Respecting the Graves

 

 

Rasheed: Your informative talk proves that visiting graveyards reminds us of our impending death. That is why it is ordered. But do we need to respect graves? Is there any order?

 

Hameed: Yes! To sit, stand or walk on graves is strictly prohibited by Holy Prophet (PBUH). In this relation, I will put down some Ahadith for your satisfaction.

 

 

 

 

 Ayesha Siddiqa (R.A) reports that Prophet Mohammed SAW said:

 

“The thing which troubles a corpse or a dead body at home, will trouble him/her further in the grave”. (Dailmi)

 

Ibne Abi Shaiba in his book wrote that Abdullah bin Masood reported:

 

 

 

 

“To trouble a Muslim after his death is like troubling him in his life”.

 

Hazrath Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (Rh) with an authentic order ‘Hasan’ quoted that Hazrath Ammarah bin Hazm (R.A) reportes that when Prophet Mohammed SAW found me sitting on a grave then ordered me to get down from it and said that don't tease him,(the man in the grave)as he is not teasing you.

 

 

 

“Don’t trouble this man in grave (or) don’t trouble him.”

 

Muslim, Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi reports:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allah’s messenger (PBUH) said: “A man sitting on a spark of fire then getting caught in it so much so that it burns all his clothes and reaches his skin, is much better than sitting on a grave”.

 

Ibne Maja reports from Aqba bin Amir with an authentic order Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“In place of walking on a grave I would prefer walking on fire (burning charcoals or sharp sword)”.

 

Tabrani has quoted in his ‘Kabeer’ with ‘Sanad Sahih’ that Hazrath Abdullah bin Masood (R.A) said:

 

 

“Definitely! To step a foot on fire is better than stepping a Muslim’s grave”.

 

According to Abu Dawood, Nasai, Tahawi quoted from Basheer Ibne Qasaasiya that Prophet Mohammed SAW said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“When Prophet SAW saw a man walking in between two graves with his slipper  he said: “Oh man with slipper! Throw away your slipper”.

 

Imam Baihqi in his ‘Dalayal-e-Nubuwat’ and Ibne Abi Duniya quoted from Hazrath Abu Osman Nahdi that Ibne Manba Tabaye reported that:

 

“I visited a tomb, performed Salath and relaxed for a while. I swear to God I was awake (did not sleep) that I heard the voice of a man from the grave where i was relaxing.

“Stand up, for you have troubled me”.

 

Tirmidhi reports from Hazrat Jaber (R.A):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allah’s messenger (PBUH) has prohibited from constructing a grave with mortar, writing on it and from walking over it.

 

One more tradition on the same subject is quoted in Abu Dawood by ibne Jareeh reported by Abu Zubair:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 To construct a building or to sit or sleep on a grave (graveyard), or to step on it with foot or to urinate is loathsome/abominable (makruh) and to very extent forbidden (Haraam) as well. Allama Shami verified this and wrote in ‘Hashiya Durrul Muqtar’:

 

 

 

 

 

Whichever object troubles people in their life same thing troubles them after their death.

 

A recent incident is quoted here with reference to “Respecting the graves of Muslims”.

 

A very valuable reason is being given in this relation. It is as follows:

A man sees another man standing on Muslim’s grave. He cries out: “Mister, don’t you know that human heart and mind are the records of Quran, Allah’s SWT names and Kalima-e-Tayyaba, because they keep rendering them through out their life. Have you seen and heard the gramophone records when played, they produce the sound of what has been recorded. If you record Quran-e-Majeed in anything (whether it is a gramophone record or human mind) it is worthy of respect. In the same way the cranium of a human being which contains Quran-e-Majeed and Allah’s SWT names need to be respected.