Praise be to Allah

Firstly, this hadith is one of the hadiths that have been received by multiple and concordant ways. It is the one through which the two sheikhs reported from Abu Hurairah (pbuh) that the Prophet (pbuh) said: The space between my house and my pulpit is one of the gardens of paradise (reported by al-Bokhari (1196) and by Muslim (1391).

As for the words ‘between my grave and my pulpit’ they are used in a version of Ibn Assakir quoted in Sahih al-Bokhari which some ulama had been attributing to Sahih al-Bokhari. When al-Bokhari himself quoted the hadith in the chapter entitled: The Merit of Prayer in the Mosques of Makkah and Madinah, he used the words ‘my house and my pulpit’ after a subtitle: ‘the merit of the space between the grave and the pulpit’.

However, the ulama have found the term ‘my grave’ weak for two reasons. The first is that it contradicts the versions of most of the reporters. This makes it strongly believed that the one who said ‘my grave’ reported the meaning of the hadith instead of reporting the exact words. The second is that if this term was correct, it would have allowed the Companions to recognize the burial place of the Prophet (peace be upon him) so that there would not be any dispute about it. Some would have used this argument to prevail over others. But all this has not come down to us. This indicates that the use of the words ‘my grave’ is a mistake by one of the reporters of the hadith.

Shaykh al-Islam, Ibn Taymiya (May Allah have mercy on him) says: « What has been reliably reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) is that he said: The space between my house and my pulpit is one of the gardens of paradise. These are the words quoted in the Sahih. But some people have reported the meaning of the hadith (instead of its words), hence the use of the term ‘grave’.

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) said this, he did not have a grave yet. That is why none of the Companions could find an argument in these words when they were arguing about where he should be buried. If they had had a clear text on the matter, it would have been possible to decide the matter. Madjmu fatwa (1/236).

Al-Hafidz Ibn Hadjar (May Allah have mercy on him) said: « The term ‘grave’ is used in the title and then in the two hadiths quoted. It is the term ‘house’ that is used because the grave was later located in the house. Some versions of the hadith mention ‘grave’. Al-Qurtubi says: The correct version is the one that mentions ‘house’. It was also mentioned ‘my grave’. It seems that the meaning of the hadith has been reported, as he was buried in the house he lived in. Fateh al-Bari (3/70).

He said (May Allah have mercy on him): « The expression ‘between my house and my pulpit’ is used by the majority. It is only in Ibn Assakir’s version that it is ‘my grave’ instead of ‘my house’, which is a mistake. This hadith is already quoted in the chapter on prayer which precedes the chapter on mortuary affairs. It is reported through this chain with the use of the term ‘my house’. This is how it appears in the Musnad of Musaddad, the master of al-Bokhari.

Certainly, it is found in a hadith received from Saad ibn Abi Waqqas reported by al-Bazzar through a chain of reliable reporters. It is also reported by at-Tabarani from a hadith received from Ibn Omar in which the term ‘grave’ was used. However, it is likely that the term ‘house’ refers to one of its rooms and not all of them. It is then the room of Aisha that houses his grave. One version of the hadith states The space between the pulpit and Aisha’s room is one of the gardens of paradise. Quoted by at-Tabarani in al-Awsat. Fateh al-Bari (4/100).

The first is that this place resembles the gardens of paradise in the sense that whoever settles there experiences happiness and tranquility.

The second is that worshiping there is a cause of entering paradise. This is the opinion chosen by Ibn Hazem in al-Muhalla (7/284). Ibn Taymiya reported that Imam Ahmad preferred to pray in the garden.

The third is that space between the pulpit and the house of the Prophet (peace be upon him) will become one of the gardens of paradise.

Qadi Iyadh (May Allah have mercy on him) says: « The expression ‘one of the gardens of paradise’ can have two meanings, one of which implies the apparent meaning that the invocations and prayers one makes there entitle one to this reward. It is in this sense that it is said: Paradise is in the shadow of the swords. The second is that this space will be moved by Allah and installed as it is in paradise according to ad-Dawoudi. » From Shifaa (2/92).

Ibn Abdul Barr (May Allah have mercy on him) said: « Some people have said that the hadith means that the space will be moved on the Day of Resurrection and installed in paradise. Others say that it is metaphorical. They mean that the Prophet’s sitting in this place surrounded by people who came to learn the Qur’an and the belief and religion is the basis for comparing the place to a garden because of the nobility of what is gathered there.

It has been annexed to paradise because its use leads to paradise as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Paradise is in the shadow of swords. To say that the fight led (for Islam) leads to paradise. It is in the same sense that he said: « The mother is a door to paradise. This means that her good treatment leads to paradise, provided that one adds to it the respect of the prescriptions. The use of this allegorical style is common in the Arabic language. Allah knows best what he (the Prophet) means by this. At-Tamhiid (2/287).

Imam an-Nawawi (May Allah have mercy on him) says: They have issued two opinions on its meaning: the first is that the space in question will be moved to paradise. The second is that worshiping in it will lead to paradise.

At-Tabari says about the meaning of ‘my house’: There are two opinions. According to one, it means the grave. This is the opinion of Zayd ibn Aslam quoted in the explanation of the expression ‘between my grave and my pulpit’. The second is that it is the house that he lived in. It is also reported ‘between my room and my pulpit’.

At-Tabari says that the two opinions agree because his grave is in his room which was his house. » From Shari’ah Muslim (9/161-162).

Al-Hafedz ibn Hajar (May Allah have mercy on him) says: His words ‘one of the gardens of paradise’ mean: it is like one of the gardens of paradise in relation to the descent of mercy and the realization of happiness that comes from the dhikr circles that were found there, especially during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This is an implicit comparison. It can also mean that the practice of worship there leads to paradise, which is a metaphorical expression. The expression can also be taken in the real sense by saying that one will move the space as it is in the hereafter to paradise. These are the interpretations that the scholars have made of this hadith. They have been arranged according to their strengths. From Fateh al-Bari (4/100).

In summary, the space has obvious merit that justifies the Muslim to sit and pray in it. However, it is important to know that the most important thing is the fear of Allah, which is the cause of entering paradise, and not the mere fact of sitting in the garden or in any other place.

Since this is a purely cultic matter, it is not possible to explain the cause of the specification of this place to the exclusion of all others. Allah the Transcendent and Most High bestows virtues on the time, space and people of His choice. He does this on the basis of a perfect wisdom that we could not discover.

Allah knows best.