Is it Sunnah to place a palm branch on a grave, following the action of the Prophet (peace be upon him)?

The Hadith (definition) narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Abbas concerning the punishment of the two occupants of the graves, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, placing two fresh palm branches on them, explaining that this was to alleviate their torment as long as they remained fresh, is not evidence for the permissibility of placing palm branches or similar items on graves. Some scholars explained the alleviation of torment by the palm branch's glorification of Allah (tasbeeh), but this view is questionable, as everything glorifies Allah, whether fresh or dry.

Al-Khattabi and others denounced people placing palm branches on graves based on this Hadith, and they held that the Prophet's action, peace and blessings be upon him, was specific to him. It was a supplication from him for the alleviation of their torment as long as the moisture remained, not that the palm branch itself possessed a special significance.

Therefore, it is not recommended to place palm branches or anything else on a grave, because the Prophet's action, peace and blessings be upon him, was specific to two cases whose torment Allah had revealed to him, and it was not a continuous practice (Sunnah (definition)). The Companions, who were the most eager people to emulate him, did not do this on the graves of Muslims, except for what was narrated from Buraydah Al-Aslami, and no one agreed with him on it. The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatwas and Ibn Baz have issued a fatwa (definition) that placing palm branches on graves is an innovation (bid'ah), because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not do it on other graves. Moreover, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade every innovation in religion, and also forbade plastering graves, building over them, sitting on them, and writing on them.