Is visiting graves and reciting al-Fatihah for the awliya (close friends of Allah) permissible or not?
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The questioner : Is visiting graves and reciting al-Fatihah for the awliya (close friends of Allah) permissible or not?
The Shaykh : The answer is that visiting graves is a recommended practice (sunnah). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it after having initially prohibited it, as established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) in his saying:Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 14:141 narrated by Muslim. Thus, visiting graves for the sake of remembrance and taking a lesson is a recommended practice (sunnah). When a person visits these dead people in their graves, and these people were with him yesterday on the surface of the earth, eating as he eats and drinking as he drinks and enjoying their worldly life, and now they have become held accountable for their deeds, if good then good, and if bad then bad, he must certainly take a lesson, his heart must soften, and he must turn to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by abandoning His disobedience and moving to His obedience. It is recommended for the one who visits the cemetery to supplicate with what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to supplicate with and taught his Ummah: He said this supplication. It is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to recite al-Fatihah when visiting graves. Accordingly, reciting al-Fatihah when visiting graves is contrary to what is prescribed (mashru') from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for women visiting graves, that is forbidden (muharram). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who visit graves and those who make mosques and lamps at them. Therefore, it is not permissible for a woman to visit the cemetery. This is if she leaves her house with the intention of visiting. However, if she passes by the cemetery without the intention of visiting, there is no blame on her if she stops and greets the people of the cemetery with what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Ummah. So, regarding women, there is a distinction between the one who leaves her house for the purpose of visiting and the one who passes by the cemetery without intention, then stops and greets. The former, who left her house for the sake of visiting, has done something forbidden (muharram) and exposed herself to the curse of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for the latter, there is no blame on her. Yes.
The questioner : This is a message we received from the pilgrim Rizq Muhammad Ali Awadh, residing in Baghdad. He says in his message:
The Shaykh : The answer is that visiting graves is a recommended practice (sunnah). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it after having initially prohibited it, as established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) in his saying:
I used to prohibit you from visiting graves, but now visit them, for they remind you of the Hereafter.
كنت نهيتكم عن زيارة القبور، ألا فزوروها فإنها تذكركم الأخرةPeace be upon you, abode of a people of believers. And we, if Allah wills, will be joining you. May Allah have mercy on those of us 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.
السلام عليكم دار قوم مؤمنين وإنّا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون يرحم الله المستقدمين منا ومنكم والمستأخرين، نسأل الله لنا ولكم العافية، اللهم لا تحرمنا أجرهم، ولا تفتنا بعدهم، واغفر لنا ولهمAs for women visiting graves, that is forbidden (muharram). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who visit graves and those who make mosques and lamps at them. Therefore, it is not permissible for a woman to visit the cemetery. This is if she leaves her house with the intention of visiting. However, if she passes by the cemetery without the intention of visiting, there is no blame on her if she stops and greets the people of the cemetery with what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Ummah. So, regarding women, there is a distinction between the one who leaves her house for the purpose of visiting and the one who passes by the cemetery without intention, then stops and greets. The former, who left her house for the sake of visiting, has done something forbidden (muharram) and exposed herself to the curse of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for the latter, there is no blame on her. Yes.
The questioner : This is a message we received from the pilgrim Rizq Muhammad Ali Awadh, residing in Baghdad. He says in his message: