Some of the people among us, both those who pray and those who do not, recite Surat al-Fatihah when they pass by the cemetery
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The questioner : Some of the people among us, both those who pray and those who do not, recite Surat al-Fatihah when they pass by the cemetery. Did this come from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : Visiting graves is prescribed; the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it after having forbidden it. He said (peace and blessings be upon him):Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq 7:658 And in another wording: The command is as our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said. When a man passes by a cemetery and sees these graves and imagines the detention of their inhabitants therein, that they are now detained by their deeds, and that these people were yesterday on the surface of the earth, going and coming, eating and drinking, and enjoying the blossoms of this world, he remembers his own state, that he will soon be like them, detained by his deeds, unable to increase in his good deeds or decrease in his evil ones. So he remembers and takes a lesson, and increases his preparation for death.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the visiting of graves, but this command is specific to men. As for women, it was said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 320Da'if (Darussalam) Therefore, it is not permissible for a woman to visit the cemetery. However, if a woman passes by the cemetery without the intention of visiting, and stops and supplicates with what is prescribed for supplication, then there is nothing wrong with that, as indicated by the hadith of 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) in Sahih Muslim. As for her leaving her house with the intention of visiting, that falls under the curse of Allah.
As for the one who visits, what is prescribed for him is to say:
As for reciting al-Fatihah when visiting graves, there is no basis for it, and it did not come from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, a person should not recite it because it is not prescribed. Rather, he should supplicate with the supplication that came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which is what we mentioned earlier.
The Shaykh : Visiting graves is prescribed; the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it after having forbidden it. He said (peace and blessings be upon him):
I used to forbid you from visiting the graves, but now visit them, for they remind one of the Hereafter.
كنت نهيتكم عن زيارة القبور فزوروها فإنها تذكر الآخرةIt reminds one of death
تذكر الموتThe Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the visiting of graves, but this command is specific to men. As for women, it was said:
Allah's Messenger cursed the women who visit the graves, and those who use them as Masajid and put torches on them.
لعن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم زائرات القبور والمتخذين عليها المساجد والسرجAs for the one who visits, what is prescribed for him is to say:
Peace be upon you, O people of the abode, from among the believers and Muslims. And we, if Allah wills, will be joining you. May Allah have mercy on those of us who are ahead and those who are behind. 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 أهل الديار من المؤمنين والمسلمين وإنا 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 reciting al-Fatihah when visiting graves, there is no basis for it, and it did not come from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, a person should not recite it because it is not prescribed. Rather, he should supplicate with the supplication that came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which is what we mentioned earlier.