Authored by: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)
"When one of you dies, do not delay, but hasten his burial. At his head, recite the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah, and at his feet, recite its ending."
[Reported by Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman]
However, Imam Al-Bayhaqi himself has commented on this narration, stating that the authentic version is a Mawquf (halted) narration from Abdullah bin Umar (رضي الله عنه), meaning it does not have a direct chain back to the Prophet (ﷺ).
Additionally, this narration has also been recorded in Al-Mu‘jam Al-Kabir of Imam Al-Tabarani (2/208/2) and in Kitab al-Qira'ah 'Inda al-Qubur by Imam Khallal. However, its chain includes Yahya bin Abdullah bin Dhahhak Al-Babili, a weak narrator.
Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly commanded that Surah Al-Baqarah should be recited in houses, not in graves:
"Do not turn your houses into graves. Indeed, the devil flees from a house in which Surah Al-Baqarah is recited."
[Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 780]
Similarly, the Prophet (ﷺ) also said:
"Pray in your houses and do not turn them into graves."
[Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 777]
From these authentic narrations, it is clear that Surah Al-Baqarah should be recited in homes, not at graves. The practice of reciting its verses at the head and feet of the deceased has no basis in the Sunnah and should be avoided.
Question:
In our society, after burying the deceased, the first Ruku' (section) of Surah Al-Baqarah is recited near the head of the grave, and the last Ruku' near the feet. Is this practice permissible according to the Qur'an and Sunnah?Answer:
Reciting the initial and final verses of Surah Al-Baqarah at the head and feet of the deceased’s grave is based on a weak narration. This narration is mentioned in Mishkat al-Masabih under Kitab al-Janaiz: Bab Dafn al-Mayyit [Hadith No. 7171], where Abdullah bin Umar (رضي الله عنه) is reported to have heard the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) say:"When one of you dies, do not delay, but hasten his burial. At his head, recite the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah, and at his feet, recite its ending."
[Reported by Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman]
However, Imam Al-Bayhaqi himself has commented on this narration, stating that the authentic version is a Mawquf (halted) narration from Abdullah bin Umar (رضي الله عنه), meaning it does not have a direct chain back to the Prophet (ﷺ).
Additionally, this narration has also been recorded in Al-Mu‘jam Al-Kabir of Imam Al-Tabarani (2/208/2) and in Kitab al-Qira'ah 'Inda al-Qubur by Imam Khallal. However, its chain includes Yahya bin Abdullah bin Dhahhak Al-Babili, a weak narrator.
Scholarly Views on the Weakness of This Hadith:
- Imam Al-Dhahabi: "He is weak (واهٍ)."
- Al-Azdi: "His narrations are clearly weak (الضعف على حديثه بيّن)."
- Abu Hatim: "He is unreliable (لا يُعتدّ به)."
- Ibn Abi Hatim: "He narrates extensively from reliable narrators but falls into errors."
Refutation of This Practice Based on Authentic Hadiths
An additional narration often cited in favor of this practice is reported by Al-Tabarani (220/29), where Al-'Alaa bin Al-Lajlaj allegedly instructed his sons to recite at his grave. However, this too is not authentic, as Abdul Rahman bin Al-‘Alaa bin Lajlaj is Majhool (unknown), and his report is isolated (Munkar).Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly commanded that Surah Al-Baqarah should be recited in houses, not in graves:
"Do not turn your houses into graves. Indeed, the devil flees from a house in which Surah Al-Baqarah is recited."
[Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 780]
Similarly, the Prophet (ﷺ) also said:
"Pray in your houses and do not turn them into graves."
[Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 777]
From these authentic narrations, it is clear that Surah Al-Baqarah should be recited in homes, not at graves. The practice of reciting its verses at the head and feet of the deceased has no basis in the Sunnah and should be avoided.