Hello again dogsbollocks, and thank you for your question.
Generally Islamic cemeteries are modest in appearance, and whilst it
is allowable to have a "headstone" it would seem that this is only for
marking the grave, and not for inscribing any kind of tribute or
rememberance to the deceased.
"Q: What is the Islamic ruling with regard to headstones and
tombstones in a Muslim cemetery?
A: Classical Islamic law looks upon the beautification of the graves
as very negative, for in Islam, the physical death means exactly that.
The death is also a reminder that one's time in this world is
finished. Therefore, to put up expensive headstones / tombstones, etc.
is considered a waste of money and seeking to make a state of
permanency of the site. As such, there is a hadith where the Prophet
Muhammad (s.a.a.w) allegedly ordered his companion to go and flatten
every raised grave. Since ancestor worship too was an ancient
practice, the marking of the spot was not done. So we find that except
for the Prophet's grave, we cannot with any certainty rule on the
authenticity of any of the places claimed to be grave sites of the
previous Prophets.
In modern terms, it has become a custom to use a marker as in North
American cemeteries, which merely notes the name of the deceased, and
the time of birth and death. This obviously has no adulative purpose
in mind, and does not seem to contradict any shari`ah principles. One
may classify this as a headstone, although it is almost flat with the
ground. So headstones or tombstones which serve as markers are
permissible. However, if the objective is to aggrandize, then they
fall into the category of the prohibited."
http://www.geocities.com/forpeoplewhothink/Answers/Headstones_and_Tombstones.html
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"Islamic graves do not usually have large or elaborate markers. As a
result, Muslim cemeteries often look like large open lawns"
http://www.fims.uwo.ca/newmedia/muslim/muslim_stewart_d01_d.htm
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Q."Are Grave stones made of Granite or Marble also known as headstones
allowed on Muslim Graves?
Also a person making these stones is it allowed for him to do so? And
as for applyng Qur?anic ayats on these stones, is this allowed.
Jazak?Allah Khairun for your commendable work and effort. Wasalaam WR
WB"
A."It is permissible to place headstones on graves for identification
purposes only. It is not permissible to write verses of the Qur?aan on
grave headstones."
http://www.islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=9760
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"Islamic tradition in general prefers graves to be simple, without
fancy decoration. The graves of many Muslims are therefore either
unmarked, or marked only with a wreath or bush. However, about half of
the graves in Islamic cemeteries in Oslo are marked with a
gravestone."
http://www.ukm.uio.no/utstillinger/farvel/islam-eng.html
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"In Saudi Arabia, which uses a stricter interpretation of the law
called Hanbali, king and taxi-driver alike are buried with simple
headstones. Yet in Muslim Egypt, whose Pharaohs built the pyramids 47
centuries ago, families still vie to build elaborate mausoleums
unsanctioned by Islam"
http://course1.winona.msus.edu/aelafandi/polsci270/islam.htm
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"Muslim graves will usually be mounded or leveled above the surface of
the ground, about a hand's height. Markers are usually simple
headstones that may be in the form of a ball on top of a pole for
males and a flat board for females. It is forbidden to walk on, sit or
lean on, or build structures upon graves."
http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:3UInePjFpSYJ:www.usafhc.af.mil/LeadingEdge/LE_07Mar03/attachments/RAA_Iraq.doc++%22Islamic+law%22+headstones&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
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Powerpoint presentation:
"Muslim cemeteries are usually modest in appearance Spectacular tombs
are sometime erected for aristocratic persons Example of the Taj
Mahal, one of the architectural wonders of the world"
http://www.utexas.edu/depts/grg/sanders/GRG305/PowerPoint/Religious%20Realms%20-%20Part%20II.ppt.
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Thank you for your question, and if you have any queries regarding my
answer do not hesitate to ask for clarification.
Very best regards
THX1138
Search strategy included:
"Islamic law" headstone
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