Fatwa ID: 05474

Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Haroon Hussain

Question:

Is it makrooh to write the name of the mayyit on his qabr?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The issue with writing names in Arabic and other things on gravestones is that sooner or later, they will be disrespected as there is wear and tear, erosion, birds sitting on the gravestones and defecating upon the name of Allah (SWT) or upon ayat of the Quran. So, this is the problem with writing on gravestones. For that reason, it is not permissible to write Quran ayat or the name of Allah (SWT) or any other name that should be respected. So, if one wishes to write a name, it should be in English only and it should always be kept in mind what will happen to this inscription in a hundred years time or when no one looks after it anymore [1].

There are some places where people have been keeping the graveyard/tombs in good condition for hundreds of years (for example, the resting places of Prophets, Sahaba etc. In those exceptional cases, it is fine because there is no chance of the name of Allah (SWT) or the Quran being desecrated. In some other countries, there are particular graveyards (for example next to big institutions/madaaris), where the graves are kept in good condition. So, there also we would say it is not an issue as long as they are looked after from desecration.

So, you can write a name and a date in English for recognition and so that no one disrespects the grave by thinking it not to be a grave[2]. Arabic should be completely avoided, especially the ayat of the Quran and the name of Allah (SWT)[3].

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammed Haroon Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1]ولا بأس بالكتابة إن احتيج إليها حتى لا يذهب الأثر ولا يمتهن

ص139 – اللباب في شرح الكتاب – باب الجنائز – دار الحديث القاهرة

[2]  ولا بأس أيضًا بالكتابة في حجر صين به القبر ووضع عليه لئلا يذهب الأثر فيحترم للعلم بصاحبه

ص611 – حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح – فصل في حملها ودفنها – دار الكتب العلمية

[3] وَلَوْ كُتِبَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى الْحِيطَانِ وَالْجُدَرَانِ بَعْضُهُمْ قَالُوا: يُرْجَى أَنْ يَجُوزَ، وَبَعْضُهُمْ كَرِهُوا ذَلِكَ مَخَافَةَ السُّقُوطِ تَحْتَ أَقْدَامِ النَّاسِ، كَذَا فِي فَتَاوَى قَاضِي خَانْ.

ص399 – جلد 5- الفتاوى الهندية – كتاب الكراهية – الباب الخامس في آداب المسجد والقبلة والمصحف – دار الكتب العلمية