QUESTION:

What do the scholars and muftis of the mighty Shari’ah say regarding the following matter, is it permissible to plant trees on graves, and what should be planted on graves so that it can recite tasbīh (glorification of Allāh) on behalf of the deceased?

Questioner: Shelim from UK

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

To plant a tree so that it may provide shade for those that visit the graves is permissible and praiseworthy, however it should placed in an area away from the graves. Just as A’lā Hazrat Imām Ahmad Ridā Khān (may Allāh shower him with mercy) states in Fatāwā Ridawiyyah that if a tree is for providing shade for visitors then that is good, however, it should be placed away from the graveyard.

[Fatāwā Ridawiyyah, vol 9, pg 412]

Grass, etc. should be placed on the grave of the deceased, as long as it remains fresh it will continue to do tasbīh, it is for this reason that removing fresh grass from the graveyard is disliked (makrūh), just as it is mentioned in Radd al-Muhtār in the chapter of funerals,

“قطع النبات الرطب والحشیش من المقبرۃ دون الیابس کما فی البحر والدرر وشرح المنیۃ وعللہ فی الامداد بانہ مادام رطباً یسبح اﷲ تعالٰی  فیونس المیّت وتنزل بذکرہ الرحمۃ ونحوہ فی الخانیۃ انتھی”

“It is disliked to cut fresh grass from the graveyards, not dry grass, just as it is stated in al-Bahr, al-Durr, Sharh al-Munyah, and its reason is mentioned in Imdād; as long as it remains fresh it continues to do tasbīh of Allāh (Most High), due to which the deceased experiences ease, and something similar is mentioned in Khāniyah.”

[Radd al-Muhtār, Bāb Salāt al-Janāiz, Volume 1, pg 606]

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri

Translated by Zameer Ahmed

Read the original answer in Urdu here – [Q-ID0364] Should we plant trees and grass on graves? Do they help the deceased?

Also see:

[Q-ID0647] Is it permissible to place artificial flowers on a grave?

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