What is the ruling on placing numbers on graves?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He improve your consolation and your outcome: In some graveyards, they place numbers on the walls adjacent to the graves so that one can identify a specific grave, such as "so-and-so's grave." What is the ruling on this, O Shaykh? Does this lead to something, or is it even worse than that?
The Shaykh : I do not think it leads to anything. Perhaps the one who wrote the number is a relative who wants to pay their respects to the deceased. However, if there is a fear of harm, such as if this man is a wealthy person whom the common people would exalt, or a scholar, or a worshipper, then it is prohibited. But if he is an ordinary man known only to his relatives, I see no harm in this.
The questioner : This, O Shaykh, is done collectively in our towns. It is done collectively, meaning the person responsible for digging the graves numbers the graves.
The Shaykh : By the sections?
The questioner : No, O Shaykh, not by the sections.
The Shaykh : On the wall.
The questioner : On the wall.
The Shaykh : For example, saying: "My father's grave is in the fourth row, and the location is, for instance, five graves from the wall," or something similar.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : This is what I was referring to. If it is an ordinary man and there is no fear that people will exaggerate about him, there is no harm.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : I do not think it leads to anything. Perhaps the one who wrote the number is a relative who wants to pay their respects to the deceased. However, if there is a fear of harm, such as if this man is a wealthy person whom the common people would exalt, or a scholar, or a worshipper, then it is prohibited. But if he is an ordinary man known only to his relatives, I see no harm in this.
The questioner : This, O Shaykh, is done collectively in our towns. It is done collectively, meaning the person responsible for digging the graves numbers the graves.
The Shaykh : By the sections?
The questioner : No, O Shaykh, not by the sections.
The Shaykh : On the wall.
The questioner : On the wall.
The Shaykh : For example, saying: "My father's grave is in the fourth row, and the location is, for instance, five graves from the wall," or something similar.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : This is what I was referring to. If it is an ordinary man and there is no fear that people will exaggerate about him, there is no harm.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.