The ruling on placing a green palm frond on the grave of the deceased

Question:
The questioner, a Sudanese resident of Jeddah, says: Honorable Shaykh, is there a report regarding placing a green palm frond on the grave of the deceased after his burial? What is reported on this matter? And does it alleviate the punishment of the grave for him?

Answer:
It is established that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by two graves and said, “They are being punished, and they are not being punished for something great. As for one of them, he used to spread talebearing. As for the other, he did not ensure himself from his urine, or from urine.” Then he sought a fresh palm frond, split it, and placed a piece on each grave. He said, “Perhaps it will alleviate the punishment for them, as long as they do not wither.” This is specific to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) because he is the one whom Allah informed about the condition of the two deceased in the grave. As for us, we do not know or have knowledge of the conditions of the deceased in the graves. This is one aspect. The other aspect is that the Companions did not perform this act after the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). If it had been prescribed for us, the Companions would have done it. It is not established that any of them did so. This indicates that this matter is specific to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).