Visiting graves is encouraged in Islam to remind individuals of death and the hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad said, "Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter" Yet due to love for those buried in the graves, many a Muslim forget the Islamic teachings about making and visiting graves. In fact many Muslim graves are more reflective of the wealth of the family rather than an act in humility. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in many a Hadith has strictly prohibited erection of structures, arranging festivities and making graves of saints as sanctuaries for people whose business thrive because of the graves.
In order to provide a clear direction of maintaining and visiting graves, herein under we share some of the Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to educate Muslims about the code of conduct with respect to visiting (and making) graves:
Plastering of graves:
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ forbade the building of structures over graves. He emphasized that graves should not be plastered or used as places of worship to avoid falling into practices that could lead to idolatry.. This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Book 12 The Book Of Prayer - Funerals / Chapter Janaze Ke Ehkaam O Masail as Hadith number # 2245as under: [Reference 2]
Jabir said: Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) forbade that the graves should be plastered or they be used as sitting places (for the people), or a building should be built over them.
Arabic Text:حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ غِيَاثٍ عَنْ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُجَصَّصَ الْقَبْرُ وَأَنْ يُقْعَدَ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْ يُبْنَى عَلَيْهِ
Making graves a place of festivity:
This Hadith is mentioned in Sunan Abi Dawud (Book # 11 The Rites of Hajj (Kitab Al-Manasik Wa'l-Hajj) / كتاب المناسك / Chapter # 666 Visiting Graves / باب زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ
as Hadith number # 2042, quoted herein under: [ Reference 1]
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Do not make your houses graves, and do not make my grave a place of festivity. But invoke blessings on me, for your blessings reach me wherever you may be.
Arabic Text:حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، قَرَأْتُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نَافِعٍ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قُبُورًا وَلاَ تَجْعَلُوا قَبْرِي عِيدًا وَصَلُّوا عَلَىَّ فَإِنَّ صَلاَتَكُمْ تَبْلُغُنِي حَيْثُ كُنْتُمْ " .
Making graves as places of worship:
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ expressed his disapproval of Jews and Christians building places of worship at the graves of their prophets. He intended to warn Muslims against such practices.
This Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 23 Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz) / كتاب الجنائز / Chapter 61: What is disliked of establishing places of worship (mosques) over the graves / باب مَا يُكْرَهُ مِنِ اتِّخَاذِ الْمَسَاجِدِ عَلَى الْقُبُورِ ) as Hadith 1330, given herein under: [Reference 3]
Narrated by`Urwa:
Aisha said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) in his fatal illness said, 'Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians because they took the graves of their Prophets as places for praying."' Aisha added, "Had it not been for that, the grave of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) would have been made prominent but I am afraid it might be taken (as a) place for praying.
Arabic Text: حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ شَيْبَانَ، عَنْ هِلاَلٍ ـ هُوَ الْوَزَّانُ ـ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ " لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى، اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسْجِدًا ". قَالَتْ وَلَوْلاَ ذَلِكَ لأَبْرَزُوا قَبْرَهُ غَيْرَ أَنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يُتَّخَذَ مَسْجِدًا.
Sitting and loitering between the graves:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the importance of treating graves with respect. He instructed his followers not to sit or walk over graves, reflecting a deep respect for the deceased.
This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Book 12 The Book Of Prayer - Funerals / Chapter Janaze Ke Ehkaam O Masail as Hadith number # 2250 as under: [Reference 4]
Abu Marthad al-Ghanawi reported Allah's messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) as saying: Do not sit on the graves and do not pray facing towards them.
Arabic Text:
و حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ ابْنِ جَابِرٍ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ وَاثِلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي مَرْثَدٍ الْغَنَوِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَجْلِسُوا عَلَى الْقُبُورِ وَلَا تُصَلُّوا إِلَيْهَا
Weeping by the graves:
The Prophet ﷺ encouraged visiting graves as a means of reflection and learning patience, and not a place for weeping and wailing specially by women.
This Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 23 Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz) / كتاب الجنائز / Chapter 31: Visiting the graves / باب زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ ) as Hadith 1283, given herein under: [Reference 5]
Narrated by Anas bin Malik:
The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a woman who was weeping beside a grave. He told her to fear Allah and be patient. She said to him, "Go away, for you have not been afflicted with a calamity like mine." And she did not recognize him. Then she was informed that he was the Prophet (ﷺ) . so she went to the house of the Prophet (ﷺ) and there she did not find any guard. Then she said to him, "I did not recognize you." He said, "Verily, the patience is at the first stroke of a calamity."
Arabic Text:حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِامْرَأَةٍ تَبْكِي عِنْدَ قَبْرٍ فَقَالَ " اتَّقِي اللَّهَ وَاصْبِرِي ". قَالَتْ إِلَيْكَ عَنِّي، فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَبْ بِمُصِيبَتِي، وَلَمْ تَعْرِفْهُ. فَقِيلَ لَهَا إِنَّهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَأَتَتْ باب النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ تَجِدْ عِنْدَهُ بَوَّابِينَ فَقَالَتْ لَمْ أَعْرِفْكَ. فَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الصَّدْمَةِ الأُولَى ".
These are some of the many Hadiths about the code of conduct of visiting and making graves. and if we sincerely review each of the Hadith, we will find ourselves at tangent to the teachings and hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Let us demonstrate practical manifestation of above quoted Hadiths and make our lives simpler as required by tenets of Islam and let us not visit graves and construct structures over them as means of show off.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadiths on the General Subjects, and Etiquettes taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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