His second question asks: Is it true that it is said about the dead that their souls return to their deceased relatives on the days of Monday and Thursday to respond to the visitors?

The questioner : His second question asks: Is it true that it is said about the dead that their souls return to their deceased relatives on the days of Monday and Thursday to respond to the visitors, and therefore they visit the graves on these two days, make du'a for the dead, and recite al-Fatihah and some chapters of the Noble Qur'an?

The Shaykh : This has no basis. Visiting the graves is prescribed at all times, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): The visitor should do what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do, which is to greet them without reciting. He (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say, among other things: It is not appropriate to recite over the grave, because that was not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). What was not reported from him is not something a believer should adopt or practice. Know that the purpose of visiting is two things: first, the visitor benefits by remembering the Hereafter and taking a lesson and a warning. These people who are now in the belly of the earth were yesterday on its surface, and what happened to them will happen to this visitor. So he should take a lesson, seize the times and opportunities, and work for this day when he will be in this resting place where these people were.
The second thing is making du'a for the people of the graves with what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to supplicate with, namely greeting and asking for mercy. As for asking these dead people or seeking nearness to Allah through them, this is forbidden and is shirk (associating partners with Allah), and it is not permissible. There is no difference in this between the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the grave of anyone else. It is not permissible for anyone to seek nearness to Allah through the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or through the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) after his death, because this is shirk. If this were true, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would have been the first to do it, and yet they did not seek nearness to Allah through him after his death. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked for rain one day and said: "O Allah, we used to seek nearness to You through our Prophet, so You gave us rain. Now we seek nearness to You through the uncle of our Prophet, so give us rain" Then al-'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and made du'a. This is evidence that one does not seek nearness to Allah through a dead person after his death, no matter what his rank or status is with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Rather, one seeks nearness to Allah through the du'a of a living person whose du'a is expected to be answered due to his righteousness and uprightness in the religion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If a man is known for his religion and uprightness, and one seeks nearness to Allah through his du'a, then there is nothing wrong with it, as the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), did. As for the dead, one never seeks nearness to Allah through them. Their du'a is major shirk that takes one out of the religion. We ask Allah for safety. Allah the Exalted said: On this occasion, I would like to mention that in some Islamic countries, there are people who go to the graves to make du'a to them, seek their help, and call upon them for aid. This is major shirk, and it only increases them in loss, punishment, and retribution. They should repent to Allah, ask for victory from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and call upon Him alone for aid. For these dead people do not possess any benefit or harm for themselves, so how can they possess it for others? They are in need of du'a being made for them, so how can they make du'a? Yes.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.