Making Du'aa in the Graveyard

Q: Janaa'iz-49: What do the Ulema of Deen and the Muftis have to say about raising the hands when making du'aa in the graveyard? Is it Sunnah or an act of Bid'ah?

Answer: It is Masnoon and from amongst the etiquette of du'aa to face the Qibla and to raise the hands while making du'aa as one stands in the graveyard. This has been reported in the Ahadeeth of Rasulullaah SAW.

Allaama Ayni RAH. says that it is amongst the etiquette of making du'aa in the graveyard for a person to stand facing the Qibla and not to sit. Fat'hul Baari (Vol.11 Pg.122) reports from Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood RAH. that he saw Rasulullaah SAW. raise his hands as he faced the Qibla and made du'aa for Hadhrat Abdullaah Dhil Bijaadayn RADI. after burying him.

If one faces another direction and sits, it is permissible to make du'aa with the hands lowered. When making ciu'aa, the onlooker should not get the impression that one is asking from the person in the grave. It is therefore best not to face the grave when making du'aa with raised hands. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.3