In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: The basis of Banee Aadam’s misguidance is as a result of ‘General Terms’ and ‘Ambiguous Meanings’ [i.e. terms & meanings that can either be utilized for truth or falsehood when not explained in detail and distinguished], especially if they come in contact with a confused mind, then how about when (evil) desires and misguided enthusiasm is added to that? Therefore, ask the One Who keeps the hearts steadfast (i.e. Allaah) to keep your heart firm upon His Religion and not allow you to fall into this darkness. [Ref 1]

One of the general fundamental principles (in Islaam) is to know that words (or terms) are two types: Words that are mentioned in the Qur’aan and (authentic) Sunnah, therefore, it is obligated on every believer to affirm them – affirm what Allaah and His Messenger have affirmed, and negate what Allaah and His Messenger have negated. The words (or terms) affirmed by Allaah is truth and the ones Allaah negated are (negated) in truth, for indeed Allaah speaks the truth and guides to the straight path. The words (or terms) of the Sharee’ah are sanctified and it is from perfection in knowledge that one seeks after the (sound meanings) which the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasalam] intended by them, in order to affirm what he affirmed and negate the meanings he negated; for indeed it is obligated on us to believe and bear witness to everything he has stated and follow him in everything he has commanded. As for the words (or terms) that are neither found in the Qur’an and (authentic) Sunnah, nor did the pious predecessors hold a consensus regarding whether they are negated or affirmed, then it is not incumbent on anyone to agree with the one who negates them or affirms them until its intended meaning is explained. So, if its intended meaning agrees with the [revelation, commands, prohibitions etc] conveyed by the Messenger, it is affirmed; but if its intended meaning is in opposition to the [revelation, commands, prohibitions etc] conveyed by the Messenger, it is rejected. [Ref 2]

The Kabah is Neither a Shrine Nor a Teemple

The Kabah is neither a shrine nor a temple, rather Allaah called it Kabah, Baytul Ateeq and a Masjid. Why is it called Kabah? Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said that it is called Kabah because of its squared shape. Every building that is squared in shape and has four pillars is called kabah. [Ref 3] It is called Baytul Ateeq because it is very ancient, the best Masjid without exception. Freed from being captured by tyrants [Ref 4], [except during the end of time when it will be demolished by Dhul Suwayqatayn]. It is called Masjid Al-Haraam [i.e. the sacred Masjid (Ref 5)] and a Masjid is where none is to be invoked or prayed to besides Allaah. [Ref 6]

As for a temple, it is a religious building meant for worshipping or praying to a deity or deities [i.e. things people have initiated as deities besides Allaah- that have no power to harm or benefit, neither created anything nor can they raise the dead], such as Hindu temples are typically devoted to one specific god [i.e. amongst their numerous gods]. So, temples are places of worship for the followers of other religions – religions and creeds which Allaah has declared to be concocted, distorted or abrogated.

The sources of the Sound Islamic Creed can only be established through the Qur’aan and the (authentic) Sunnah. The creeds are two types – The creed revealed by Allaah and the creed initiated by the people. However, the sound and correct creed can only be from Allaah’s Wahi [the revelation sent down by Allaah in the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah]. Allaah [The Most High] informed us about Yoosuf [alayhis-salaam] that he said to his companions in the prison:

يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ أَأَرْبَابٌ مُتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ; مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَآَبَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

O two companions of the prison! Are many different lords (gods) better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible? You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. The command (or the judgement) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not. [Soorah Yoosuf: Ayah: 39-40]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّى (19) وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَى (20) أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْأُنْثَى (21) تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَى (22) إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَآَبَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنْفُسُ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمُ الْهُدَى (23)

Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-‘Uzza (two idols of the pagan Arabs) And Manat (another idol of the pagan Arabs), the other third? Is it for you the males and for Him the females? That indeed is a division most unfair! They are but names which you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. [Soorah Najm: 19-23]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنْ بِهِ اللَّهُ

Or have they partners with Allah (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed. [Soorah Ash-Shoorah: Ayah:21] [Ref 6.1]

Allaah [The Most High] said: [وَمَن يَبۡتَغِ غَيۡرَ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمِ دِينً۬ا فَلَن يُقۡبَلَ مِنۡهُ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرِينَ – And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers]. [Surah Aal Imraan. Aayah 85]

The Kabah is not a shrine

The late Mufti of Saudi Arabia Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: Shrines are graves and the Prophetic tradition regarding this affair is that graves are to be raised a hand span from the ground, so that they are recognize as graves and not degraded. This is why in the hadeeth of Sa’d Bin Abee Waqqaas [radiyallaahu-anhu] it is reported that the grave of the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] was raised a hand span and Sa’d also gave orders that the same should be done to his grave. As for building over them, taking them as Masaajid (mosques, places of worship) and building domes, this is not permissible. According to the people of knowledge, this is evil, innovation in religion and one of the means to Shirk. And due to this the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] stated in an authentic hadeeth: “The curse of Allaah is upon the Jews and Christians [i.e. those Jews who deviated from the pure message of Moosaa and those Christians who deviated from the pure message of the Messiah], because they took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship”. And in a hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim, the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] forbade that graves should be plastered (made into permanent structures), used as sitting places and building over them. Therefore, it is not permissible to build over graves – neither mosques nor domes, nor other than them, and also they are not to be plastered, because indeed this is one of the means to Shirk – one of the means, because it becomes exalted, invoked besides Allaah and help sought from it, and thus shirk occurs. Building over graves- placing domes, mosques and lamps over them are from the means to Shirk, and this is why the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] warned against it and cursed those who do so. It is obligated on the Muslims to be warned against this and that they do not build over a grave – neither a Masjid nor other than it, neither a dome nor plastered, neither place lamps on them nor shrouded. All this is not permissible, rather it is from the means to Shirk…. [Ref 7]

Where Was The Grave of The Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] Initially?

Shaikh Abdul Waahid Abu Khadeejah [hafidhahullaah] stated as follows:

Proofs against the Sufis who take graves as places of worship―Those who worship Allāh at the graves of righteous men―and those who ask the dead for help. The Green Dome over the Prophet’s Mosque and grave (Kitāb at-Tawhīd, Chapter 20)

Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘As-Sawaa’iq Al-Mursalah Alal Jahmiyyah Wal Mu’attilah’ – Vol 3. page 927. slightly paraphrased]
Ref 2: Mujam Al-Manaahee Lil-lafdhiyyah pages 10-17
Ref 3: https://binothaimeen.net/content/10706
Ref 4: See Tafseer As-Sadi. Surah Al-Hajj. Aayah 29 – the meaning of Baytul Ateeq
Ref 5: Surah Al-Baqarah Aayah 144
Ref 6: Tafseer As-Sadi. Surah Al-Jinn. Aayah 18

Ref 6.1: Madkhal Li-Diraasati Aqeedah Al-Islaamiyyah: lesson:2′ by Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr (may Allaah preserve him)]
Ref7: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/16337/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B1 paraphrased