Cave (18:21). Holding such places in sanctity with regard and reverence for them, is certainly the sign of piety of the heart, and devotion to God Himself.

To preach against offering prayers before graves or in any shrines quoting the HADITH or the saying of the holy Prophet prohibiting making any grave or a shrine a mosque, without the context in which it was said is nothing short of betraying one's ignorance of the Islamic History.

OMME SALAMA the virtuous wife of the holy Prophet on her return from the ABYSSINIAN Exile, reported to the holy Prophet that she had seen in ABYSSINIA the Christians worshipping the images of Jesus and Mary and the graves of their saints. The holy Prophet issued the ordinance or the HADITH prohibiting prayers on the graves as the object of worship. The point underlying in the saying is against a prayer being offered before or around any grave or graves.

This point is clarified in the verse 18:21 which commands building of mosque on the grave by which the object is not to start worship of the grave but to consecrate the place by dedicating it to the worship of the Lord, to Whom the departed soul had been devoted, and had itself surrendered. REMEMBRANCE OF THE RIGHTEOUS ONES Remembrance of the holy personalities for their righteousness has been ordained by God, See 38:48.