What is the ruling on women visiting the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when they come to pray in al-Masjid al-Nabawi?
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The questioner : You are asking about the ruling of the Shari'ah in your view regarding women visiting the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when they come to pray in the Noble Prophet's Mosque? And is it true that the Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them all) did so, or not? We ask for your guidance. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : A woman's visiting of graves is of two types.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The first type is when she intends it, such that she leaves her home to go to the cemetery to visit. This is forbidden, and it is not permissible for her to do it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed women who visit graves, and because there is harm in her visiting. A woman is generally weak and has little patience; it is feared that if she goes to the graves, she will produce crying that reaches the level of wailing. Also, by going to the cemetery, she may be exposed to open sinfulness, either through conversation, harassment, or otherwise. It is the norm that cemeteries are in uninhabited places, far from the town and unpopulated, such that few people walk on them or around them. Thus, this visiting woman is exposed to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation).
As for the second type: it is when she passes by the cemetery without intending to visit, so she stops and sends greetings to the people of the graves. There is nothing wrong with this, and the hadith of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) is understood in this light, where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught her what to say to the people of the graves. This statement we have made reconciles the evidence, and the distinction between intention and its absence is clear in many issues. Based on this classification, the ruling on a woman's visiting of the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the graves of his two companions is established. Some scholars have said: A woman's visiting of the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the graves of his two companions, Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), is not a true visit, because their graves are surrounded by walls, such that one standing behind them is not considered a visitor to the grave. However, I have some reservations about this. What appears to me is that visiting the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the graves of his two companions is like visiting other graves; it is not permissible for a woman to visit these graves with the intention of visiting. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you...
The Shaykh : Then I say: If a woman's visiting of the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the graves of his two companions is between being recommended, permissible, and forbidden, then the safest and most secure course for a woman is not to do it, meaning not to visit these three graves. It is sufficient for her to send greetings to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while she is in her prayer. She says: "Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings." And this greeting of hers reaches the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), even if she is in the farthest east or west. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : A woman's visiting of graves is of two types.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The first type is when she intends it, such that she leaves her home to go to the cemetery to visit. This is forbidden, and it is not permissible for her to do it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed women who visit graves, and because there is harm in her visiting. A woman is generally weak and has little patience; it is feared that if she goes to the graves, she will produce crying that reaches the level of wailing. Also, by going to the cemetery, she may be exposed to open sinfulness, either through conversation, harassment, or otherwise. It is the norm that cemeteries are in uninhabited places, far from the town and unpopulated, such that few people walk on them or around them. Thus, this visiting woman is exposed to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation).
As for the second type: it is when she passes by the cemetery without intending to visit, so she stops and sends greetings to the people of the graves. There is nothing wrong with this, and the hadith of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) is understood in this light, where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught her what to say to the people of the graves. This statement we have made reconciles the evidence, and the distinction between intention and its absence is clear in many issues. Based on this classification, the ruling on a woman's visiting of the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the graves of his two companions is established. Some scholars have said: A woman's visiting of the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the graves of his two companions, Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), is not a true visit, because their graves are surrounded by walls, such that one standing behind them is not considered a visitor to the grave. However, I have some reservations about this. What appears to me is that visiting the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the graves of his two companions is like visiting other graves; it is not permissible for a woman to visit these graves with the intention of visiting. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you...
The Shaykh : Then I say: If a woman's visiting of the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the graves of his two companions is between being recommended, permissible, and forbidden, then the safest and most secure course for a woman is not to do it, meaning not to visit these three graves. It is sufficient for her to send greetings to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while she is in her prayer. She says: "Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings." And this greeting of hers reaches the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), even if she is in the farthest east or west. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.