The Ruling on Placing Names and Markers on Graves
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling on placing people's names on graves, as this is found in some Muslim communities? In some places, markers such as numbers or a coat of paint are placed on them, or the like?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and all his Companions.
As for what follows, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade exaggeration regarding graves in general, because it leads to shirk (associating partners with Allah). When exaggeration occurs regarding a grave, people come to believe that the deceased can benefit or harm, and this results in shirk through calling for aid, slaughtering animals, making vows, and so on, as happened in other lands. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against this. The Shaykh, the Imam Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab, titled a chapter in his book al-Tawhid: "The Chapter on How Exaggeration Regarding the Graves of the Righteous Turns Them into Idols Worshipped Other Than Allah."
The prohibition specifically regarding writing on graves was also established. Nothing from the Qur'an, from the hadiths, the name of the deceased, or the date of his death should be written on a grave. This is because it involves exaggeration and the attachment of hearts to it, especially if it is a grave of high status where scholars and imams are buried. This is considered a means to shirk.
He also forbade plastering graves and painting them with colors, such as white paint and the like. The requirement is that the grave remains unmarked, known only to its owner who wishes to visit it, greet it, make du'a' (supplication) for it, and then leave. No marker should be placed on it, not even numbers. A number is a form of writing, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade writing on graves. Therefore, nothing should be placed on it. A marker that is known only to the one who placed it, such as a stone, is permissible. Placing a marker on it in the form of writing, plastering, a structure, or anything else is what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade, because it is a means to shirk. It is obligatory that graves remain as they are, with their earth and mounds. The grave should be known only to its relative or his Muslim brother, who says, "This is the grave of so-and-so," and visits it, greets it, and makes du'a' for it only. There should be nothing in it that draws the attention of others.
This is the obligatory practice regarding graves. If you see writing on a grave, you are required to report it to the authorities, because this is munkar (what is wrong) and must be removed.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,
This questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling on placing people's names on graves, as this is found in some Muslim communities? In some places, markers such as numbers or a coat of paint are placed on them, or the like?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and all his Companions.
As for what follows, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade exaggeration regarding graves in general, because it leads to shirk (associating partners with Allah). When exaggeration occurs regarding a grave, people come to believe that the deceased can benefit or harm, and this results in shirk through calling for aid, slaughtering animals, making vows, and so on, as happened in other lands. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against this. The Shaykh, the Imam Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab, titled a chapter in his book al-Tawhid: "The Chapter on How Exaggeration Regarding the Graves of the Righteous Turns Them into Idols Worshipped Other Than Allah."
The prohibition specifically regarding writing on graves was also established. Nothing from the Qur'an, from the hadiths, the name of the deceased, or the date of his death should be written on a grave. This is because it involves exaggeration and the attachment of hearts to it, especially if it is a grave of high status where scholars and imams are buried. This is considered a means to shirk.
He also forbade plastering graves and painting them with colors, such as white paint and the like. The requirement is that the grave remains unmarked, known only to its owner who wishes to visit it, greet it, make du'a' (supplication) for it, and then leave. No marker should be placed on it, not even numbers. A number is a form of writing, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade writing on graves. Therefore, nothing should be placed on it. A marker that is known only to the one who placed it, such as a stone, is permissible. Placing a marker on it in the form of writing, plastering, a structure, or anything else is what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade, because it is a means to shirk. It is obligatory that graves remain as they are, with their earth and mounds. The grave should be known only to its relative or his Muslim brother, who says, "This is the grave of so-and-so," and visits it, greets it, and makes du'a' for it only. There should be nothing in it that draws the attention of others.
This is the obligatory practice regarding graves. If you see writing on a grave, you are required to report it to the authorities, because this is munkar (what is wrong) and must be removed.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,
Source
75-اللقاء الأسبوعي مع الشيخ صالح الفوزان - 32 — archive.org (2:09)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.