Do the inhabitants of the graves hear the greeting and feel comforted by the visit of the living to them?
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The questioner : Another questioner asks: When we visit graves, whether they belong to our relatives or others, and we greet them, do they hear our words? And do they feel comforted by our visiting them?
The Shaykh : There is a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding whether they hear or not. A hadith was narrated by Abu Dawud, and Ibn 'Abd al-Barr graded it as authentic:. However, some of the later scholars said that this hadith is not authentic. So the scholars differ regarding its authenticity. Then, if we were to say that the deceased feels comforted by his visitor, al-Baqi' would be filled with people, because everyone loves to comfort his father, and everyone loves to comfort his mother. And we do not know that any of the Companions used to leave al-Baqi' in order to comfort his deceased one, ever. But when a person greets the graves, saying "Peace be upon you, abode of a people of faith," he greets them as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) greeted them. As for whether they feel comforted by us or something like that, Allah knows best. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : There is a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding whether they hear or not. A hadith was narrated by Abu Dawud, and Ibn 'Abd al-Barr graded it as authentic:
That there is no man who greets a grave of someone he knew in this world except that Allah returns his soul to him so that he returns the greeting to him.
أنه ما من رجل يسلم على قبر يعرفه في الدنيا إلا رد الله إليه روحه فرد عليه السلامThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.