✿ Ruling on Calling the Adhan at the Grave in Light of Qur’an and Hadith ✿
Authored by: Qari Usama bin Abdus-Salam (حفظه الله)
Is it permissible to call the Adhan (call to prayer) at the grave after burial? Is this practice a Sunnah or an innovation (Bidʿah)?
Nowhere in the Qur’an is there any mention of calling the Adhan after a funeral or burial. On the contrary, Allah forbids introducing new matters into the religion:
"أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ"
(Ash-Shura: 21)
Translation:
“Do they have partners (with Allah) who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed?”
This indicates that introducing practices into religion which Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have not prescribed is impermissible.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ led countless funeral prayers and burials, but not once did he ever call the Adhan at a grave, nor did he command others to do so.
Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه):
"أن النبي ﷺ صلى على النجاشي فصفوا خلفه فصلى عليه"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1333, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 951)
Translation: “The Prophet ﷺ offered the funeral prayer for Najashi (the king of Abyssinia) in absentia, and the people aligned behind him for the prayer.”
→ Yet, no Adhan was given, nor was it instructed.
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه):
"اتبعنا النبي ﷺ في جنازة، فجلسنا ولم يأمرنا بالأذان عند القبر"
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 3186)
Translation: “We followed the Prophet ﷺ in a funeral procession, he sat down and did not command the Adhan to be given at the grave.”
If giving Adhan at the grave had any merit, the Messenger ﷺ would have practiced and taught it.
The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) performed thousands of funerals and burials, yet none of them is reported to have given the Adhan at any grave.
Neither Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه), nor Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Ibn Abbas, or Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهم) practiced or commanded such an act.
Imam Shafi’i (رحمه الله) said:
"إذا دفن الميت فلا يؤذن عليه، فإن ذلك لم يكن من سنة رسول الله ﷺ"
(Kitab al-Umm, 1/280)
Translation: “When the deceased is buried, no Adhan is to be given, because this was not from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
The Prophet ﷺ clearly stated:
"من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2697, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1718)
Translation: “Whoever introduces something into our matter (religion) which is not from it, it is rejected.”
This Hadith affirms that any act not taught or practiced by the Prophet ﷺ and his companions is considered an addition to the religion and is categorized as Bidʿah (innovation).
✔ There is No Evidence for This Practice
If it had any religious merit, the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions would have surely done it.
✔ It Serves No Religious Purpose
The Adhan is meant for calling to prayer, not for a deceased person. What benefits the deceased is duʿā’, forgiveness, and recitation of the Qur’an.
✔ It Can Lead to Innovation
When a practice is repeated, people may begin to view it as a required part of religion. Today, those who call the Adhan at graves consider it a virtuous deed — while it contradicts the prophetic example.
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ، وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ، وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ
“O Allah! Forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him well-being, and pardon him.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 963)
"السلام عليكم أهل الديار من المؤمنين والمسلمين، وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون، أسأل الله لنا ولكم العافية"
“Peace be upon you, O dwellers of the graves, from among the believers and Muslims. Indeed, we shall, if Allah wills, soon join you. I ask Allah for well-being for us and for you.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 975)
This is the authentic Sunnah established from the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
May Allah grant us the ability to act according to the Sunnah and avoid all innovations. Āmīn.
Authored by: Qari Usama bin Abdus-Salam (حفظه الله)
❀ Question:
Is it permissible to call the Adhan (call to prayer) at the grave after burial? Is this practice a Sunnah or an innovation (Bidʿah)?
◈ Answer in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith
Evidence from the Holy Qur’an
Nowhere in the Qur’an is there any mention of calling the Adhan after a funeral or burial. On the contrary, Allah forbids introducing new matters into the religion:
"أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ"
(Ash-Shura: 21)
Translation:
“Do they have partners (with Allah) who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed?”
This indicates that introducing practices into religion which Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have not prescribed is impermissible.
Authentic Research from Hadith
① The Prophet ﷺ Never Called the Adhan at the Grave
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ led countless funeral prayers and burials, but not once did he ever call the Adhan at a grave, nor did he command others to do so.
Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه):
"أن النبي ﷺ صلى على النجاشي فصفوا خلفه فصلى عليه"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1333, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 951)
Translation: “The Prophet ﷺ offered the funeral prayer for Najashi (the king of Abyssinia) in absentia, and the people aligned behind him for the prayer.”
→ Yet, no Adhan was given, nor was it instructed.
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه):
"اتبعنا النبي ﷺ في جنازة، فجلسنا ولم يأمرنا بالأذان عند القبر"
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 3186)
Translation: “We followed the Prophet ﷺ in a funeral procession, he sat down and did not command the Adhan to be given at the grave.”
If giving Adhan at the grave had any merit, the Messenger ﷺ would have practiced and taught it.
② Practice of the Companions (Sahabah)
The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) performed thousands of funerals and burials, yet none of them is reported to have given the Adhan at any grave.
Neither Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه), nor Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Ibn Abbas, or Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهم) practiced or commanded such an act.
Imam Shafi’i (رحمه الله) said:
"إذا دفن الميت فلا يؤذن عليه، فإن ذلك لم يكن من سنة رسول الله ﷺ"
(Kitab al-Umm, 1/280)
Translation: “When the deceased is buried, no Adhan is to be given, because this was not from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
③ Prohibition of Innovations (Bidʿah)
The Prophet ﷺ clearly stated:
"من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2697, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1718)
Translation: “Whoever introduces something into our matter (religion) which is not from it, it is rejected.”
This Hadith affirms that any act not taught or practiced by the Prophet ﷺ and his companions is considered an addition to the religion and is categorized as Bidʿah (innovation).
❀ Clarifying the Misguidance of Adhan at the Grave
✔ There is No Evidence for This Practice
If it had any religious merit, the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions would have surely done it.
✔ It Serves No Religious Purpose
The Adhan is meant for calling to prayer, not for a deceased person. What benefits the deceased is duʿā’, forgiveness, and recitation of the Qur’an.
✔ It Can Lead to Innovation
When a practice is repeated, people may begin to view it as a required part of religion. Today, those who call the Adhan at graves consider it a virtuous deed — while it contradicts the prophetic example.
❀ What is the Correct Practice?
✔ Make Duʿā’ for the Deceased
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ، وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ، وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ
“O Allah! Forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him well-being, and pardon him.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 963)
✔ Upon Visiting the Grave, Recite This Supplication:
"السلام عليكم أهل الديار من المؤمنين والمسلمين، وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون، أسأل الله لنا ولكم العافية"
“Peace be upon you, O dwellers of the graves, from among the believers and Muslims. Indeed, we shall, if Allah wills, soon join you. I ask Allah for well-being for us and for you.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 975)
This is the authentic Sunnah established from the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
Summary:
- Calling the Adhan at the grave is a Bidʿah (innovation), as there is no evidence for it in the Qur’an, Hadith, or the practice of the Companions.
- Instead, make Duʿā’, seek forgiveness, and recite the Qur’an for the deceased.
- Avoid innovations and follow the path clearly taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
May Allah grant us the ability to act according to the Sunnah and avoid all innovations. Āmīn.
