Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Jazakallahkhir my dear bro. Its really appreciable about your way of dawah program and Inshallah Allah will help you in the way of practicing Islam and dawah program. Allah give you a great strength and knowledge of Islam for guide the people like us, amin.

Dear Bro., 

If am wrong please guide me. As per my knowledge with the ref. Bukhari which is shown below and as per Muslim & Ahamad which is you mentioned, I bit confused. So please don't mind, guide me in right path. 

Bukhari: Volume 002, Book 023, Hadith Number 339.

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Narated By Ibn Abbas : A person died and Allah's Apostle used to visit him. He died at night and (the people) buried him at night. In the morning they informed the Prophet (about his death). He said, "What prevented you from informing me?" They replied, "It was night and it was a dark night and so we disliked to trouble you." The Prophet went to his grave and offered the (funeral) prayer.

Abu Marthad al-Ghanawi reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "Do not pray facing a grave and do not sit on one."

Related by Muslim and Ahmad.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 492   Narrated by Sa'id

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘The whole earth is a place of prayer (masjid) except public baths and graveyards.’

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Funeral prayer in absentia prophet (saws) prayed on grave

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) indeed specifically prohibited the believers from offering prayers facing a grave and/or in graveyards….but these are the normal ‘fard-sunnah-nafl’ prayers where there are ‘rukus’ (bowing) and ‘sajdahs’ (prostration).

Because the funeral prayer does not have any ‘rukus’ and ‘sujoods’ in it, there is absolutely no harm if one offers a funeral prayer facing a grave or in graveyards.

Other than the funeral prayer, one is prohibited to offer any other type of ‘salaah’ facing a grave or in graveyards.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan