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Death has to come and it is a fact that cannot be
refuted. It is Fardh-e-Kifaayah to bury the deceased. The place where a person
is buried is called the "Qabar" or grave and the place of burial for many people
is called "Qabristaan" or graveyard. A graveyard always reminds one of death and
of meeting with the Creator.
After death, every person has to be buried accordingly. This
is the final level on earth and the first step towards the Hereafter. To visit
the graveyard is the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
When visiting the graveyard, one should first make Salaam and then make Du'a for
the deceased. In this era it is totally forbidden for women to visit the graves
or Mazaars. She is only allowed to visit the Roza Mubarak of Rasoolullah
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) because it is close to Waajib and a means of
great blessing.
It is also necessary to respect the graveyard. To sit, sleep
or lean against the grave is unethical. It is not allowed for one to jump over
graves. To place your feet (walk) on a grave is totally wrong. It is also
forbidden to perform Salaah in the direction of a grave and to make Sajdah on a
grave is Haraam. To make Sajdah to a grave is Kufr. However, to touch the grave
of parents and saints (and to kiss their hands) is allowed and a means of great
blessings. This is an action of love and respect.
In the grave, Munkar and Nakir ask three questions to the
deceased. The first question concerns Allah. The second concerns the Deen and
the third concerns Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). In the
grave the deceased is blessed with the Ziyaarah of Rasoolullah (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam). If the person had been pious in his or her life, then the
grave becomes a garden, but if not, then the grave becomes a fire from Hell. In
the grave there is mercy and torment.
To place the Shajrah and Ahad Nama, etc. in the grave is
allowed. To also place flowers or green plants on a grave is permissable. It is
the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). It is also
permissable to put water on the grave. This act benefits the deceased since
fresh flowers and plants recite the Tasbih. To give Azaan at the grave-side
after burial is permissable and a means of great blessings.
It is stated in the Hadith that the Holy Prophet (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) said, "It is easier for me to put my foot on a
sharp sword than to put a foot on the grave of a Muslim". In another Hadith,
he says, "I will prefer to put my foot on burning fire so much so that it
burns my shoe and reaches my feet, than putting my foot on the grave of a
Muslim". This is a statement by that person, whom by Allah, if he sets his
holy feet on the chest or eyes of any Muslim, will gain the peace and pleasure
of both the world! It is stated in "Fathul Kadeer", "Tahtawi" and
"Raddul Mukhtaar" that, "If a new path is created in a Muslim graveyard
by any person then it is Haraam to walk on it because it must have been made
over graves. On the contrary, old pathways were made avoiding graves. Therefore,
to walk on them is quite in order".
Once, in the presence of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam), a person was walking out of a graveyard with his
shoes on, Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "O you who
have shaved your hair, are you wearing shoes? Throw your shoes away. Do not harm
the people of the grave so that they may not harm you". To perform Salaah on
graves, to perform Salaah facing graves, to stand or set foot on a grave, to
build a masjid on graves and to farm and cultivate on graves are all forbidden
and Haraam.
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