The ruling on reciting Surah Ya-Sin at the Grave and the ruling on planting Trees over and cultivating it with vegetation.

Question

After burying the deceased some people recite Surah Ya-Sin from a copy of the Qur'an at the grave and they plant a tree at the grave, like an Indian fig tree, and they will plant some barley or wheat in the ground over the grave. They do this claiming that the Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) did that to two graves of his Companions. What is the ruling on that?


Answer

It is not legislated to recite Surah Ya-Sin or anything other than it from the Qur'an over the grave after the burial or during the burial. It is also not legislated to recite Qur'an in the graves, because the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) did not do that, nor did the Rightly-Guided Caliphs (Radhi Allahu Anhum) . Likewise it is not legislated to call the Adhan or the Iqamah at the grave. All of that is innovation. It has been authenticated from the Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) that he said:

Whoever does a deed that is not in accordance with our matter, then it is rejected. (Muslim 1718)

Likewise, it is not legislated to plant trees over the graves or Indian fig trees or anything else. Also barley and wheat and other things should not be planted over the graves. This is because the Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) did not do that over the graves, nor did the Rightly-Guided Caliphs (Radhi Allahu Anhum)

In reference to what the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) did with the two graves, which Allah had informed him about their torment, of planting a palm branch in them, this is something specifically for him and those two graves. This is because he did not do that with anyone other than them. It is not for Muslims to introduce new things from the acts of seeking nearness to Allah with that which Allah did not legislated. This is due to the Hadith that has been mentioned and the statement of Allah:

Or do they have partners who have legislated for them from the religion that which Allah has not allowed. (Surah Ash-Shura 42:21)

And success is from Allah


Shaikh Ibn Baz (Rahimahullah)

Reference: Fatawa Islamiyah Volume 3 Page 116-117