Help Honor Yousef with a Gravestone

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmat Allah Wa Barakatu,

I'm raising funds for a dear friend of mine that passed away in a fatal car accident a few months ago. I worked with this 19 year old young man and used to train him at work for a little while. I will always remember him as one of the most gentle and sweetest souls I have ever encountered. The respect he showed to others on a daily basis was unmatched. His energy and selflessness always rubbed off on people in the best way. He was a true gem of a human being, May Allah forgive him and accept him amongst the righteous. Any extra funds will go to the family to help ease the debt left over from the accident.

His father is a very good friend of mine, I can't even imagine the pain he still goes through til today. Not only has he had to deal with the death of his eldest son, but he still has to keep up with the bills accrued through the damages of the accident, and the totaled car. His father is one of the kindest people you will ever meet, and Yousef was just like him.

Yesterday we had a tornado here in Dallas, and one thing that kept going through my mind is how Yousef til today doesn't have a gravestone while all of the others buried around him have one. I'm pretty sure the little metal placard placed on his grave flew away. His father asked me in the past, how come everyone in the cemetery has a gravestone except my son. At the time I inquired about it, only to find out it was $2000. I told his father about the price quoted and he decided to postpone it.

I reached back out to the cemetery funeral service today, and they told me they can have it ordered for me for $450. This should be a very easy goal to reach, knowing how much influence Yousef had on everyone that knew him. There is no better time than now during Ramadan to get this done for the family. May Allah reward everyone whether you donate or make a simple duaa for my friend.

Jazakum Allah Khair

With regard to it being permissible to mark a grave with something permissible, there is evidence in the Sunnah which explains that.

It was narrated from Kathir ibn Zayd Al-Madani that Al-Muttalib said: When `Uthman ibn Madh`un died, his bier was brought out and he was buried, then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered a man to bring a rock but he was not able to carry it. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stood up and rolled up his sleeves. Kathir said: Al-Muttalib said: the one who narrated that to me from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: it is as if I can see the whiteness of the arms of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he rolled up his sleeves. Then he carried it and placed it at the head (of the grave), and said, “From this I will recognize the grave of my brother, and I can bury those among my family who die near him.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 3206)

The chain of narrators of this Hadith was classed as sound by Al-Hafidh ibn Hajar in At-Talkhis Al-Habir, 2/133)

Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

There is nothing wrong with marking a grave with a stone or a piece of wood. There is nothing wrong with a man marking a grave so that he will know where it is. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) marked the grave of `Uthman ibn Madh`un. (Al-Mughni, 2/191)

And Allah knows best.