What is the ruling on building over graves, writing on them, and reciting the Qur'an for the deceased, specifically Surat Yasin?
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The questioner : This questioner is from Tripoli, Libya. He asks: What is the ruling on building over graves, writing on them, and reciting the Qur'an for the deceased, specifically Surat Yasin? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Building over graves is forbidden because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited building over graves. It is even more severe to build a mosque over a grave, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 703Sahih (Darussalam) Therefore, it is not permissible to build graves in mosques. If a mosque is built over a grave, it must be demolished, and prayer in it is invalid. However, if the mosque existed before the grave, and a person is buried in the mosque after the mosque was established, then this is forbidden; that is, it is forbidden to bury a deceased person in the mosque, and he must be exhumed and buried with the people.
As for writing on the grave, if it is a writing of shirk (associating partners with Allah), such as writing "This is a close friend of Allah, call upon him, O distressed one," or the like, there is no doubt in its prohibition. If it is ordinary, simple writing, then if it contains boasting, pride, or bragging about this deceased person, it is forbidden because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited writing on the grave. However, if it is merely for identifying the owner of the grave, such as writing "This is so-and-so, son of so-and-so," I hope there is no harm in it, and the prohibition of writing is to be understood as applying to forbidden writing.
The Shaykh : Building over graves is forbidden because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited building over graves. It is even more severe to build a mosque over a grave, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
May Allah curse the Jews and Christians, for they took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.
لعنة الله على اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجدAs for writing on the grave, if it is a writing of shirk (associating partners with Allah), such as writing "This is a close friend of Allah, call upon him, O distressed one," or the like, there is no doubt in its prohibition. If it is ordinary, simple writing, then if it contains boasting, pride, or bragging about this deceased person, it is forbidden because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited writing on the grave. However, if it is merely for identifying the owner of the grave, such as writing "This is so-and-so, son of so-and-so," I hope there is no harm in it, and the prohibition of writing is to be understood as applying to forbidden writing.