Here are 15 fatwas from scholars regarding the destruction of such shrines by authorities, not by private individuals.
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‘Umar ibn al-Khattab and the Grave of Daniyal
Regarding ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) and the grave of the Prophet Daniyal (or a saint) عليه السلام:
Ibn Kathir said:
“It is narrated from the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه), that when the grave of Daniyal (Daniel) was discovered in Iraq during his time, he ordered that its location be concealed from the people and that the parchment found with him—upon which were written certain prophecies and other matters—be buried.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir 18:21)
According to the original narration, the Companions dug approximately thirteen graves and buried him in one of them to prevent people from falling into fitnah, let alone constructing a dome over it.
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Imam al-Shafi‘i (in al-Umm, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Chapter on Burial) said:
تعني في المأثم ، وإن أخرجت عظام ميت أحببت أن تعاد فتدفن وأحب أن لا يزاد في القبر تراب من غيره وليس بأن يكون فيه تراب من غيره بأس إذا زيد فيه تراب من غيره ارتفع جدا ، وإنما أحب أن يشخص على وجه الأرض شبرا أو نحوه وأحب أن لا يبنى ، ولا يجصص فإن ذلك يشبه الزينة والخيلاء ، وليس الموت موضع واحد منهما ، ولم أر قبور المهاجرين والأنصار مجصصة. (قال الراوي) : عن طاوس : { إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نهى أن تبنى القبور أو تجصص }. (قال الشافعي) : وقد رأيت من الولاة من يهدم بمكة ما يبنى فيها فلم أر الفقهاء يعيبون ذلك.
“I prefer that the soil used for a grave be no more than that dug for that grave. I like to see a grave raised above the ground the length of a hand or so. I prefer not to erect a structure over a grave or to whitewash it, for indeed this resembles decoration and vanity, and death is not the time for either of these things. I have never seen the graves of the Muhajirin or Ansar plastered. I have seen the Muslim authorities destroying structures in graveyards, and I have not seen any jurists object to this.”
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Imam al-Shafi‘i also said:
وأكره أن يعظم مخلوق حتى يُجعل قبره مسجداً مخافة الفتنة عليه وعلى من بعده من الناس.
“I consider it makruh that a created being should be venerated (ta‘zim) to the extent that his grave is turned into a place of worship (a mosque), fearing the fitnah for him and for those after him.”
[al-Umm, Vol. 1, p. 278; Imam al-Nawawi quoted it in Sharh Sahih Muslim, Vol. 7, p. 38] -
Ibn al-Hajj al-Maliki said:
[فَصْلٌ مفاسد الْبُنْيَانُ فِي الْقُبُورِ] (فَصْلٌ) ثُمَّ اُنْظُرْ رَحِمَنَا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَإِيَّاكَ إلَى مُخَالَفَةِ الشَّرْعِ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَأْتِي إلَّا بِالشَّرِّ. وَالْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِي الِاتِّبَاعِ. أَلَا تَرَى أَنَّ فَتَاوَى الْعُلَمَاءِ قَدْ وَقَعَتْ بِهَدْمِ بُنْيَانِ الْبُيُوتِ الَّتِي فِي الْقُبُورِ عَلَى مَا سَبَقَ.
“[Chapter: The Evils of Building Structures on Graves]
Then observe—may Allah the Most High have mercy on us and you—how opposing the Divine Law never brings anything but evil. All good lies in following it. Do you not see that the legal rulings (fatāwā) of the scholars have called for the demolition of the houses built among the graves, as previously mentioned?”
[al-Madkhal, 2/19]
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Imam al-Mur‘i al-Karmi said:
“Many historians recorded that Sultan al-Malik al-Zahir, son of Salah al-Din (Ghiyath al-Din Ghazi ibn Nasir Salah al-Din, 569–613 AH), intended to demolish all grave structures in al-Qarafa. The muftis of the time issued a fatwa that it is wajib (obligatory) for him to do so.”
(Shifa’ al-Sudur fi Ziyarat al-Mashahid wal-Qubur, p.188) -
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami said regarding the shrines in al-Qarafa:
وقد أفتى جمع بهدم كل ما بقرافة مصر من الأبنية حتى قبة إمامنا الشافعي رضي الله عنه التي بناها بغض الملوك وينبغي أن لكل أحد هدم ذلك ما لم يخش منه مفسدة فيتعين الرفع للإمام أخذا من كلام ابن الرفعة في الصلح.
“Scholars have given a fatwa to demolish all the buildings in al-Qarafa, Egypt, even the dome of our Imam al-Shafi‘i (رضي الله عنه) that was built by a king. Everyone should demolish these (domes) if there is no fear of corruption; otherwise, it is the responsibility of the Imam (the authority). I have taken this from al-Sulah, which is the book of Ibn al-Raf‘ah.”
[Sharh al-Minhaj, Kitab al-Jana’iz, p. 198]
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Imam al-Nawawi (رحمة الله عليه) writes:
والبناء عليه فإن كان في ملك الباني فمكروه وإن في مقبرة مسبلة فحرام نص عليه الشافعي والأصحاب قال الشافعي في الأم: ورأيت الأئمة بمكة يأمرون بهدم ما يبنى.
“As for building a structure over a grave, if it is on owned land, then it is makruh (disliked); and if it is in a public graveyard, then it is haram (prohibited). This has been clearly stated by Imam al-Shafi‘i and his companions. Al-Shafi‘i said in al-Umm: ‘I have seen the Imams in Makkah ordering the destruction of buildings on graves.’”
[Sharh Sahih Muslim]
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Ibn Hajar al-Haytami said:
بقوله المنقول المعتمد كما جزم به النووي في شرح المهذب حرمة البناء في المقبرة المسبلة فإن بني فيها هدم ولا فرق في ذلك بين قبور الصالحين والعلماء وغيرهم.
“The established and transmitted opinion, as al-Nawawi affirmed in Sharh al-Madhhab, is the prohibition of construction in a public graveyard. If something is built there, it must be demolished, and there is no difference in this ruling between the graves of the righteous, scholars, or others.”
[al-Fatawa al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kubra, 3/141]
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Ibn Hajar al-Haytami said these shrines are among the greatest means of shirk:
فإن أعظم المحرمات وأسباب الشرك الصلاة عندها واتخاذها مساجد أو بناءها عليها . والقول بالكراهة محمول على غير ذلك ، إذ لا يظن بالعلماء تجويز فعل تواتر عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لعن فاعله ، ويجب المبادرة لهدمها وهدم القباب التي على القبور إذ هي أضر من مسجد الضرار؛ لأنها أسست على معصية الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم؛ لأنه نهى عن ذلك ، وأمر صلى الله عليه وسلم بهدم القبور المشرفة ، وتجب إزالة كل قنديل وسراج على القبر ولا يصح وقفه ونذره.
“The greatest prohibitions and causes of polytheism (shirk) are:
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Praying at graves,
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Using graves as mosques,
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Building structures over graves.
The scholars’ statements regarding dislike (karaha) apply only to lesser offenses. It is unimaginable that scholars would permit actions that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) cursed.
It is obligatory to demolish such structures and the domes over graves, as they are more harmful than the Mosque of Dirar. This is because they are built on disobedience to the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) commands:
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He prohibited such actions,
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He ordered the destruction of elevated graves.
It is also mandatory to remove every lantern and candle from graves. All endowments and vows made at graves are invalid.”
[al-Zawajir, 1/120-121]
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Imam al-Qurtubi said:
وأما تعلية البناء الكثير على نحو ما كانت الجاهلية تفعله تفخيما وتعظيما فذلك يهدم ويزال؛ فإن فيه استعمال زينة الدنيا في أول منازل الآخرة، وتشبها بمن كان يعظم القبور ويعبدها. وباعتبار هذه المعاني وظاهر النهي أن ينبغي أن يقال: هو حرام.
“As for constructing large, elevated buildings as the people of Jahiliyyah used to do out of exaggeration and veneration, then that is to be destroyed and removed. For it involves using worldly adornment in the first stage of the Hereafter and resembles those who used to venerate and worship graves. Considering this meaning and the apparent prohibition, it should be said: This is haram (unlawful).”
[Tafsir al-Qurtubi, under Surah al-A‘raf, Verse 21]
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Imam al-Shawkani said:
قوله ” وأن يُبنى عليه ” : فيه دليل على تحريم البناء على القبر وفصَّل الشافعي وأصحابه فقالوا : إن كان البناء في ملك الباني فمكروه ، وإن كان في مقبرة مسبلة فحرام . ولا دليل على هذا التفصيل وقد قال الشافعي : رأيتُ الأئمة بمكة يأمرون بهدم ما يبنى ويدل على الهدم حديث علي المتقدم.
“The phrase ‘and that a structure be built over it’ indicates the prohibition of building over a grave. Al-Shafi‘i and his companions detailed this by saying: If the building is on the property of the builder, it is makruh; and if it is in a public graveyard, it is haram. However, there is no evidence for this distinction. Al-Shafi‘i said: ‘I saw the Imams in Makkah ordering the demolition of what was built.’ The previously mentioned hadith of ‘Ali also indicates demolition.”
[Nayl al-Awtar, 4/132]
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Al-Alusi al-Hanafi mentioned:
ثم إجماعاً فإن أعظم المحرمات وأسباب الشرك الصلاة عندها واتخاذها مساجد أو بناؤها عليها، وتجب المبادرة لهدمها وهدم القباب التي على القبور إذ هي أضر من مسجد الضرار لأنها أسست على معصية رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لأنه عليه الصلاة والسلام نهى عن ذلك وأمر بهدم القبور المشرفة، وتجب إزالة كل قنديل أو سراج على قبر ولا يصح وقفه ولا نذره.
“This is a consensus that among the greatest prohibitions and causes of shirk are praying at graves, turning them into mosques, or building structures over them. It is obligatory (wajib) to hasten in demolishing them and demolishing the domes over graves, for they are more harmful than the Mosque of Dirar because they are founded on disobedience to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), as he prohibited that and ordered the destruction of elevated graves. It is also obligatory to remove every lantern or lamp from a grave, and endowments or vows for it are not valid.”
[Ruh al-Ma‘ani, under Surah al-Kahf, Verse 21]
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Ibn Abi Ya‘la said:
قال أبو محمد التميمي: أنفذ الخليفة المطيع لله بمال عظيم ليبني على قبر أحمد بن حنبل قبة فقال له جدي وأبو بكر عبد العزيز: أليس تريد أن تتقرب إلى الله تعالى بذلك؟ فقال: بلى فقالا له: إن مذهبه أن لا يبنى عليه شيء فقال: تصدقوا بالمال على من ترونه فقالا له: بل تصدق به على من تريد أنت فتصدق به .
“Abu Muhammad al-Tamimi said: ‘The Caliph al-Muti‘ li-Allah allocated substantial funds to build a dome over the grave of Ahmad ibn Hanbal. My grandfather and Abu Bakr ‘Abd al-‘Aziz said to him: “Do you not want to draw closer to Allah the Most High by this?” He said: “Yes.” They said to him: “His school of thought is that nothing should be built over it.” He said: “Then give the money in charity to whom you see fit.” They said to him: “Rather, you give it in charity to whom you want.” So he gave it in charity.’”
[Tabaqat al-Hanabilah, 1/271]
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Qadi Ibrahim al-Hanafi said in his Majalis al-Abrar, p. 129:
“And the domes built over graves—it is obligatory to destroy them because they have been built in disobedience and opposition to the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Every construction built in disobedience and opposition to the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is more deserving of destruction than the Mosque of Dirar.” -
Ibn Kathir himself said under the biography of al-Sayyidah Nafisah in al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah:
والذي ينبغي أن يعتقد فيها ما يليق بمثلها من النساء الصالحات، وأصل عبادة الأصنام من المغالاة في القبور وأصحابها، وقد أمر النبي بتسويه القبور وطمسها، والمغالاة في البشر حرام.
“What should be believed regarding her is what is appropriate for righteous women like her. The origin of idol worship stems from exaggeration (ghulu) concerning graves and their inhabitants. That is why the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) ordered the leveling and obliteration of graves. Exaggeration concerning any human being is haram.”
[al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, Vol. 10, p. 287, under the biography of al-Sayyidah Nafisah]
Note: These are just the fatāwā on demolishing such shrines by the authorities. Otherwise, there are ample quotes on the prohibition of making shrines.