Shall I not send you with the same instructions as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent me with? Do not leave any statue without blotting it out or any raised grave without leveling it
Authenticعن أبي الهيَّاج الأسدي قال: قَالَ لِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ: أَلَا أَبْعَثُكَ عَلَى مَا بَعَثَنِي عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ أَنْ لَا تَدَعَ تِمْثَالًا إِلَّا طَمَسْتَهُ، وَلَا قَبْرًا مُشْرِفًا إِلَّا سَوَّيْتَهُ.
Abu al-Hayyāj al-Asadi reported: 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me: "Shall I not send you with the same instructions as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent me with? Do not leave any statue without blotting it out or any raised grave without leveling it."
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would send his Companions and instruct them not to leave any statue - three-dimensional or flat image - without removing it or blotting it out, and not to leave any raised grave without leveling it and destroying any structure built above it; or making it flat as high as a span above the ground.
Benefits
- Images of living beings are prohibited, for they are means leading to Shirk (polytheism).
- It is legitimate to remove wrong things with one's hand if one has the authority or ability to do so.
- The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was keen on removing all traces of jāhiliyyah (pre-Islam period of ignorance), such as images, statues, and structures built over the graves.
Source · Narrated by Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).