Question to the noble scholar, Muhammad Ibn Sālih al-ʿUthaimeen (rahimahullāh):
What is your view concerning the common practice these days of delivering an admonition or khutbah at the graveside upon the burial of the deceased?
Answer: I see that admonitions at gravesides are not legislated in the Shareeʿah – and it should not be taken as a recurring or oft-repeated Sunnah. However, if a need arises for it, then it is legislated. For example, when it is seen that people during the time of burial are laughing, playing around, or making jokes – then, in that situation, to admonish them is something good and fine because the person speaking has a reason, and is fulfilling a requirement. As for a person merely standing as a khateeb among the people, while they are burying the deceased [or after they have already buried him], then this has no origin from the guidance of the Prophet (ﷺ).
It is authentically reported that the Prophet (ﷺ), after he had performed the janāzah of a man from the Ansār, and they were digging the place of his grave, he sat, and his Companions sat around him so still that it was as if birds were sitting on their heads – this was out of veneration and awe. In the hand of the Prophet (ﷺ) was a stick with which he was scratching the earth. So, he began to speak to them about the condition of a person at the time of death, and after he has passed away. So, it is clear and apparent from this that the Prophet (ﷺ) was not a khateeb sermonising and admonishing the people. Rather, he was sitting, and around him were his Companions waiting for the grave to be dug, so he was speaking to them – just as you, if you and your friends were waiting for the grave to be dug, and then you were to speak to them about this affair. There is, therefore, a difference between speech conducted among those who are sitting down [and waiting], and between delivering an admonition in the form of a khutbah.
Furthermore, after the burial of the deceased, the Messenger (ﷺ) would stand at the grave and say: “Prayer for forgiveness for your brother and ask that Allah grants him steadfastness, for he is being questioned right now.” (Abu Dawood no. 3221, Al-Hākim 1/270 graded saheeh by al-Albānī) This is also a particular type of speech and not a sermon. Likwise, on an occasion, he (ﷺ) stood by a grave of one of his Companions and he started to speak to his Companions while his eyes shed tears, saying: “There is not one of you except that his place/seat is written for him in Paradise or the Fire.” (Bukhārī no. 1362, Muslim no. 2647) None of this proves the permissibility in the Shareeʿah for sermonising (delivering a khutbah) at the burial of the deceased in the manner that has become customary, commonplace and adopted. Therefore, it is a must that the likes of these issues are investigated and researched.
(Duroos wa Fatāwa fil-Haram al-Makkī p. 320. See al-Bidʿah wal-Muhadathāt wa mā lā Asla lahu, p. 370-372.)
