Is it permissible to recite al-Fatihah or any part of the Qur'an when visiting graves, and does it benefit the deceased?

Question:
Is it permissible to recite al-Fatihah, or any part of the Qur'an, when visiting graves? And does it benefit the deceased? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Reciting al-Fatihah or any part of the Qur'an when visiting graves is considered a bid'ah (religious innovation), having no basis in the Shari'ah; because this was not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) nor from the righteous Salaf that they used to recite al-Fatihah or any part of the Qur'an when they visited graves. Rather, what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prescribed when visiting graves or passing by them is to say: "Peace be upon you, people of the abode of the Muslims and the believers, and tomorrow we are appointed to join you, and we, if Allah wills, will be with you. May Allah have mercy on those of us who have gone before and those who come after. O Allah, do not deprive us of their reward, and do not test us after them, and forgive us and them." And if one visits a specific grave of a relative or of his Muslim brothers, he greets them and mentions their name: "Peace be upon you, so-and-so, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings," and he prays for them for forgiveness and mercy. This is what is prescribed when visiting graves: greeting them and praying for them for forgiveness and mercy. As for reciting al-Fatihah or any part of the Qur'an, this was not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him),