Chapter: The Prohibition of Plastering Graves and Building Over Them

1767 – Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade coating a grave with plaster, sitting on it, or constructing over it.” Collected by Muslim.

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—then followed this with the chapter on the prohibition of sitting on a grave, because a grave encloses a respected Muslim; to sit on it is a form of disrespect toward him. For that reason the Prophet ﷺ said, in the report of Abu Hurayrah, “For one of you to sit on a burning coal that scorches his clothes until it reaches his skin is better for him than to sit on a grave.” This clearly shows that the act is forbidden: a person has no right to sit on the grave of a Muslim. If he wishes to sit, he should sit behind the grave, keeping it at his back, or to its right or left. Sitting directly on top of it, however, is unlawful.

The same applies to excessiveness regarding graves. Thus the Prophet ﷺ forbade plastering the grave, building over it, and writing on it, because plastering—meaning the embellishment and aggrandizement of the grave—leads people into shirk (associating partners with Allah). Building over it carries the same risk. Plastering is therefore forbidden, building over it is even more strictly forbidden, while writing on the grave is a separate issue that requires further discussion.