They cited a Hadith that Abulhayyaj quoted from Prophet (s.a.): “Do I give a mission that Prophet of Allah (in …) gave me: Vanish any symbol (with soul) that you see and destroy any high tomb that you see”.1
According to false comprehension that some people had from this Hadith, they picked mattock and destroyed all tombs of superiors of Islam, except that they leave holy tomb of Prophet (s.a.) and tombs of two first leaders which was beside tomb of Prophet (s.a.), exceptions that no reasons for them can be found.
But First: In the document of this Hadith there are persons who are reliable due to Rijal of Ahl -e- Sonnat too and some of them were from dissemblers, especially “Suffian Noori” and “Ibn Abi Sabet”.
Second: Assuming that this Hadith is correct, it means that surface of tomb should be flat (not like the back of fish as it was the tradition of infidels), and lots of Faqihs of Ahl -e- Sonnat issued Fatwa that surface of tomb should be flat, which this matter does not relate to our issue.
Third: We assume that the meaning of Hadith is that tomb should be at ground level and has no bulge, this matter does not relate to building over the tombs; We assume that there is a stone over the tomb of Prophet (s.a.) at ground level and while this dome and shrine which we see today had no contradiction to that order.
As we read in holy Qur'an when the secret of Kahf companions discovered, people said that we should build a monument over their tombs, and then Qur'an says: “People who know about their status said we build a mosque over their tombs”.2
Holy Qur'an quoted this story with an agree tone and does not animadvert that, it means building mosques beside the tombs of superior is allowed.
1- Sahih of Muslim, vol. 3, page 61, it is quoted in some other resources of Ahl -e- Sonnat.
2- Kahf Sura, verse 21.
