The Ruling on Prayer and Reciting the Qur'an in al-Baqi' and at the Grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
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What is the ruling on reciting the Qur'an and praying at the al-Baqi' cemetery and the grave of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
Do not recite the Qur'an, neither at the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor in al-Baqi', nor at the graves of people. Do not recite the Qur'an; this is a religious innovation. But when you reach the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), say: "Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah! And the mercy of Allah and His blessings." This is the best formulation for greeting the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him); because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his ummah to say this in prayer: "Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings." Then turn away.And if you say: "I bear witness that you have conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, and advised the ummah." This is good.
And in al-Baqi' you say: "Peace be upon you, O people of this abode, from among the believers and Muslims. And we, if Allah wills, are to follow you. May Allah have mercy on those of you who have gone before and those who come after. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you. O Allah, do not deprive us of their reward, and do not test us after them, and forgive us and them." Then turn away. If you wish to greet the grave of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), which is known, this is good; because 'Umar was the third of the Rightly Guided Caliphs in this ummah.
Therefore: The Qur'an is not to be recited at a grave; not at the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor at the grave of 'Umar, nor in al-Baqi', nor at Uhud, nor in any cemetery.
Interjection: O Shaykh, and what about the prayer?
The Shaykh: No.
Prayer in the cemetery is forbidden and invalid. At the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), you will pray in the mosque, not at the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). You intend that you are praying in the Prophet's Mosque.
Do not recite the Qur'an, neither at the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor in al-Baqi', nor at the graves of people. Do not recite the Qur'an; this is a religious innovation. But when you reach the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), say: "Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah! And the mercy of Allah and His blessings." This is the best formulation for greeting the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him); because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his ummah to say this in prayer: "Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings." Then turn away.And if you say: "I bear witness that you have conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, and advised the ummah." This is good.
And in al-Baqi' you say: "Peace be upon you, O people of this abode, from among the believers and Muslims. And we, if Allah wills, are to follow you. May Allah have mercy on those of you who have gone before and those who come after. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you. O Allah, do not deprive us of their reward, and do not test us after them, and forgive us and them." Then turn away. If you wish to greet the grave of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), which is known, this is good; because 'Umar was the third of the Rightly Guided Caliphs in this ummah.
Therefore: The Qur'an is not to be recited at a grave; not at the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor at the grave of 'Umar, nor in al-Baqi', nor at Uhud, nor in any cemetery.
Interjection: O Shaykh, and what about the prayer?
The Shaykh: No.
Prayer in the cemetery is forbidden and invalid. At the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), you will pray in the mosque, not at the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). You intend that you are praying in the Prophet's Mosque.