Islam affects every aspect of the life of a Muslim. In the previous article, we have introduced the funeral customs of Islam. Today, we will further discuss the prohibitions of the Islamic funeral grave.

The taboos mentioned here all come from Hadith. It records the words and actions of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and has been called the repository of Islamic Knowledge.

As the author didn't add any comments on the book, views about the records differ widely from reader to reader. Hence, some of the following prohibitions have become customs for hundreds of years. While others did not.

1. Do Not Leave A Picture Without Obliterating It

The rule comes from Hadith 2115. Ali ibn AbuTalib told AbulHayyaj al-Asadi” Should I not send you on the same mission as Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) sent me? Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high grave without leveling it.” According to the word, posting a picture on a grave is forbidden.

2. Do Not Plaster The Grave

In Hadith 1709, Jabir ibn Abdullah said” Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) forbade that graves should be plastered with gypsum, have any writing on them, or be trodden on.” Thus, the rule that do not plaster the grave comes from the statement.

3. Do Not Lean On Grave

In Hadith 1721, Amr said that when the Prophet saw him leaning on a grave, he said ”Do not molest the occupant of this grave"; or, "Do not molest it." So, it is obvious that leaning on a personal memorial headstone is prohibited.

4. Do Not Set Up Tent Over The Grave

In Hadith 2154, One of the Prophet's companions set up his tent over a grave and do not find this is a grave, another partner was reciting the surah, "Blessed is He in whose hand is the kingdom." After reciting the content, He told the Prophet. The prophet said “It is the defender; it is the protector which is protecting him from Allah's punishment." Therefore, the rule was formed.

5. Do Not Pray In Graveyards

In Hadith 49, the narrator Musa said” As far as Amr thinks, the Prophet said: The whole earth is a place of prayer except public baths and graveyards.” The Quote shows that graveyard is not suitable for praying.

6. Do Not Make Grave An Idol

The rule comes from Book 9: Hadith 9.24.88, the original text is as follows:

Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam from Ata ibn Yasar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "O Allah! Do not make my grave an idol that is worshipped. The anger on those who took the graves of their Prophets as places of prostration was terrible.

Hence, making a grave an idol is discouraged.

7. Do Not Whitewash Or Write On A Grave

The rule comes from a word that has been reported by Jabir, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i.

Jabir reported: "The Prophet, peace be upon him, forbade the whitewashing of a grave, sitting on it, or erecting any structure on it."

Tirmidhi reported this wording: "The Prophet, peace be upon him, forbade the whitewashing of graves, writing on them, building on them, or stepping on them."

Nasa'i, reported it in these words: "The Prophet, peace be upon, forbade building over a grave, adding anything to it, whitewashing it, or writing on it."

We can see that there are differences between these versions. But all of them mentioned that do not whitewash graves and write on them.

This word sparked great controversy in the Islamic world. Most scholars agree with the practice.

However, Ibn Hazm drew the very opposite view. He thought the act is illegal. The authentic objective of the word is that it is unnecessary to decorate the grave beautifully. Because the dead do not need them and the tombs will not exist forever.

Some people present a new idea. The reason that whitewashing is forbidden is that burning brimstone is a necessary process for whitewashing.

Narration Zaid bin Arqam supported the view. He said to a person who wanted to build something over his son's grave and whitewash it: "You are wrong and have done a useless thing. Nothing touched by fire should be brought near the grave." Covering the grave with clay is more suitable as it will not cause damage to the cemetery tombstone of Moslem.

But they still can not explain why writing on a gravestone is unlawful. So, there is still, not a conclusion on whether it is permissible torite or whitewash the gravestone.

8. Do Not Add More Soil Than What Was Taken Out When Digging The Grave

It comes from Hadith “Do not add more soil than what was taken out when digging the grave.” There are several explanations for the statement.

Ash-Shawkani thought that it means that the amount of soil added into the grave should not exceed the one dugout.

Ash-Shafi'i said that the implication is that the headstone should not higher than the ground. If the amount of soil put into the grave are larger than the one dug out, but the height of the grave is flush with the level of the ground, it is also permissible.

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