Taken from: Fatawa Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to plant a palm branch on a grave?
❖ Answer:
❖ This practice is not legislated in Shari‘ah.
The action of placing palm branches on graves was done specifically by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on two particular graves, and it was not due to the branches themselves, but because of the intercession (shafāʿah) of the Prophet ﷺ.
✿ The Authentic Hadith:
Sayyidunā Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“I passed by two graves whose inhabitants were being punished. I wanted the punishment to be lightened for them due to my intercession, so I placed green branches on their graves. The punishment would be reduced for them as long as these branches remain moist.”
(Sahih Muslim: 3012)
❖ Important Clarifications:
✔ The reduction in punishment was not due to the branches themselves,
✖ but due to the Prophet’s ﷺ intercession and divine permission.
✔ The effect was temporary – only until the branches remained moist.
✖ Therefore, this incident is not a general sunnah for others to imitate.
The Prophet ﷺ never instructed the Companions to place branches on graves, nor did the Sahabah themselves adopt this practice afterwards.
✅ Conclusion:
➤ Placing palm branches on graves is not from the Sunnah, nor is it recommended or legislated.
➤ The act performed by the Prophet ﷺ was specific to a moment and individuals, and was effective only because of his prophetic status and intercession, not due to the branches themselves.
