Hadith: May the curse of Allah be upon the Jews and Christians; they took the graves of their prophets as mosques

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ المؤْمنينَ رَضيَ اللهُ عنها قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَقُمْ مِنْهُ:
«لَعَنَ اللهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى، اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ» قَالَتْ: فَلَوْلَا ذَاكَ أُبْرِزَ قَبْرُهُ، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ خُشِيَ أَنْ يُتَّخَذَ مَسْجِدًا.
[صحيح] - [متفق عليه] - [صحيح مسلم: 529]

‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said during his illness from which he did not recover:
"May the curse of Allah be upon the Jews and Christians; they took the graves of their prophets as mosques." She said: If it were not for that, his grave would be made prominent; yet, it was feared that it might be taken as a mosque.
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim] - [Sahih Muslim - 529]

Explanation

‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) informed that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said during his illness that became severe and led to his death: May Allah curse the Jews and Christians and expel them from His mercy, for they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship by building over graves, praying at them, or facing them in worship. Then she (may Allah be pleased with her) said: If it were not for that prohibition and warning from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and the Companions' fear that his grave might be treated the way the Jews and Christians treated the graves of their prophets, his grave would have been made apparent and prominent.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. This is one of his final advices, which indicates its significance and the need to give it careful attention.
2. The emphatic prohibition and strict forbiddance of taking graves as places of worship or intentionally praying at them, except for the funeral prayer, as this leads to venerating the deceased, circumambulating his grave, touching its corners, or calling upon his name—all of which are acts and means of Shirk (polytheism).
3. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was so attentive and careful about Tawhīd (monotheism) and fearful about venerating the graves, for this leads to Shirk.
4. Allah Almighty protected His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) from having acts of Shirk committed at his grave. He inspired his Companions and those who came after them to safeguard his grave by keeping it from being made prominent.
5. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) adhered to the Prophet's advice and were diligent in preserving Tawhīd.
6. The prohibition of imitating the Jews and Christians, and that building over graves is one of their practices.
7. Offering prayer at the graves or towards them falls under taking the graves as places of worship, even if no mosque is built there.