Protecting the monuments

Q: I would like to inform Your Eminence that I am studying for my Ph.D. Thesis, and my supervising professor asked me to cover a very important topic, i.e. The Islamic view on preserving sites and buildings that have a special historical or architectural significance. Does Islam encourage maintaining such buildings or sites? Is it permissible, for example, (Part No. 2; Page No. 308) to maintain a site or a building that witnessed important historical or religious events? Is it permissible to turn it into a museum to be visited by the public?

A: It is impermissible to exaggerate the importance of historical sites and buildings, because this might lead to Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). The laypeople may be tempted to believe that such places are blessed, and be driven to commit acts of disbelief. The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade building over graves and performing Salah (Prayer) by them, for that is a means of Shirk. It is, therefore, obligatory to neglect and abandon such a deed and to warn against it.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.