WHAT VERSES ARE RECITED AT THE GRAVEYARD?

The graveyard is a designated burial place for a particular community where the deceased are laid to rest. Visiting graves is done to remember the deceased, take lessons from their passing, pray for their forgiveness, recite the Qur’an, and dedicate its reward to them.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “I had previously forbidden you from visiting graves. Now, you may visit them,” (Muslim). In another hadith: “Visiting graves reminds one of the Hereafter,” (Tirmidhi).

There are specific etiquettes for visiting graves. One of these is to recite verses from the Qur’an at the graveside, dedicate the reward to the deceased, and make du‘a for them. The scholars of all four madhhabs have approved reciting Qur’an and making du‘a at the grave. When a Muslim visits a grave, they may recite any surahs or verses they know by heart. However, the following surahs and verses are specifically mentioned in hadiths and athar (statements of the Companions and Successors):

1. Reciting Surah Yasin. The Prophet (ﷺ) said in a hadith:

   “Yasin is the heart of the Qur’an. Whoever recites it seeking Allah’s pleasure and the Hereafter, his sins will be forgiven. Recite Surah Yasin for your deceased.”

   In another narration:

   “Recite Surah Yasin for your dead.”

   Egypt’s former Mufti, Dr. Ali Gomaa, said: “The best surah to recite for the deceased is Yasin. Reciting it eases the punishment of the grave and illuminates it.”

2. Reciting Surah al-Fatiha, the first five verses of Surah al-Baqarah, and its last verses. In a narration from Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):

   “I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: ‘When one of you dies, do not delay in burying him. After burial, let one of you stand at his head and recite Surah al-Fatiha, and at his feet recite the last part of Surah al-Baqarah.’”

   In another narration:

   “Instead of al-Fatiha, recite the opening verses of Surah al-Baqarah.”

3. Reciting Surah al-Fatiha, al-Ikhlas, and at-Takathur. In a hadith:

   “Whoever enters a graveyard and recites Surah al-Fatiha, ‘Qul huwa Allahu ahad’, and ‘Alhakum at-takathur’, then says: ‘O Allah, I dedicate the reward of what I have recited from Your words to the believing men and women in this grave,’ they will intercede for him.”

   There are also athar regarding reciting Surahs al-Falaq and an-Nas. Hanbali scholar Hafiz al-Maqdisi said: “Although these hadiths are weak, they prove that reciting Qur’an at the grave has a basis in the religion. Muslims have always recited Qur’an for the deceased.”

In conclusion, according to the Ahl al-Sunnah creed, if one recites Qur’an for the deceased and dedicates the reward to them, the reward reaches them.

Medet QURMASHULY,

Specialist, Shariah and Fatwa Department, SAMK

“Iman” magazine, No.2, 2024