Explanation of the characteristics of the permissible and forbidden visitation of graves

Question:
A questioner says: Shaykh, I love you for the sake of Allah. How is the visiting of graves, and the visiting of a deceased relative, and making du'a' for him?

Answer:
Visiting graves falls into two categories. The first category is a sunnah (recommended practice) visitation following the methodology of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . This is done by men specifically, whereas it is not permissible for women to visit graves. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . The visitation is specifically for men, and it serves two purposes. The first purpose is to take a lesson and be reminded of the Hereafter. The second purpose is to make du'a' (supplication) and call for the deceased, asking for mercy and forgiveness for them, because they are in need of du'a' for them, as their deeds have ceased and they are detained in their graves. They are in need of their brothers to make du'a' for them and seek forgiveness for them, and this benefits them by the permission of Allah. This is the permissible visitation. It is also not done by traveling; rather, each person visits the graves near him in his own city. One does not travel for the sake of visiting a grave, whether it is the grave of a Prophet, a wali (close friend of Allah), a relative, or anyone else. Rather, he visits the graveyards of the city where he is, or the city he has arrived at from afar, and visits them. This is the permissible visitation. As for the forbidden and bid'ah (religious innovation) visitation, it is the visitation intended for tabarruk (seeking blessing from a thing or person) from the deceased, making du'a' to the deceased, calling for aid from them, and asking them for needs. This is calling for aid. This is a bid'ah visitation, a visitation of shirk (associating partners with Allah), which is not permissible. Allah and His Messenger have forbidden it. If one visits graves for the sake of seeking blessing from them, calling for aid from their occupants, and asking them for needs, then this is a bid'ah visitation, a visitation of shirk, may Allah protect us from it. We must know this matter, so that we do not deny the visitation of graves absolutely, nor do we permit it absolutely. Rather, this distinction is necessary in accordance with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.