بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
What is the ruling on placing branches from trees and flowers on graves?
To place branches from trees and flowers on graves is permissible and commendable. The following Hadith is the source for this,
Hadhrath Ibn Abbaas (Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) once passed by two graves wherein punishment occurred. He said,
“Indeed, the inmates of these graves are experiencing punishment but they could have avoided this. One of them used to engage in backbiting whilst the other would not safeguard himself from drops of urine.” Rasulullah (peace be upon him) then took a branch from a nearby date-tree, broke it in two pieces and placed a piece on each of the graves. He then said, “I have hope that until these pieces of branch do not dry, the punishment of the inmates of these graves will be lessened.”
(Bukhārī, Hadith no. 1378, Kitābul Janaaiz, Published by Qadeemi Kutub Khana, Karachi)
Fataawa Hindiyah states,
“To place flowers and sweet-smelling plants on a grave is commendable and if their equivalent value is given in charity, this is better.”
(Vol. 5, pg. 351 – with reference to Fataawa Darul Uloom Deoband)
Allama Ibn Aabideen Shaami (Allah be pleased with him) states,
“Until it (grass, plants, flowers etc.) remains fresh, it will make the Zikr of Allah Ta’aala and the heart of the deceased will attain contentment by this and indeed, mercy descends by the Zhikr of Allāh Ta’aala. This is also reported in the book Khaaniyah. I say, the evidence of this is that which has been reported in the Hadith that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) broke the branch of a tree in two pieces and placed one on each of the graves wherein there was punishment. He then said, ‘Until these pieces of branch do not dry, the punishment of these graves will be reduced.’ Meaning, via the blessings of their Tasbeeh, punishment will be reduced because Tasbeeh made by fresh things are more efficacious.”
(Raddul Muhtaar, Vol. 2, pg. 245, Published by H.M. Saeed Company, Karachi)
Concerning placing a broken branch from a tree on a grave, Shaikh Azīzur Rahmaan Uthmaani writes,
“Question – Is it permissible to plant the branch of an Indian Jujube tree on the grave near the chest area after burial? Answer – It is correct.”
(Fataawa Darul Uloom Deoband, Vol. 5, pg. 270-1, Published by Darul Ishaat, Karachi)
Allah and His Rasool know best.
Darul Iftaa
Islamic Lifestyle Solutions
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