Original article authored by Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (Hafizahullah), enhanced with headings and additional structuring for easier reading.
Lighting lamps at graves and shrines is an innovation that leads to unwarranted additions in religion, imitation of disbelievers, and wastage of wealth. This practice has no foundation in the Qur’an or Sunnah, nor is there any precedent from the era of the Companions or the Followers (Tabi‘in).
Innovation (Bid‘ah) introduces foreign elements into religion and leads to misguidance. One innovation paves the way for another, as innovation is devoid of sound knowledge and reasoning. As Allah says in the Qur’an:
"And among people is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge and follows every rebellious devil."
(Surah Al-Hajj: 3)
There is no evidence in the Qur’an or authentic Hadith that supports lighting lamps at graves or venerating them in such a manner.
✔ Hafiz Ibn Kathir explains that innovators turn away from the truth and follow falsehood.
The Barelvi scholar, Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi, attempted to justify this innovation in his book Ja al-Haqq, suggesting that if lighting brings some benefit, especially for the graves of saints, then it is permissible. However, this is a weak argument since neither the Companions nor the Followers engaged in such practices.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions never lit lamps at graves. If this were a valid act, the Companions would have surely practiced it. Similarly, the Followers did not perform such acts at the graves of the Companions either.
Even within the Hanafi school of thought, lighting lamps at graves is considered an innovation and a remnant of ignorance.
✔ Fatawa Alamgiri states:
"Carrying lamps to graves is an innovation with no basis."
(Fatawa Alamgiri: 5/351)
✔ Imam Ibn Taymiyyah states that lighting lamps at graves is unanimously impermissible.
✔ Allama Ibn al-Qayyim considers it a major sin and likens it to the practices of Christians.
✔ Hafiz Ibn ‘Abd al-Hadi includes it among the tribulations that lead to shirk (polytheism).
Naeemi attempts to draw analogies from unrelated events, such as lighting in the mosque of Prophet Sulaiman (عليه السلام). However, this is irrelevant since the discussion concerns graves, not mosques.
This innovation misleads the public into believing that spiritual benefit can be derived from lighting graves, which is entirely baseless. Scholars have strongly condemned this practice, labeling it as a waste of resources and a cause of religious exaggeration.
Lighting lamps, lanterns, and exaggerating in the reverence of graves and shrines is a clear innovation. It has no basis in the Qur’an or Sunnah, was never practiced by the Companions or Followers, and only serves to deceive the masses and promote misguidance.
Muslims are urged to return to the true understanding of the religion and perform their actions in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunnah, steering clear of all innovations.
❖ The Innovation of Lighting Lamps on Graves and Shrines
Lighting lamps at graves and shrines is an innovation that leads to unwarranted additions in religion, imitation of disbelievers, and wastage of wealth. This practice has no foundation in the Qur’an or Sunnah, nor is there any precedent from the era of the Companions or the Followers (Tabi‘in).
❖ Condemnation of Innovation
Innovation (Bid‘ah) introduces foreign elements into religion and leads to misguidance. One innovation paves the way for another, as innovation is devoid of sound knowledge and reasoning. As Allah says in the Qur’an:
"And among people is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge and follows every rebellious devil."
(Surah Al-Hajj: 3)
❖ Rejection from Qur’an and Hadith
There is no evidence in the Qur’an or authentic Hadith that supports lighting lamps at graves or venerating them in such a manner.
✔ Hafiz Ibn Kathir explains that innovators turn away from the truth and follow falsehood.
❖ The Barelvi Viewpoint
The Barelvi scholar, Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi, attempted to justify this innovation in his book Ja al-Haqq, suggesting that if lighting brings some benefit, especially for the graves of saints, then it is permissible. However, this is a weak argument since neither the Companions nor the Followers engaged in such practices.
❖ Practice of the Companions and Followers
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions never lit lamps at graves. If this were a valid act, the Companions would have surely practiced it. Similarly, the Followers did not perform such acts at the graves of the Companions either.
❖ Position of Hanafi Jurists
Even within the Hanafi school of thought, lighting lamps at graves is considered an innovation and a remnant of ignorance.
✔ Fatawa Alamgiri states:
"Carrying lamps to graves is an innovation with no basis."
(Fatawa Alamgiri: 5/351)
❖ Scholarly Opinions
✔ Imam Ibn Taymiyyah states that lighting lamps at graves is unanimously impermissible.
✔ Allama Ibn al-Qayyim considers it a major sin and likens it to the practices of Christians.
✔ Hafiz Ibn ‘Abd al-Hadi includes it among the tribulations that lead to shirk (polytheism).
❖ Naeemi’s Justifications and Their Weakness
Naeemi attempts to draw analogies from unrelated events, such as lighting in the mosque of Prophet Sulaiman (عليه السلام). However, this is irrelevant since the discussion concerns graves, not mosques.
❖ Deception Among the Masses
This innovation misleads the public into believing that spiritual benefit can be derived from lighting graves, which is entirely baseless. Scholars have strongly condemned this practice, labeling it as a waste of resources and a cause of religious exaggeration.
❖ Conclusion
Lighting lamps, lanterns, and exaggerating in the reverence of graves and shrines is a clear innovation. It has no basis in the Qur’an or Sunnah, was never practiced by the Companions or Followers, and only serves to deceive the masses and promote misguidance.
❖ A Call for Reflection
Muslims are urged to return to the true understanding of the religion and perform their actions in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunnah, steering clear of all innovations.
