Can the dead hear our Salaam and Tilaawat at the graveside?

Answer

Answering this question Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah alayh) said:

Most of the Ahl-e-Kashf (People of Inspiration) are unanimous in claiming that the dead do hear the Salaam, etc. (which those who visit the graves offer). This issue refers to kashf and it is in the category of zann (i.e. there is no absolute Shar'i daleel to substantiate it).

Allamah Suyuti (rahmatullah alayh) narrated a very interesting episode in this regard. There was a man whose practice it was to visit his mother's grave to recite Qur'aan Shareef. Once his mother appeared to him in a dream and requested that whenever he visited her grave he should first sit at her graveside for some time before commencing his tilaawat. She explained when he began his tilaawat his face would be densely enveloped in a halo of anwaar. This prevented her from seeing him. Thereafter he would sit for a while before commencing tilaawat to enable her to see his face.

Reciting the Qur'aan Shareef at the graveside produces spiritual contentment and peace for the mayyit.