Planting of Trees

PLANTING OF TREES (HADEETH # 31)

Hadeeth 31

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah () happened to pass by two graves and said: They (their occupants) are being tormented, but they are not tormented for a grievous sin. One of them carried tales and the other did not keep himself safe from being defiled by urine. He then called for a fresh twig and split it into two parts, and planted them on each grave and then said: Perhaps, their punishment way be mitigated as long as these twigs remain fresh. (Muslim)

Imam Nawawi said in commenting on the above in his Sharh Sahih Muslim (al-Mays ed. 3/4:206): “The scholars have declared desirable — mustahabb — the recitation of the Quran over the grave due to the above Hadeeth, because if relief from punishment is hoped for through the glorification of date-palm stalks, then the recitation of the Quran is more deserving yet, and Allah knows best.” This Hadeeth also constitutes a legal basis for the planting of trees at the site of graves.

Among the Companions Hazrat Abu Barza al-Aslami (may Allah be well pleased with him) and Hazrat Burayda (may Allah be well pleased with him) asked to be buried together with two fresh stalks. Imam Suyuti mentioned this in “Sharh al-sudur”.

Comments are closed.