The Wisdom and Purpose of Visiting Graves
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The Shaykh : We return to completing our reading, or lesson, regarding the visiting of graves.
The purpose of visiting graves is twofold. The first is to remember the Hereafter, not to renew sorrows. The second is to make supplication for the deceased, for they are in need of it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1631.
Here, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) shifted from performing an act for the deceased to what? To supplication. Therefore, if someone were to ask us, which is better: that I recite a part of the Qur'an for my deceased, or that I supplicate to Allah for him? We would say: Supplicating for him is better. That I pray two rak'ahs for my parent, or that I supplicate to Allah for him? Supplication is better. That I perform tawaf around the House seven times for my parent, or that I supplicate to Allah for him? We said: Supplicating for him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us in the context of the act to supplication, and did not guide us to the act itself.
So, what is the purpose of visiting graves? Two things: the first is reminding oneself of the Hereafter, and the second is supplicating for them.
As for supplicating to them in the sense of calling upon them for aid, or seeking refuge in them, or the like, this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). If you supplicate to a deceased person, it is major shirk that expels one from the religion. And Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:72].
And we say, O brothers, let us address you with the language of reason. Which is better for you: to supplicate to the One who says to a thing, "Be," and it is, or to supplicate to a dead person whom you have buried in the dust? We address you with reason, let alone with the Shari'ah. There is no doubt that supplicating to the One who, when He wills a thing, says to it, "Be," and it is, is better than supplicating to one who has no power to benefit or harm himself, whom you yourself have leveled with the dust.
And I say "better" in the sense of the saying of Allah the Exalted:. Otherwise, there is no good in supplicating to the deceased, neither for the deceased nor for the living person who does so.
This is the intended purpose of visiting graves. There is no difference in this between the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the graves of his two companions Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), the grave of 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) in al-Baqi', the grave of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib in Iraq, or any other grave. All these graves are not visited except for the sake of supplicating for their occupants.
The purpose of visiting graves is twofold. The first is to remember the Hereafter, not to renew sorrows. The second is to make supplication for the deceased, for they are in need of it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious child, who prays for him (for the deceased).
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاثة: إلا من صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهHere, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) shifted from performing an act for the deceased to what? To supplication. Therefore, if someone were to ask us, which is better: that I recite a part of the Qur'an for my deceased, or that I supplicate to Allah for him? We would say: Supplicating for him is better. That I pray two rak'ahs for my parent, or that I supplicate to Allah for him? Supplication is better. That I perform tawaf around the House seven times for my parent, or that I supplicate to Allah for him? We said: Supplicating for him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us in the context of the act to supplication, and did not guide us to the act itself.
So, what is the purpose of visiting graves? Two things: the first is reminding oneself of the Hereafter, and the second is supplicating for them.
As for supplicating to them in the sense of calling upon them for aid, or seeking refuge in them, or the like, this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). If you supplicate to a deceased person, it is major shirk that expels one from the religion. And Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.
إنه من يشرك بالله فقد حرّم الله عليه الجنّة ومأواه النار وما للظالمين من أنصارAnd we say, O brothers, let us address you with the language of reason. Which is better for you: to supplicate to the One who says to a thing, "Be," and it is, or to supplicate to a dead person whom you have buried in the dust? We address you with reason, let alone with the Shari'ah. There is no doubt that supplicating to the One who, when He wills a thing, says to it, "Be," and it is, is better than supplicating to one who has no power to benefit or harm himself, whom you yourself have leveled with the dust.
And I say "better" in the sense of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Is Allah better, or those they associate as partners with Him?
آالله خير أم ما يشركونThis is the intended purpose of visiting graves. There is no difference in this between the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the graves of his two companions Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), the grave of 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) in al-Baqi', the grave of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib in Iraq, or any other grave. All these graves are not visited except for the sake of supplicating for their occupants.