What is the Islamic ruling on visiting graves in general, and seeking blessing from the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the righteous in particular? Is there any prohibition in this, and is there any evidence from the Qur'an and the Sunnah?
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The questioner : He began this message by saying, "Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nahl 16:43]" In the beginning of his question, he said: "On the threshold of Islam and before your knowledge, I want you to issue a ruling on this question, which is about the Islamic ruling on visiting graves in general and seeking blessing from the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the righteous in particular. Is there any prohibition in this? And is there any evidence from the Qur'an and the Sunnah? We ask for guidance on this."
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
Visiting graves for men is a recommended practice (sunnah) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed and commanded. He (peace and blessings be upon him) had previously forbidden it, but he commanded it in the second instance. It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 14:141 And in another wording:
The recommended practice (sunnah) for the visitor is to say: He may visit a specific grave of a relative or someone similar to them, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked his Lord for permission to visit his mother's grave, and He (Blessed and Exalted is He) granted him permission. He asked Allah for permission to seek forgiveness for her, but He did not grant him permission. As for seeking blessing from graves, it is forbidden (haram) and a denounced religious innovation (bid'ah). There is no blessing in the soil of the graves, because it is ordinary soil in which this man was buried, and the place where he was buried has no distinction over other places, no matter who the man was. Therefore, it is not permissible to seek blessing from the soil of these shrines, nor is it permissible to call upon the occupant of the grave. In fact, calling upon the occupant of the grave, seeking aid from him, and seeking help from him is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), which Allah (Mighty and Majestic) does not forgive. These dead people are in need of us, not we of them. They are in need of us to call for them and seek forgiveness for them, because they benefit from the supplication and seeking forgiveness for them. As for us, we are not in need of them at all; our need is only for Allah the Exalted. There is no difference between the grave of an ordinary commoner and the grave of one who is thought to be a righteous wali (close friend of Allah); they are all the same. Even the soil of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is not permissible to seek blessing from, because it is soil like any other soil. Yes, the Messenger (may Allah pray upon him and grant him peace) is undoubtedly honored by Allah the Exalted by his burial there, but that does not mean that this specific place is to be sought for blessing absolutely. Even the Black Stone is not sought for blessing, because 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) kissed it and said: "I know that you are a stone that neither harms nor benefits, and if I had not seen the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) kissing you, I would not have kissed you" This is an important point that Muslims must know: there is no blessing in stones, ever, no matter what they are. But some stones are used by a person to worship Allah the Exalted, such as the Black Stone. There is no stone in the entire world by which one draws near to Allah the Exalted by kissing or touching it except the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner, which is touched but not kissed.
Then I advise my brothers who go to these shrines to refrain from them and to treat them like other graves: they should call upon Allah the Exalted for those in them, not call upon them; they should ask for well-being for them, not ask for well-being from them, because they do not possess any harm or benefit for themselves. If this dead person were alive, he would not benefit you except with what he is able to do, such as helping you load furniture into a car or the like. How can he benefit you when he is inert? Have you seen if you came to a paralyzed person who cannot move, could you seek his help with anything? No, you cannot. And if he is alive and cannot be helped because he does not help, how can it be when he is dead? But the problem is that Satan beautifies for a person his evil deeds. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said in His Book:[Fatir 35:8].
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
So ask the people of the message if you do not know.
فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَThe Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
Visiting graves for men is a recommended practice (sunnah) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed and commanded. He (peace and blessings be upon him) had previously forbidden it, but he commanded it in the second instance. It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
I used to forbid you from visiting graves, but now visit them, for they remind one of the Hereafter.
كنت قد نهيتكم عن زيارة القبور، ألا فزوروها فإنها تذكر الآخرةFor they remind one of death.
فإنها تذكر الموتThe recommended practice (sunnah) for the visitor is to say:
Peace be upon you, O people of the abode of the believers and Muslims, and we, if Allah wills, will be joining you. May Allah have mercy on those of you who went before and those who came 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 أهل الديار من المؤمنين والمسلمين، وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون، يرحم الله المستقدمين منكم والمستأخرين، نسأل الله لنا ولكم العافية، اللهم لا تحرمنا أجرهم ولا تفتنا بعدهم، واغفر لنا ولهمThen I advise my brothers who go to these shrines to refrain from them and to treat them like other graves: they should call upon Allah the Exalted for those in them, not call upon them; they should ask for well-being for them, not ask for well-being from them, because they do not possess any harm or benefit for themselves. If this dead person were alive, he would not benefit you except with what he is able to do, such as helping you load furniture into a car or the like. How can he benefit you when he is inert? Have you seen if you came to a paralyzed person who cannot move, could you seek his help with anything? No, you cannot. And if he is alive and cannot be helped because he does not help, how can it be when he is dead? But the problem is that Satan beautifies for a person his evil deeds. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said in His Book:
Then is one to whom the evil of his deed has been made attractive so he considers it good [like one rightly guided]? For indeed, Allah sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. So do not let yourself perish over them in regret. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what they do.
أَفَمَنْ زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسَنًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ فَلا تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَاتٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.