Is it permissible to put palm branches over graves, following the example of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (may Allaah exalt his mention)?

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.

It was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, once passed by two graves and said that the two persons who were buried there were being tormented. So the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took a wet palm branch, divided it into two and put one part on each grave. He said that he had done this because it would ease their torment for as long as they did not dry. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The dominant opinion on this is that which was mentioned by Al-Qaadhi ‘Iyaadh who said that this action was exclusive to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, since no one else would know if the buried person was being tormented or not.

However Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar who followed the Shaafi‘i school, said that this is permissible for all people. He supported this by saying that Ibn Al-Husayb ordered people to put two palm branches on his grave.

Allaah Knows best.