Grave worshippers proof that the Prophet is buried inside al-Masjid an-Nabawee

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Question: How do we respond to the grave worshippers, who use as proof [for their practice] that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was buried inside al-Masjid an-Nabawee?'

Response: The response to that is from [four] angles:

Firstly: The Masjid was not built upon the grave, rather, it was built during the life of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam).

Secondly: The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was not buried in the Masjid, so that it would be said this is from the burial of the pious in the Masjid, rather, he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was buried in his house.

Thirdly: The inclusion of the houses of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), amongst them the house of 'Aa.ishah (radhi-yAllaahu 'anhaa) [where the Prophet was buried] within the Masjid was not done based upon the consensus of all the companions, rather, after many of them had passed away. And it was not something which the companions sanctioned. Rather, some of them opposed. From amongst those who opposed was the taabi'ee Sa'eed ibn al-Musayyib.

Fourthly: The grave was not inside the Masjid, even after it was included within it. That was because it was in a room separate from the Masjid, and the Masjid was not [actually] built upon it.

And because of this, Allaah has rendered this place protected and surrounded by three walls. [So] all the walls of this place do not face the Qiblah - because it is [in the form of] a triangle.

[Regarding] the point which is situated at the Northern side, a person praying towards it would be unable because it is oblique [in shape].

[So] based upon [all of] this, any attempts by the people of the grave to justify [their practice] are [clearly] invalidated.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Mu'aasirah - Pages 13-14
Majmoo' Fataawa - Volume 2, Pages 232-233