Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterWhy Faatimah was not buried beside her father
Question
Faatimah, may Allaah be pleased with her, died 6 months after her father, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, died two and a half years later and Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, in 24 Hijri. Despite their later deaths, how is it that they attained burial sites next to the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and Faatimah, may Allaah be pleased with her, did not? Did she request that she be buried away from her father? If so, why was this request not granted? Or did the Muslims prevent her burial?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Abu Bakr 
was buried beside the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, because he expressed his will to be buried beside his friend of the cave. Therefore, his will was fulfilled and he was his Companion when he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was alive and when they died. As for 'Umar he sought the permission of 'Aa'ishah 
to be buried beside the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and she agreed, so he was buried there. Therefore, this matter was fulfilled for both Companions 
as they were buried beside the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and they were the most beloved persons to him.
'Amr ibn Al-'Aas narrated that he asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, “Who is the most beloved person to you?" He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: "‘Aa’ishah." Then he asked him, "Who is the most beloved person to you among men?” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: "Her father." ‘Amr asked again, "Then who?" He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "‘Umar." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Some scholars from the Salaf (righteous predecessors)
stated that their burial beside the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is confirmed by the story of him, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sitting on the edge of a well, and on his right side was Abu Bakr and on his left side, was 'Umar . This story is reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim both. At the end of this story, said Ibn Al-Musayyib
(one of the reporters of the narration) interpreted this story by 'their graves'. It should be noted that no Muslim throughout the centuries objected to why these two Companions were buried in that place.
As for Faatimah it is not known that she made a will or requested to be buried beside her father, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. It should be noted that the place where the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was buried was the room of 'Aa'ishah and it was not a public graveyard. It was more appropriate for 'Aa'ishah to ask to be buried beside him, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but she did not. Anyway, the fact that Faatimah was not buried beside the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, does not decrease her status, and she is the best of the women of Paradise, as testified by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Similarly, the status of 'Uthmaan and other Companions was not decreased by not being buried beside the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Allaah Knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
