21/104. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2043 — Respecting Graves Properly
The Stern Warning Against Putting Lamp On Graves
Hadith About Graves as Masjids and Lamps
Sunan an-Nasai : 2043
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2043
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُحَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ : لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَائِرَاتِ الْقُبُورِ وَالْمُتَّخِذِينَ عَلَيْهَا الْمَسَاجِدَ وَالسُّرُجَ .
It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: "The Messenger of Allah cursed women who visit graves, and those who take them as Masjid and put lamps on them."
[1] The chain of the narration is weak. As for taking graves as Masjids , see chapter No. 106; as for women visiting graves - and that the curse is mentioned, it is narrated by other Companions, see Ibn Mâjah Nos. 1574 and 1576, and No. 1056 of At-Tirmidhi , see No. 225 of Ad-Da'if for details.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2043In-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 226English translation : Vol. 3, Book 21, Hadith 2045
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2043
This hadith about graves as masjids is a serious warning about how graves should be treated. Ibn Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah cursed women who visit graves, and those who take graves as masjids and put lamps on them. The text joins three matters in one report: visiting graves in the mentioned way, making graves places of prayer, and placing lamps on them. The explanation should stay within the hadith itself. It teaches that graves are not to be turned into worship spaces or decorated in a way that changes their simple purpose. The message is about respect, limits, and avoiding actions that the Prophet strongly warned against.
What we learn from this hadith
- Graves should not be taken as masjids.
- The Prophet strongly warned against putting lamps on graves.
- Grave etiquette includes keeping clear limits around worship.
