Title: Prohibition of building Mosques on Graves - Al-Kah'f 18: 21 Question: In Islam it is haram to build a mosque where people are buried. The people of Kahf might have not been dead but still building a mosque where they were, is very much like the practice that is not approved in Islam. Why has God pointed out this statement if it is not approving their decision (to build a mosque)? Thanks Abu Yaheya United Kingdom&nbsp Answer: It is important to note the difference between "building mosques or places of worship on graves" and "taking graves as mosques or places of worship". The latter, clearly being polytheistic practice, is prohibited in Islam, while the former is not. On some occasions the Holy Prophet (pbuh) referred to a certain practice of Christians and Jews of turning the graves of their pious people into places of worship. This practice is contrary to the basic teachings of Islam. Islam does not approve of polytheistic activities in any form. In another tradition the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have forbidden Muslims from making his own grave as a place of worship, as was done by the Jews and the Christians. It should be noted that had it been prohibited to make mosques on graves, the Prophet (pbuh) would not have agreed upon building the first mosque in Madinah in a place, which was formerly a graveyard. Building mosques, for worshiping the one True God only, as a memorial for some pious people can by no means be considered as prohibited. This is exactly what those referred to in the Holy Qur'an did after they found out that the people of the cave were pious people, who worshipped the one True God. Thus, they tried to keep their memory alive by building a place of worship of the One True God. I hope this helps. Tariq Mahmood Hashmi May 14, 2003