Placing flowers on the grave

Question:-

Can Mufti Saheb explain why it is not permissible to put flowers on the grave?

Answer:- 

Any action carried out by us Muslims should be substantiated from the Quraan and Hadith. The practice of planting flowers on the grave is not proven from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, the Sahaabah, Tabi’een, etc. Furthermore, the practice is not substantiated from the Quraan Sharif and Hadith Sharif. Hence, placing flowers on the grave will be considered as an innovation and an incorrect practice.

There was one occasion when Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam passed by the grave of two people that were being punished. He broke a branch and placed it on the grave with the hope that the punishment will be decreased. Some commentators of Hadith have written that the decrease in punishment would only be obtained through the blessings of Rasulullah Salallahu Alahi Wasallam, or his Duas. This means that this was the speciality of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and specific to him.

وقال العيني رحمه الله تعالى: إن إلقاءَ الرياحين ليس بشيءٍ، ولم يَمْنع عن إنباتِ الشجرةِ. وفي العالْمكِيرية: أنَّ إلقاءَ الرياحين أيضًا مُفِيد: قلتُ: والاعتماد على ما ذكره العيني (فيض الباري ص72 ج3)

وَهَذَا أَوْلَى مِمَّا قَالَ بَعْضُ الْمَالِكِيَّةِ مِنْ أَنَّ التَّخْفِيفَ عَنْ الْقَبْرَيْنِ إنَّمَا حَصَلَ بِبَرَكَةِ يَدِهِ الشَّرِيفَةِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – أَوْ دُعَائِهِ لَهُمَا فَلَا يُقَاسُ عَلَيْهِ غَيْرُهُ (رد المحتار ص155 ج3)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:-

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 24 Rajab 1444 / 15 February 2023