Source: Fatāwā Āman Pūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Āman Pūrī
If a grave has already been completed, and someone comes later, can he still throw three handfuls of soil onto it?
Yes, even after the grave has been completed, a person may throw three handfuls of soil, because placing three handfuls of earth on the grave is considered mustahabb (recommended).
❀ Abū Umāmah (رضي الله عنه) said:
“A man died who had no good deeds recorded for him except that he once threw three handfuls of soil on a grave, and because of that, his sins were forgiven.”
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī 6731 – chain ḥasan)
Imām al-Bayhaqī (رحمه الله) commented:
“This mawqūf narration is ḥasan in this chapter.”
❀ Maymūn ibn Mihrān (رحمه الله):
“He instructed that three handfuls of soil be thrown onto his grave.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 11720 – authentic chain)
❀ ʿĀṣim ibn Bahdalah (رحمه الله) said:
“I attended the burial of ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz (رحمه الله), and soil was thrown on his grave by handfuls.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 11721 – chain ḥasan)
Thus, all marfūʿ (Prophet ﷺ) reports in this chapter are weak, but the mawqūf narrations from Companions and the authentic reports from the Tābiʿīn support the practice.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is what I hold; and Allah knows best what is correct.)
Question
If a grave has already been completed, and someone comes later, can he still throw three handfuls of soil onto it?
Answer
Yes, even after the grave has been completed, a person may throw three handfuls of soil, because placing three handfuls of earth on the grave is considered mustahabb (recommended).
Evidence
❀ Abū Umāmah (رضي الله عنه) said:
“A man died who had no good deeds recorded for him except that he once threw three handfuls of soil on a grave, and because of that, his sins were forgiven.”
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī 6731 – chain ḥasan)
Imām al-Bayhaqī (رحمه الله) commented:
“This mawqūf narration is ḥasan in this chapter.”
❀ Maymūn ibn Mihrān (رحمه الله):
“He instructed that three handfuls of soil be thrown onto his grave.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 11720 – authentic chain)
❀ ʿĀṣim ibn Bahdalah (رحمه الله) said:
“I attended the burial of ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz (رحمه الله), and soil was thrown on his grave by handfuls.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 11721 – chain ḥasan)
Reports with Weak Chains
- Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ prayed a funeral, then came to the grave and threw three handfuls of soil at the head side.
(Sunan Ibn Mājah 1565)
– Weak due to tadlīs of Yaḥyā ibn Abī Kathīr and weakness of Salamah ibn Kulthūm.
Imām Abū Ḥātim (رحمه الله) declared the report bāṭil. - ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿah (رضي الله عنه):
He narrated that at the burial of ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ offered four takbīrs and threw three handfuls of soil at the head side of the grave.
(Sunan al-Dāraquṭnī 1836)
– Weak due to ʿĀṣim ibn ʿUbaydullāh. Imām al-Bayhaqī (رحمه الله) also declared it weak.
Thus, all marfūʿ (Prophet ﷺ) reports in this chapter are weak, but the mawqūf narrations from Companions and the authentic reports from the Tābiʿīn support the practice.
Conclusion
- Throwing three handfuls of soil on a grave is mustahabb and permissible, even after the grave has been completed.
- This is established by authentic mawqūf narrations and sound reports from the Salaf.
- The marfūʿ narrations are weak, but the practice is reinforced by the consistent actions of the early generations.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is what I hold; and Allah knows best what is correct.)
