Prohibition of facing the Graves during Salat (Prayer)

باب النهي عن الصلاة إلى القبور

This short chapter is about the respect owed to graves and the worshipper's care over where he prays. It records guidance not to pray facing graves, nor to sit upon them.

The thread is reverence: keeping the act of prayer directed purely toward Allah, and treating the resting places of the dead with dignity rather than as ordinary ground.

Hadith 1757

Abu Marthad Kannaz bin Husain (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

عن أبي مرثد كناز بن الحصين رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ ‏ "‏لا تصلوا إلى القبور، ولا تجلسوا عليها‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: "Do not offer Salat (prayer) facing the graves and do not sit on them." [Muslim].

In plain words

The Prophet taught that one should not pray facing graves, nor sit on them. It keeps prayer directed to Allah alone and treats the resting places of the dead with respect.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1757 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 247