Visiting Graves: Types and Islamic Stance

Visiting Graves: Types and Islamic Stance

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “I had forbidden you from visiting the graves, but now visit them, as they remind you of the Hereafter.”

There are three types of grave visits:

1. Permissible Visit: This involves visiting graves to remember the Hereafter and to supplicate for the deceased. It is recommended that when visiting graves, one should say:

[السّلامُ عليكم دارَ قومٍ مؤمنينَ وإنّا إن شاء اللهُ بكم لاحقون يغفرُ اللهُ لنا ولکم]

"Peace be upon you, O abode of the believers. We, Allah willing, will join you. May Allah forgive us and you, and we pray for your well-being."

2. Shirkia (Associative) Visit: This type involves invoking the deceased, seeking their assistance, drawing power from their souls, sacrificing, making vows, or circumambulating their graves. Engaging in such practices constitutes major shirk. We seek Allah's protection from it.

3. Innovative Visit: This involves visiting graves for the purpose of reciting or praying, sacrificing for the deceased, or reciting the opening chapter of the Quran for the souls of the departed. Such innovations are forbidden and considered among the means of shirk.

Visiting graves can take a prohibited form known as "Shadd al-Rahal," which means traveling with the intention of visiting a specific grave. This is discouraged. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Do not undertake a journey except for three mosques: the Sacred Mosque (Kaaba), the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, and my mosque."

If one intends to visit the Prophet's grave, it should be a part of the visit to the Prophet's Mosque. Traveling solely for the purpose of visiting the Prophet's grave is not encouraged. The visit should be part of the overall visit to the Prophet's Mosque. After praying in the mosque, one can go to convey greetings to the Prophet and his companions.

Repeatedly visiting the Prophet's grave is not recommended, as the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Do not make my grave an Eid (festival) site, and do not turn your houses into graves. Offer your prayers invoking blessings upon me, for your prayers reach me wherever you are."

The essence of the hadith is that there is no obligation to physically visit the Prophet's grave every time one intends to send blessings upon him. The prayers of the believers reach the Prophet, peace be upon him, regardless of their location.

For further understanding of this topic, refer to the book "Ziyarat al-Qubur wal Istighathah bilmakboor" by Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him.

Lesson twenty-six concludes with thanks to Allah.