The Ruling on Praying in Graveyards and Visiting Graves
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Question:
And more. In some countries, the enemies of the people pray the prayer one night in the graveyard square, and that is after rising from a visit or the square. The land of the path of Makkah is upon them, and they say, “We isolate ourselves for our dead,” so he is able to do this, but by their prayer they are ignorant of the calamities behind their backs. What is the ruling on this prayer? And what is the ruling on their deeds? And the manner of their conduct on that day, and is the prayer valid with them?
Answer:
The prayer is not valid with them. It is obligatory for the followers of the Sunnah to make for them a prayer place where they pray the 'Id according to the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was not to pray the 'Id at the graveyards or in the graveyards. Rather, the 'Id prayer place is known; the 'Id prayer place is known to be west of the Prophet’s Mosque, at the place now called the Mosque of al-Ghamamah. As for the graveyard, it is in al-Baqi', east of the Prophet’s Mosque. There is a distance between them, so their prayer at the graveyards is contrary to the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Designating the 'Id or Jumu'ah for visiting graves has no basis. Graves are visited at any time, at any time that is convenient for a person to visit them, not designated for a specific day for the lawful visit.
As for planting palm fronds, this is a bid'ah (religious innovation). This was not among the practice of the Muslims. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it except once with two graves that were being tormented, and he did not repeat this with all the graves, and the Companions never did it. So this is a bid'ah (religious innovation), and Allah has not sent down any authority for it. Rather, graves are visited to greet the dead of the Muslims, to make du'a' (supplication) for them, and to take heed and learn a lesson, on any day that is convenient for a person. As for prayer, it is not to be at the graves, neither the 'Id prayer nor any other prayer, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
And more. In some countries, the enemies of the people pray the prayer one night in the graveyard square, and that is after rising from a visit or the square. The land of the path of Makkah is upon them, and they say, “We isolate ourselves for our dead,” so he is able to do this, but by their prayer they are ignorant of the calamities behind their backs. What is the ruling on this prayer? And what is the ruling on their deeds? And the manner of their conduct on that day, and is the prayer valid with them?
Answer:
The prayer is not valid with them. It is obligatory for the followers of the Sunnah to make for them a prayer place where they pray the 'Id according to the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was not to pray the 'Id at the graveyards or in the graveyards. Rather, the 'Id prayer place is known; the 'Id prayer place is known to be west of the Prophet’s Mosque, at the place now called the Mosque of al-Ghamamah. As for the graveyard, it is in al-Baqi', east of the Prophet’s Mosque. There is a distance between them, so their prayer at the graveyards is contrary to the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Designating the 'Id or Jumu'ah for visiting graves has no basis. Graves are visited at any time, at any time that is convenient for a person to visit them, not designated for a specific day for the lawful visit.
As for planting palm fronds, this is a bid'ah (religious innovation). This was not among the practice of the Muslims. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it except once with two graves that were being tormented, and he did not repeat this with all the graves, and the Companions never did it. So this is a bid'ah (religious innovation), and Allah has not sent down any authority for it. Rather, graves are visited to greet the dead of the Muslims, to make du'a' (supplication) for them, and to take heed and learn a lesson, on any day that is convenient for a person. As for prayer, it is not to be at the graves, neither the 'Id prayer nor any other prayer, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 5/1/14 شرح مسائل الجاهلية / الشريط الخامس / جزء١ — youtube.com (18:45)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.