Ruling on Collective Duʿā and Recitation of Sūrah Yāsīn at Graves: A Review of Two Important Issues
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Janā’iz, Page 516
❖ Question
Some people visit graves and engage in collective duʿā with raised hands and recite Sūrah Yāsīn. Is this permissible in Islam?
(Asked by: Ḥājī Naẓīr Khān, Dāmān Hazro)
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
✦ ➊ Ruling on Collective Duʿā at Graves
◈ There is no evidence in Sharīʿah for collective duʿā at graves.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ only instructed that duʿā be made after burial, not at the grave site later on.
📚 Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3221 – Chain is ḥasan; authenticated by al-Ḥākim (1/37) and approved by al-Dhahabī
✦ Clarification and Caution:
✔ At graves that are objects of worship, one must not raise hands and make duʿā, to avoid resemblance (tashabbuh) with the mushrikīn and innovators.
✔ If visiting the grave of a soundly believing person, it is recommended to make duʿā silently from the heart:
“May Allah forgive him and raise his status.”
✔ An individual visiting a graveyard may raise his hands and make general duʿā for all the deceased.
📖 The Prophet ﷺ once visited the graveyard of Baqīʿ, raised his hands, and made duʿā.
📚 Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 974b; Dār al-Salām: 2256
✦ ➋ Ruling on Reciting Sūrah Yāsīn in Graveyards
◈ Reciting Sūrah Yāsīn in the graveyard or by the deceased has no authentic basis in the Sunnah or from the Salaf.
◈ Therefore, this act is considered a bidʿah (innovation).
📚 Refer to: Maʿjam al-Bidaʿ by Shaykh Rāʾid ibn Ṣabrī ibn Abī ʿAlfah, p. 679
📚 Published in al-Ḥadīth Magazine, Issue 61
✅ Summary
❌ Collective duʿā at graves is not proven and may lead to resembling innovators.
❌ Recitation of Sūrah Yāsīn at graves is a bidʿah, with no authentic ḥadīth or Athar supporting it.
✅ Individual duʿā with hands raised is permitted when visiting a graveyard, as per the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
