Greetings Gambia-l,
Some time ago there was a discussion on wether it is permissable for muslims to
visit graves. There were views by some, that it is forbidden and others believe the
contrary.

I want to share the following with from FIQH us-SUNNAH (Fiqh and Sunnah) on
Funerals and Dhikr by As-Sayyid Sabiq, with those of you who might be interested.


Visiting Graves

Visiting graves is desirable for men. 'Abdallah ibn Buraidah reported from his
father that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "I had forbidden you to visit
graves, but now you may visit them.  It will remind you of the Hereafter."  They
were prohibited from visiting the graves because of their proximity to the jahiliyyah
(Days of  Ignorance) when they used incorrect and obscene language.  After they
had fully entered the fold of Islam, became well pleased with it, and had fully
accepted its laws, the Prophet, peace be upon him, permitted them to visit graves.

Abu Hurairah reported: "The Prophet, peace be upon him, visited his mother's
grave and cried, and everyone there cried with him.  Then the Prophet, peace be
upon him, said: "I sought my Lord's permission to seek forgiveness for her, but He
did not permit me. 1 then sought permission to visit her grave and He permitted me
to do this.  You should visit graves, because they will remind you of the reality of
death."

Since the purpose of visiting graves is admonition and remembrance of death, it
is permissible to visit the graves of disbelievers.  Weeping when passing by the
graves of the wrongdoers who were seized and punished by Allah for their evil
deeds, and to express one's humility and one's need for forgiveness of Allah is
desirable. This is obvious from a hadith, reported by Bukhari on the authority of
Ibn 'Umar, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said to his Companions, when they
passed through AI-Hijr, the dwellings of the people of  Thamud, "Do not go
without weeping to the places of burial of those who are undergoing torment.  But
if you cannot weep, then do not enter these places lest what befell them should
befall you."

                         Etiquette of Visiting Graves

Whoever pays a visit to a grave should face the deceased, greet him, and
supplicate for him.  On this subject we find the following:
Buraidah reported: "The Prophet, peace he upon him, taught us that when we
visited graves we should say, 'Peace be upon you, 0 believing men and women, 0
dwellers of  this place.  Certainly, Allah willing, we will join you.  You have
preceded us and we are to follow you. We supplicate to Allah to grant us and you
security'."
Ibn 'Abbas reported: "Once the Prophet, peace be upon him, passed by graves
in Madinah.  He turned his face toward them saying: 'Peace be upon you, 0 dwellers
of these graves.  May Allah forgive us and you.  You have preceded us, and we are
following your trail'."

'Aishah said: "Every time it was my turn to be with the Prophet, peace be upon him,
toward the end of the night, he would go out to the cemetery of albaqi' and would say,
'Peace be upon you, 0 abode of believers.  What you were promised will come to pass
tomorrow at a fixed time.  We shall, Allah willing, soon join you. 0 Allah!  Grant forgiveness
to the people who are buried in al-Baqi' al-Gharqad'."

'Aishah also reported: "I asked: 'What should I say when I pass by a graveyard, 0
Messenger of Allah'?' He replied, 'Say,

"Peace be upon the believing men and women dwelling here.  May Allah grant mercy to
those who have preceded us and those who are to follow them.  Certainly, Allah willing, we
will join you”.

What some people do, like wiping hands over the graves and tombs, kissing them, and
circumambulating around them are abominable innovations. Such things should not be done,
for they are unlawful.  These things are permissible, however, if performed in relation with
the House of Allah, the Ka'abah, for Allah has so honoured it.  The grave of the Prophet,
peace be upon him, cannot be considered a similar case, nor the tomb of a saint.  All good
comes from adherence to his example whereas all evil flows from innovating new things in
religion.

Ibn al-Qayyim said: "The Prophet, peace be upon him, visited the graves to supplicate
for their inhabitants, and to seek mercy and forgiveness of Allah for them.  Contrary to this,
the pagans supplicated to the dead, swearing by them, asking them for their needs, and
seeking their support and help.  Such pagan practices are in conflict with the guidance of the
Prophet, peace be upon him, and his teachings about the Oneness of Allah and about the
manner of supplicating for Allah's mercy for the dead. The people who do such things are
guilty of polytheism; they are indulging in sin, and bringing evil to the deceased. They may
be divided into three categories: those who supplicate for the deceased, those who
supplicate through the deceased, and the third who supplicate to the deceased.  They think
that making supplications by a grave is better than in a mosque.  For anyone who looks to
the guidance of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and his Companions, the
distinction between the two cited positions is fairly obvious.”



regards,
Momodou Camara

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