Is it allowed to build anything over graves or plaster over them since that is mentioned in Surah al-Kahf?

by Asma bint Shameem

ANSWER

It’s true that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala said in Surah al-Kahf:

“(Remember) when they (the people of the city) disputed among themselves about their case, they said: "Construct a building over them, their Lord knows best about them," (then) those who won their point said: "We verily shall build a place of worship over them."

(Surah al-Kahf 18:21)

However, just because it is mentioned in the Surah about building over graves, does not mean that it is permissible to do so.

This is what the non Muslim leaders and kings had said at that time. 

And Allaah is just ‘informing’ us of what they had said. 

But that doesn’t mean that it’s allowed in the Sharee’ah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to build structures over graves. 

Actually, the Prophet ﷺ specifically gave instructions NOT to build over graves and forbade us from doing that. 

🍃 Jaabir radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“The Messenger of Allaah 

‎ﷺ  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.”

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ 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)

🍃The Prophet ﷺ also said:

 ‘May Allaah curse the Jews and the Christians, for they have taken the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.’” 

(al-Bukhaari 1330, Muslim 529)

🍃 Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa 

said: 

“He was warning (the Muslims) against (doing) what they had done.”  

And she said: “Had it not been for that, the grave of the Prophet ﷺ would have been made prominent but he was afraid it might be taken (as a) place of worship.” 

🍃 And Umm Salamah and Umm Habeebah radhi Allaahu anhumaa told the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ  about a church that they had seen in the land of Abyssinia, and the images that were in it. 

He ﷺ said: 

“When a righteous man died among them, they would build a place of worship over his grave and put those images in it. 

They are the most evil of mankind before Allaah.”

(al-Bukhaari 427, Muslim 528) 

🍃 And the Prophet ﷺ also said:

“Those who came before you used to take the graves of their Prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as places of worship; I forbid you to do that.’” 

(Saheeh Muslim 532)

In any case, even if it was allowed to build structures over graves “at that time”, thousands of years ago, that ruling NO LONGER applies because the Prophet ﷺ came with a new Sharee’ah that ABROGATED all the previous Sharee’ahs and their rulings.

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Baaz said explaining the Aayah from Surah al-Kahf:

“Allaah has told us about the leaders and powerful people of that time, and that they said these words. 

That does not imply that He (Allaah) liked that or approved of them, rather He said that by way of blaming them and condemning their action. 

This is indicated by the fact that the Messenger ﷺ to whom this verse was revealed and who was the most knowledgeable of people as to how it should be interpreted, forbade his ummah to build masjids over graves, warned them against doing so, and cursed and condemned those who did that. 

If that had been permissible, then the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ would not have discouraged it in such emphatic terms, and gone to the extent of cursing those who did it, and said that they are the most evil of mankind before Allaah. 

This is sufficient to convince the seeker of truth. 

We must follow him, adhering to that which he brought and abstaining from anything from the ancient laws that goes against that or any custom that appeals to the one who does it but goes against that. 

For there is nothing more perfect than the laws of Allaah and there is no guidance better than the guidance of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ.”

(Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 1/434)

So do NOT build anything on the grave of your loved ones;

no domes, no structures, no plaster or cement or railings.

Rather keep it simple and just make the grave as high as a hand span only, and no more.

This is how the grave of a Muslim should be.

🍃 Ibn Qudamah said:

“The grave should be made as high as a hand span above the ground in order that it may be known that it is a grave, so that people will avoid walking on it and will pray for mercy for its occupant.

It is not recommended to make the grave any higher than a small amount." (Al-Mughni,  2/190)

🔺What about a tombstone?

It is 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.

📌 Proof:

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ put a rock at the head of ‘Uthmaan ibn Madh‘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; hasan by al-Albaani)

🍃 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 Shaikh ibn Baaz was asked:

“What is the ruling on inscribing the word of Tawheed ((i.e. لا إله إلا الله -[there is no deity but Allaah]) on some graves?

He said:

“This is not permissible.

It is only prescribed to dictate Talqeen (encouraging someone dying to say: “Laa ilaaha illa Allaah”).

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

“Dictate to your Mawta (i.e., to say): لا إله إلا الله” Related by Muslim.

Mawta here refers to the dying persons (and not someone who is already dead) so as to let their last words be: “Laa ilaaha illa Allaah.”

But, it is not permissible to inscribe on their shrouds or graves.”

(Majmoo ‘al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol. 13; pg. 186)

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Don't just “READ” Surah al -Kahf every Friday....

🔺UNDERSTAND

🔺REFLECT

🔺IMPLEMENT

And Allaah knows best