602. Can I Build A Structure Or Plaster Over one's Grave?

By Asma bint Shameem 

QUESTION

My loved one just passed away and I want to honor him. Can I build a structure over his grave or plaster it?* *What about a tombstone with Qur’aan on it?

ANSWER

It’s not allowed to plaster over graves or build anything on top of them. 

Proof:

Jaabir radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam FORBADE plastering over graves, sitting on them and erecting structures over them.”

(Saheeh Muslim, 970)

Imaam Al-Shawkaani said: 

“The phrase “erecting structures over them: indicates that it is HARAAM to build anything over a grave.”

But if it’s just a border around the grave to demarcate it, then there’s nothing wrong with that, if it’s just like a small boundary, especially if it’s done to protect the grave or for some other valid reason. 

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“The graves that are abused by people or animals walking on them, or garbage is thrown on them, or people relieve themselves on them, then they should be surrounded with a fence or a wall; 

the people of the town should cooperate in building a wall around them that prevents animals and people from walking on them.” 

QUESTION

*What if there’s something *already built* over a pre-existing grave?*

ANSWER

If there’s any marble or cement structure that’s already been built on the grave, then we should try and remove it.

Proof:

The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said to Ali ibn Abi Taalib radhi Allaahu anhu:

“Do not leave any statue without erasing it, and do not leave any raised grave without leveling it.”  

(Saheeh Muslim, 969)

*But*, if removing the solid structure on the top would cause damage to the body of the deceased or it would be exposed or be harmed in some way, then the scholars say that it’s permissible to leave some of the structure in place, because the sacredness of the Muslim is important even after his death.

The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said:

“Breaking the bones of the dead is like breaking the bones of the living.” 

(Abu Daawood, Ibn Maajah; saheeh by al-Albaani) 

Ibn Hajar said:

“This hadeeth indicates that the sacredness of the believer after death is still confirmed as it was during his lifetime.” 

*What about putting a tombstone at the head of the grave*?

It’s allowed to put *some* kind of marker on the grave, just to *distinguish* the grave from others. 

But we can NOT put *big tombstones* with Qur’aan or other praises of the deceased or their information on it. 

*Just a simple marker would be enough.*

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam put a rock at the head of ‘Uthmaan ibn Maz‘oon’s grave and said: 

“So that I may know the grave of my brother thereby, and I will bury near him those who die of my family.” 

(Abu Dawood 3206)

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said: 

“There is nothing wrong with writing which is intended only to confirm the name and indicate that this is a grave. 

As for writing which is similar to what was done during the Jaahiliyyah, such as writing the person’s name accompanied by a eulogy, stating that he did such and such and other words of praise, or writing lines of poetry – this is haraam. 

That includes what some ignorant people do, namely writing Soorat al-Faatihah, for example, or other lines on a stone that is placed on the grave. All of that is haraam and the one who sees it in the graveyard should remove this stone, because this comes under the heading of evil that must be changed.”

(Sharh Riyadh as-Saaliheen)

And Allaah knows best