What is the ruling on specifically visiting graves on the day of the festival, and what is the ruling on a woman weeping at graves?
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The questioner : We have a custom on the day of the festival where, after performing the festival prayer, we visit the cemeteries. There, we find the women weeping and wailing over the graves.
The Shaykh : We seek refuge in Allah.
The questioner : So what is the ruling on this action of ours and of the women?
The Shaykh : As for the ruling on your action, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah). The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specifically visit the cemeteries on the day of the festival. It is not permissible for a person to designate a specific time for a specific act of worship without evidence from the Shari'ah, because worship depends on the Shari'ah in its cause, its type, its amount, its form, its time, and its place. The Shari'ah must have addressed all these matters. Therefore, if we designate a specific act of worship for a specific time without evidence, that is a religious innovation. Designating the day of the festival for visiting the cemetery is a religious innovation that was not transmitted from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) or from his Companions. As for the women's visitation, it is forbidden (haram). How much more so if what the questioner mentioned occurs from their visitation, namely weeping and wailing? That would be injustice upon injustice. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he cursed the wailer and the listener, and he informed that if the wailer does not repent before her death, she will be raised on the Day of Resurrection wearing a shirt of pitch and a coat of scabs, refuge is sought in Allah. So women should fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and stay away from His prohibitions, and not visit the cemeteries. If they wish to make du'a' for the deceased, let them do so while they are in their homes. And Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is All-Knowing of everything. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This message is from the questioner Fathi Mansur from the Libyan Jamahiriyyah.
The Shaykh : We seek refuge in Allah.
The questioner : So what is the ruling on this action of ours and of the women?
The Shaykh : As for the ruling on your action, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah). The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specifically visit the cemeteries on the day of the festival. It is not permissible for a person to designate a specific time for a specific act of worship without evidence from the Shari'ah, because worship depends on the Shari'ah in its cause, its type, its amount, its form, its time, and its place. The Shari'ah must have addressed all these matters. Therefore, if we designate a specific act of worship for a specific time without evidence, that is a religious innovation. Designating the day of the festival for visiting the cemetery is a religious innovation that was not transmitted from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) or from his Companions. As for the women's visitation, it is forbidden (haram).
Cursed are the women who visit graves
لعن زائرات القبورThe questioner : May Allah reward you. This message is from the questioner Fathi Mansur from the Libyan Jamahiriyyah.