10. Tenth objection
He says: Shia regard Masjids, which according to divine command, should
be respected and He should be mentioned therein, they have forsaken them and
they neither pray the Friday prayer nor congregational prayer in them; on the
contrary, in their view, they are not worthy of respect. Presently, if a prayer is
even held there, it is in form of individual prayer; on the other hand they accord
deep respect to tombs and like polytheists, observe Etekaaf in them; and like Hajj
pilgrims, perform Hajj to these places. Some of them consider Hajj of these
places more important than Hajj of Kaaba; on the contrary some them even abuse
those, who regard Hajj of Kaaba and prayers as sufficient and this is from the custom of the polytheists.1
And he says: While God and Prophet have declared construction of tombs
(dome) unlawful, they consider these places as idol-houses, and decorate and
frequent them. Some of them regard visiting them like Hajj pilgrimage as Shaykh
Mufeed has named one of his writings: Manasik Hajj al-Mashahid containing
falsehoods and polytheism like that of Christians.2
Reply to the tenth objection
Masjids are present in developed as well as undeveloped cities; so much so
that they are present even in villages and hamlets for all to see, and Shia accord
utmost respect to Masjids. They regard observing their sanctity obligatory and
polluting them unlawful. They regard prayers invalid before removal of
impurities. They believe it to be unlawful for a person in sexual impurity, in
menses or post-natal period to stay in Masjids. They regard as detestable talking
about worldly matters in Masjids. If they find anyone talking about worldly
matters, they object to him vehemently.
According to the Imam, narrating from the Prophet: Prayer of one, who lives
besides Masjids is not valid, except that it should be performed in the Masjid.
Rules of Masjid in Shia jurisprudence, and congregational prayer performed
therein, are clear for anyone, who has the least awareness of them.
According respect to tombs
There is no similarity between the Shia and polytheists, because Shia do not
worship the owner of the tomb; on the contrary, they seek divine proximity
through their visitation and praise. Since they are the Master (Wali) and beloveds
of God as is clear from texts of Ziyarats narrated from Imams themselves:
وَقَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَلَدًۭا ۗ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۚ بَلْ عِبَادٌۭ مُّكْرَمُونَ (٢٦) لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُۥ بِٱلْقَوْلِ وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِۦ يَعْمَلُونَ (٢٧)
“And they say: The Beneficent God has taken to Himself a son.
Glory be to Him. Nay! they are honored servants; they do not
precede Him in speech and (only) according to His
commandment do they act.”3
As for abusing above-mentioned persons
It is the most false statement that he has made and attributed them to the
Shia, because all Shia, without any exception, have narrated from their Imams
that Islam is based on five fundamentals: Prayer, Zakat, Hajj, Fast and
Mastership (Wilayat); and Shia traditions, in this matter are numerous. In the
same way, Shia believe that delaying an obligatory act from the year of its becoming obligatory is a greater sin, and one, who leaves it, is regarded as a dead
man and is told:
“Now, you may die as a Jew or a Christian.”
With attention to these beliefs and traditions, and according to the verdicts
of scholars based on Quran and Sunnah, is it appropriate to condemn Shia as
those, who regard Ziyarat equal to Hajj?
Shaykh Mufeed’s book
The only point present in this book is that he has entitled this book as
Manasikus Ziyaraat and Manasik is in the meaning of worship and fulfilling the
rights of God; and there is a special meaning in Shariah, which is not restricted to
Hajj, although people use this term only with relation to Hajj. On the basis of this
every worship act in every place and at every time, which is preferred by God is
called as Manasik. Thus, what is the problem in using the terms of Nasak and
Mansak for Ziyarat of holy tombs, etiquette and supplications mentioned for it,
except for prostration on grave and praying before it, and without requesting from
the owner of the grave himself?
The claim of polytheism and falsehood in that book is also baseless, but he,
due to severity of his enmity, did not pay attention and speaks without reasoning.
The points of that book regarding Holy Imams (a.s.), except proving the rank of
servitude and humility before the power of Almighty Allah, negation of ranks,
which are not from them, reminder of proximity they have to Almighty Allah, is
nothing else and the Book is present even today and is accessible:
فَمَالِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًۭا (٧٨)
“Surely Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe! call for (Divine) blessings on him and salute him with a (becoming) salutation.”