Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, which contains 4,053 hadiths across 49 books. It is hadith number 1051 in the Book of The Book on Jana''iz (Funerals).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

‹

#1050

#1051

Jami` at-Tirmidhi

#1052

›

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #1051

Q: What is Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1051 about?

This hadith from Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Book of The Book on Jana''iz (Funerals)), narrated by Abu Wa'il narrated:, states: ""Ali said to Abu Al-Hayyaj Al-Asadi: 'I am dispatching you with what the Prophet dispatched me: "That you not leave an elevated grave without leveling it, nor an image without erasing it.""

The Book on Jana''iz (Funerals)

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، أَنَّ عَلِيًّا، قَالَ لأَبِي الْهَيَّاجِ الأَسَدِيِّ أَبْعَثُكَ عَلَى مَا بَعَثَنِي بِهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أَنْ لاَ تَدَعَ قَبْرًا مُشْرِفًا إِلاَّ سَوَّيْتَهُ وَلاَ تِمْثَالاً إِلاَّ طَمَسْتَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَلِيٍّ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ ‏.‏ وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ يَكْرَهُونَ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ الْقَبْرُ فَوْقَ الأَرْضِ ‏.‏ قَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ الْقَبْرُ إِلاَّ بِقَدْرِ مَا يُعْرَفُ أَنَّهُ قَبْرٌ لِكَيْلاَ يُوطَأَ وَلاَ يُجْلَسَ عَلَيْهِ ‏.‏

"Ali said to Abu Al-Hayyaj Al-Asadi: 'I am dispatching you with what the Prophet dispatched me: "That you not leave an elevated grave without leveling it, nor an image without erasing it."

Narrated by Abu Wa'il narrated:

Context

In this hadith, Ali instructs Abu Al-Hayyaj Al-Asadi to follow the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ's directive regarding graves and images. The emphasis is on maintaining humility and respect for the deceased by leveling elevated graves and erasing images, which reflects the Islamic principle of avoiding idolatry and ensuring the focus remains on worship.

Modern Application

Today, this principle can be applied by promoting respect for burial sites and discouraging the use of images that may lead to idolatry. It encourages a focus on the spiritual aspects of life and death rather than material representations.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Funeral Rites and Image-Making because it addresses the treatment of graves and the prohibition of images, which are significant in Islamic practices.

Funeral Rites Image-Making