Six Sunnah Practices and Shariah Rulings Regarding Graves
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed regarding the martyrs of Uhud:
"Place two or three persons in one grave."
(Silsilah al-Ahadeeth al-Saheehah by al-Albani: 4305)
Ruling:
When necessary, it is permissible to bury multiple people in a single grave, as practiced by the Prophet ﷺ.
ʿAbdullah ibn Muhammad ibn ʿUmar reported from his father (mursal):
"The Prophet ﷺ sprinkled water on the grave of his son Ibrahim."
(Abu Dawood 3223 — authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi)
Ruling:
Permissible as an act of maintaining the grave and settling the soil after burial.
ʿUthman ibn ʿAffan (رضي الله عنه) reported:
"When the Prophet ﷺ finished burying the deceased, he would stand by the grave and say: ‘Pray for your brother’s forgiveness and steadfastness, for now he is being questioned.’"
(Abu Dawood 3223 — authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi)
Note:
The narrations about reciting the opening verses of Surah al-Baqarah near the head and its ending verses near the feet after burial are weak and cannot be used as evidence.
Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) reported:
"The Prophet ﷺ placed a stone at the grave of ʿUthman ibn Mazʿun (رضي الله عنه) as a marker."
(Ibn Majah 1561)
He also said:
"I placed it so I could recognize my brother’s grave and bury my family members near it."
(Abu Dawood 3206)
Ruling:
It is permissible to place a simple marker to identify a grave and to bury family members nearby.
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed over a funeral, then went to the grave and threw three handfuls of soil from the side of the head."
(Ibn Majah 1565)
ʿAishah (رضي الله عنها) reported:
"Breaking the bone of a dead person is like breaking it when he is alive."
(Abu Dawood 3207, Ibn Majah 1616)
Ruling:
The sanctity of the deceased is like that of the living; thus, any harm or disrespect is prohibited.
1 — Burying More Than One Person in a Single Grave
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed regarding the martyrs of Uhud:
"Place two or three persons in one grave."
(Silsilah al-Ahadeeth al-Saheehah by al-Albani: 4305)
Ruling:
When necessary, it is permissible to bury multiple people in a single grave, as practiced by the Prophet ﷺ.
2 — Sprinkling Water on the Grave
ʿAbdullah ibn Muhammad ibn ʿUmar reported from his father (mursal):
"The Prophet ﷺ sprinkled water on the grave of his son Ibrahim."
(Abu Dawood 3223 — authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi)
Ruling:
Permissible as an act of maintaining the grave and settling the soil after burial.
3 — Encouraging Dua After Burial
ʿUthman ibn ʿAffan (رضي الله عنه) reported:
"When the Prophet ﷺ finished burying the deceased, he would stand by the grave and say: ‘Pray for your brother’s forgiveness and steadfastness, for now he is being questioned.’"
(Abu Dawood 3223 — authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi)
Note:
The narrations about reciting the opening verses of Surah al-Baqarah near the head and its ending verses near the feet after burial are weak and cannot be used as evidence.
4 — Placing a Stone as a Grave Marker
Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) reported:
"The Prophet ﷺ placed a stone at the grave of ʿUthman ibn Mazʿun (رضي الله عنه) as a marker."
(Ibn Majah 1561)
He also said:
"I placed it so I could recognize my brother’s grave and bury my family members near it."
(Abu Dawood 3206)
Ruling:
It is permissible to place a simple marker to identify a grave and to bury family members nearby.
5 — Throwing Soil on the Grave
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed over a funeral, then went to the grave and threw three handfuls of soil from the side of the head."
(Ibn Majah 1565)
6 — Prohibition of Breaking the Bones of the Dead
ʿAishah (رضي الله عنها) reported:
"Breaking the bone of a dead person is like breaking it when he is alive."
(Abu Dawood 3207, Ibn Majah 1616)
Ruling:
The sanctity of the deceased is like that of the living; thus, any harm or disrespect is prohibited.
