grave

Dear scholars, can Muslims offer their Prayers (salah) in graveyards?

As-Salamu `alaykum. What is "Al-Barzakh"? I have heard that God has created special place for dead people. Do their souls live there? What about the Prophets? Do their souls also live there? My second question is: Does the dead person know what goes on in this life and what happens to his relatives? Thank you.

Dear scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. My husband was buried in a cemetery where there are Muslim and non- Muslim graves. The graves of Muslims are leveled with the ground. What is the ruling on people carving names and Qur’anic verses on the graves, which might be stepped on? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. If a Muslim is known to have died but his/her body is not found, (e.g. in a plane crash) do people still perform the Janazah (funeral) prayer for him/her? Muslims are questioned in the grave. Is it known how the above would affect the questioning or the torment? Jazakum Allah khayran.

As-Salamu `alaykum. Some Muslims tend to place green branches on a grave after the burial. Is this permissible? Jazakum Allah khayran.

As-salamu `alaykum. My question: Is there any authentic hadith about the punishment in the grave? There are many Muslims who do not believe in the torment of the grave. Is this wrong? Please could you clarify this matter to me? Jazakum Allah khayran.

As-salamu `alaykum. Recently, a scholar told me that punishment in the grave — like punishment for splashing urine — is not mentioned in the Qur'an. Can you please clarify this point? Another question is, I have been told that standing and passing urine is makruh. Can you tell me the difference between makruh and haram?