Erecting Three Boards in Muslim Graveyards
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Fatwa No. ( 20386 )
Q: It is an honor to inform you that your son, His Excellency the Minister of Rural Development of Malaysia, Al-Hajj Anwar ibn Al-Hajj Musa , has agreed to allocate funds for erecting three boards in Muslim graveyards, starting with the graveyards located in his constituency. The first board is to contain rulings related to graveyards, including what was stated in your Fatwa No. (19246), dated 17/11/1417 AH. The second is to contain words of condolence for the event of death, to which the questions of the two angels, Munkar and Nakir, are added. The third is to contain the rulings and etiquettes of visiting graves. This is in response to my recent proposal. He has tasked me with preparing the verses and phrases covering the aforementioned matters, but I fear falling into what is not my concern. I ask your Eminence to express your opinion on this project, and then to prepare the aforementioned rulings and etiquettes so that I may translate them into the Malay language (Malay) and then implement them. As it appears, with the help of Allah the Exalted, the boards will be among the means of awareness, reminder, and education for Muslims, especially for visitors. Your work, by the permission of the Noble Lord, is beneficial for us and for all Muslims. May Allah reward you for them and for us with much good.
A:First:The rulings concerning graves: 1- It is not permissible to build upon them, to plaster them, to write on them, or to light them with electricity or anything else; because these things are a means to associating partners with Allah by calling upon the dead and seeking aid from them other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic). 2- It is not permissible to pray at them, even if nothing is built upon them, nor to make supplication at them; because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 65:145 . 3- It is not permissible to raise them from the ground more than a hand's breadth; because that is the characteristic of his grave (peace and blessings be upon him) and the graves of his Companions, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) saidto 'Ali ibn Abi Talib(may Allah be pleased with him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1049Sahih (Darussalam) and al-mushrif is the raised part, and its leveling is the removal of its elevation. 4- Graves must not be disrespected by sitting on them, walking over them, throwing trash on them, or directing water onto them, or by any other form of disrespect. It is obligatory to erect a wall surrounding them to protect them from such disrespect, because it is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prohibited plastering graves, building on them, sitting on them, and writing on them. 5- It is recommended that after the burial of a Muslim deceased is completed, the Muslims stand at his grave and supplicate for him, asking for forgiveness and firmness when questioned, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Sunan Abi Dawud 3221Sahih (Al-Albani) . 6- When a Muslim passes by the graves of Muslims, it is recommended for him to say: (Peace be upon you, abode of a people of faith, and we, if Allah wills, will follow you. May Allah have mercy on those of us who have gone before and those who come after. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you. O Allah, do not deprive us of their reward, and do not test us after them, and forgive us and them).Second:Visiting the graves: 1- It is recommended for men to visit the graves of Muslims to supplicate for them, seek forgiveness for them, invoke mercy upon them, and to take a lesson and draw reflection from their condition. 2- It is not permissible for women to visit graves; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who visit graves and those who make them into mosques and hang lamps on them; and because women are weak, and it is feared that what is not permissible, such as excessive grief and wailing, may occur from them at the graves. 3- It is not permissible to visit graves to call upon the dead for aid or to supplicate to them other than to Allah (Mighty and Majestic); because this is an innovative visit involving associating partners with Allah, which is not permissible for men or women. Rather, what is prescribed is that when a Muslim visits the grave of his brother or relative, he should greet him, supplicate for him, seek forgiveness for him, and then leave.Third:Condolences: 1- It is recommended to offer condolences to a Muslim who has lost a close relative by saying to him:
(May Allah improve your consolation, strengthen you in your affliction, and forgive your deceased). 2- It is recommended to prepare food to the extent of the need of the deceased's family, and for their relatives or neighbors to present it to them; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 1610Hasan (Darussalam) . 3- It is not permissible to hold mourning gatherings, assemble for them, prepare food from the deceased's family, and suspend work; due to the saying of Jarir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him): (We used to consider gathering at the deceased's home and preparing food to be part of wailing). Note: These rulings are to be translated into the languages used among you, printed, and distributed for benefit, and not written on boards and erected at the graveyards as you mentioned; because this was not the practice of the righteous Salaf (earliest generations). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: It is an honor to inform you that your son, His Excellency the Minister of Rural Development of Malaysia, Al-Hajj Anwar ibn Al-Hajj Musa , has agreed to allocate funds for erecting three boards in Muslim graveyards, starting with the graveyards located in his constituency. The first board is to contain rulings related to graveyards, including what was stated in your Fatwa No. (19246), dated 17/11/1417 AH. The second is to contain words of condolence for the event of death, to which the questions of the two angels, Munkar and Nakir, are added. The third is to contain the rulings and etiquettes of visiting graves. This is in response to my recent proposal. He has tasked me with preparing the verses and phrases covering the aforementioned matters, but I fear falling into what is not my concern. I ask your Eminence to express your opinion on this project, and then to prepare the aforementioned rulings and etiquettes so that I may translate them into the Malay language (Malay) and then implement them. As it appears, with the help of Allah the Exalted, the boards will be among the means of awareness, reminder, and education for Muslims, especially for visitors. Your work, by the permission of the Noble Lord, is beneficial for us and for all Muslims. May Allah reward you for them and for us with much good.
A:First:The rulings concerning graves: 1- It is not permissible to build upon them, to plaster them, to write on them, or to light them with electricity or anything else; because these things are a means to associating partners with Allah by calling upon the dead and seeking aid from them other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic). 2- It is not permissible to pray at them, even if nothing is built upon them, nor to make supplication at them; because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Do not take the graves as mosques, for I forbid you from doing so.
لا تتخذوا القبور مساجد فإني أنهاكم عن ذلكThat you not leave an elevated grave without leveling it
لا تدع قبرًا مشرفًا إلا سويتهWhenever the Prophet (ﷺ) became free from burying the dead, he used to stay at him (i.e. his grave) and say: Seek forgiveness for your brother, and beg steadfastness for him, for he will be questioned now.
كان إذا فرغ من دفن الميت وقف عليه وقال: استغفروا لأخيكم واسألوا له التثبيت فإنه الآن يسأل(May Allah improve your consolation, strengthen you in your affliction, and forgive your deceased). 2- It is recommended to prepare food to the extent of the need of the deceased's family, and for their relatives or neighbors to present it to them; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Prepare food for the family of Ja’far, for there has come to them that which is keeping them busy
اصنعوا لآل جعفر طعامًا فقد جاءهم ما يشغلهم
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.