Islamic guidelines concerning visiting the graves

16-6-2013 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the ruling concerning visiting the grave of a certain person?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

Generally speaking it is permissible to visit the graveyards. Rather, it is recommended as it reminds the visitor with the Hereafter. There is no difference in this regard between one grave and another or whether it is a male or a female according to the preponderant opinion of scholars.

Please note that there is another important matter; that it is incumbent upon the visitor to adhere to the Islamic guidelines including: to not travel for the sole purpose of visiting a grave as it is a banned form of travelling. Also the visit must be confined to the aspect of admonishment, reminding, supplicating Allaah to Have Mercy on the deceased and to Forgive him.

However, if the visit involves a prohibited matter; like those who seek the help of the dead or ask them to fulfill their needs, and so on, in such a case, visiting the graves is prohibited.

Allaah Knows best.