A Comparative Study on Worshipping beside Tombs from the Perspective of Ibn-e-Taymiyya and the Sunni's Four Religious Schools

Worshipping beside tombs is one of the most important issues of monotheism in worship that is considered forbidden by Ibn-e-Taymiyya. This paper is a comparative study which investigates the authenticity of Ibn-e- Taymiyya's fatwa. In this regard, we explain the meaning of worship and views of Ibn-e-Taymiyya and his evidence compared to the four religious schools. The study found that basically, worship happens where there is the issue of divinity, and those who worship beside the tombs do not believe in such dignity for the person buried inside. This paper shows that, firstly, the basis of Ibn-e-Taymiyya's view is misinterpretation of the verses and referring to weak hadiths. Secondly, his fatwa is against the idea of the majority of Muslims. Because most of Sunni jurists accept the validity of prayer and worship beside tombs unless there is an external hindrance like uncleanness.