A Comparative Study of the Views of Wahabism and Hanafi School about Prostrating over the Graves of Awlia

This article provides a comparative study of the viewpoints of Wahabism and the Hanafi School of jurisprudence concerning prostration at the graves of awlia i.e. the noble servants of God. At first, the manifestations are discussed from the perspective of these sects and the article goes on mentioning and discussing the permissibility of four manifestations including construction of a mosque near or in front of the grave of pious people, building a tomb or structure over the graves, praying and reciting Quran near the graves. These topics have been investigated and dealt with comparatively and it has been clarified that Hanafite scholars do not have a single standpoint towards the aforementioned practices but, as compared to Wahabism, they do have a more moderate approach.