Sanctity of the final resting places of one's near and dear ones is a very sensitive matter and no one would ever like the disrespect to the graves. Generally it is seen that while people are waiting for a burial to get completed, they tend to sit on the nearby graves or climb over the graves, acts that are viewed as disrespect to the person buried inside. We share today a hadith which gives out a very a powerful and profound statement from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It highlights the gravity of disrespecting the deceased, especially by sitting on or near a grave. Here's the hadith again for reference:
"If one of you were to sit on a live coal that burns him, that would be better for him than if he were to sit on a grave." — Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 1566
Explanation of the Hadith
- Prohibition of Sitting on Graves:
- The Prophet (ﷺ) is emphasizing the seriousness of sitting on graves, which is generally considered a disrespectful and inappropriate act in Islam. Graves are sacred, as they represent the final resting place of the deceased, and a place where their family and loved ones come to pay their respects.
- Islam teaches that we should treat the dead with respect, and sitting on a grave symbolizes a lack of regard for the sanctity of the burial site. The hadith compares this to something as painful as sitting on a live coal, which burns the person. The comparison indicates that the act of sitting on a grave is so severe and harmful that it is worse than suffering through physical pain.
- The Significance of Respecting the Dead:
- Respect for the dead is a fundamental part of Islamic etiquette and ethics. The Quran and the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) consistently stress that the deceased should be treated with honor, especially in their graves. There are other hadiths where the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade actions like sitting on graves or walking over them.
- The grave is viewed as a place where the soul of the deceased enters a new phase of existence, and it is considered inappropriate to show disrespect or trivialize it. Therefore, actions such as sitting on graves are seen as an offense, not only to the deceased but also to the living, because it goes against the Islamic principles of dignity and respect.
- The Severe Consequences of Disrespecting the Deceased:
- By equating sitting on a grave to the pain of sitting on a burning coal, the Prophet (ﷺ) is highlighting the severe spiritual consequences of showing disrespect towards the grave and the deceased. The physical pain of sitting on a live coal may fade, but the disrespect for the grave is a serious moral and spiritual misdeed.
- It is a reminder to Muslims to maintain proper conduct and awareness of the sanctity of all life stages—from birth to death. Just as we honor the living, we must also honor the deceased.
Linking this to Islamic Etiquette:
The hadith is part of the broader Islamic emphasis on etiquette and manners. Islam emphasizes that the dead should be treated with kindness, and certain behaviors are strictly forbidden:
- Sitting on graves: This is seen as an act that goes against the dignity of the deceased.
- Walking over graves: The Prophet (ﷺ) also forbade walking over graves in a disrespectful manner. The idea is that the grave is a resting place for the soul, and such actions should be avoided to maintain reverence for the dead.
- Maintaining silence at graves:
- When visiting graves, Muslims are encouraged to make du'a (prayers) for the deceased, not to engage in loud or disrespectful behavior.
- Hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ) on Visiting Graves: While the hadith you shared prohibits disrespecting the graves, there are also hadiths where the Prophet (ﷺ) encourages Muslims to visit graves, but with a respectful attitude:
- The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "I used to forbid you from visiting graves, but now you may visit them." (Sahih Muslim)
- This hadith shows that while Muslims are encouraged to visit graves to remind themselves of the afterlife, they are also instructed to do so with respect and reverence.
Moral Lessons from the Hadith
Respect for the dead is a moral duty in Islam, and this hadith underscores that even acts of physical discomfort (like sitting on burning coals) are better than actions that show disrespect to the deceased.
- Avoiding unnecessary harm: Just as sitting on burning coals would inflict harm on one's body, disrespecting graves harms the soul and reflects badly on the individual's character.
- Reminder of the afterlife: Sitting on a grave or being disrespectful toward it may also be seen as showing a lack of recognition of the reality of the afterlife and the inevitable journey that we will all take. Respecting graves can be seen as a way of acknowledging our own mortality and reinforcing the understanding that life in this world is temporary.
This hadith thus gives out a clear warning against disrespecting the graves of the deceased. It uses the analogy of sitting on a burning coal to show just how grave the act is. It reminds us that our conduct toward the dead should always be respectful, as they are in a state where they cannot defend themselves, and their graves are sacred in Islam. In a broader sense, it teaches us the importance of showing kindness, respect, and empathy in all aspects of life, especially when it comes to matters of death and the afterlife.
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.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
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Please refer to our exclusive reference page Etiquettes taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more etiquettes attributed to Prophet Muhammad.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Warning and Cautions for more Hadiths on the subject
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.
Photo | Source of Hadith | Help taken from ChatGPT for expanding meaning of the Hadith
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