benefit them?’ He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Yes! As long as these twigs remain moist, their punishment will keep reducing.’

(Sahih Ibn Habbaan, vol. 2, pp. 96, Hadees 821)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب           صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic sisters! We attained three Madani pearls from the aforementioned blessed Hadees:

1. Our Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has the knowledge of unseen with the bestowal of Allah Almighty. That’s why he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم not only observed the torment that both of them were facing but also mentioned the sins due to which they both were facing the torment of the grave.

2. It is not a Bid’ah at all to place fresh flowers and green leaves on the graves. Rather, it falls under acting upon this very blessed Hadees of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Therefore, it is [proven from the] Sunnah.

It is stated in Sahih Bukhari: Sayyiduna Buraydah Aslami رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ left a will that two moist branches be placed inside my grave.

(Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 458)

‘Allamah Khattabi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: When the Tasbih of green branches can reduce the punishment of the deceased, then if a Muslim recites the Holy Quran beside a grave, then it will reduce the punishment of the deceased to a greater extent; because it is obvious that the recitation of the Holy Quran is a lot superior to the Tasbih of branches in blessings and excellence. (‘Umda-tul-Qaari, vol. 2, pp. 598, Taht-al-Hadees 216)

Sadr-us-Shari’ah, Badr-ut-Tareeqah, ‘Allamah Maulana Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: It is better to place flowers over the grave as until they remain moist, they will perform Tasbih and the heart of the deceased will remain amused. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, pp. 851)

Remember! This ruling is for men, whereas, it is prohibited for women to visit graveyards.