Praying at
graves
source:
fatāwā jeddah ~ rulings from jeddah ~ tape no. 13
Question #4: “How do we bring together (the Prophet’s) (صلى
الله عليه وسلم) prohibition of praying in the graveyard and
his praying over the woman who used to sweep in the masjid?”
Shaykh al-Albānī answers:
shaykh al-albaani (rahimahullaah) clarifies the difference
between praying towards the graves of the dead and praying
over them:
“There is no contradiction between the two narrations, all
praises and thanks are to Allāh. The first hadīth
(mentioning) the prohibition of praying in the graveyard is
as (the Prophet’s) (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saying in Sahīh
Muslim: ‘Don’t sit on graves and don’t pray towards them.’
[1] So the prohibition of praying in the graveyard, i.e.
praying towards graves, is because it is obligatory for the
prayer to be sincerely for the Face of Allāh, the Blessed
and Most High, without any glorification for other than
Allāh in it at all corrupting or mixing with it, for (that)
is one of the types of shirk[2]. So if a Muslim begins to
pray for Allāh while facing the grave, there is an obvious
suspicion that this person at least intends – as many of the
ignorant people do in this era – to seek a blessing from
this dead person with his prayer and with his seeking
nearness to Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, by his prayer.
Thus, he has fallen into some shirk, he has exceeded the
proper bounds in (this affair), and his situation got to the
point where it excluded him from the circle of Islām, and
Allāh’s protection is sought. This meaning is what should be
considered with regard to the prohibition of the Messenger
(of Allāh) (صلى الله عليه وسلم) from praying in the
graveyard or from praying towards the grave.
As for praying over the dead person while he is in his
grave, then this is something else. It has nothing to do
with (the previously mentioned contradiction between)
praying for Allāh alone, who has no partner, and (praying)
towards the grave of a dead person; it is not intended by
this (latter) prayer (to ask) for Allāh to forgive him, (to
ask) for Him to have mercy on him, as is the implied meaning
with regard to supplicating for the dead person.
Therefore, praying over the dead person while he is in his
grave is one thing, and praying for Allāh, the Mighty and
Majestic, while facing the grave is another thing. (The
second situation) is prohibited and (the first situation) is
allowed, so there is no confusion between (the two
situations).”
~ asaheeha translations ~
[1] Sahīh Muslim #972
[2] associating partners with Allāh
|