What is your response to those who cite the hadith: "I used to forbid you from visiting graves, but now visit them, for they remind you of the Hereafter," as evidence for the permissibility of traveling to graves?

The questioner : In the name of Allah, and may prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. And after that:
His EminenceThe Shaykh : A man cites the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): as evidence for the permissibility of traveling to graves, and that it is a fortiori to travel to his grave (peace and blessings be upon him) due to the generality of his statement: and that there is no basis for citing the hadith: to prohibit traveling to graves. So what is your opinion? May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Our statement in this matter is that it is obligatory for the believer not to cite some texts while neglecting others. The Islamic Shari'ah was revealed from One to One messenger, revealed from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, we must gather the texts together. We say: It is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: and in another wording: This is established, and it is general The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify a place over another, nor a male over a female.
However, it is known that general or absolute texts are interpreted according to specific or restricted texts. Thus, the woman is excluded from this; it is not permissible for her to visit a grave, whatever it may be, even if it is the grave of her father, her mother, or her sister. Indeed, that is forbidden for her. Moreover, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who visit graves. Consequently, a woman's visiting of graves is among the major sins. Also excluded from this is what requires traveling, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) addressed the people of Madinah, who could visit al-Baqi' without traveling. This applies to those similar to them, whose visitation does not require traveling. It is not reported from any of the Companions, nor from the Tabi'un, nor from the Imams that they traveled to visit the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), despite their intense love for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), their intense love for good and desire for it, and the ease of matters for them in some circumstances. And since this was not the practice of the Salaf, we do not deviate from their path.
As for his statement that this hadith: is a matter of disagreement among scholars. Does it indicate the prohibition of traveling to any place other than the three mosques, as some scholars chose? They said: The intended meaning of the prohibition is the prohibition of traveling to any place. It is known that one who travels to a cemetery does not connect with the deceased, speak to him, or comfort him, but rather visits the place where this deceased is, wherever that place may be. He wants the location of the grave, not to enter the grave or to bring the deceased out to him. And some scholars said: This is a prohibition of traveling to mosques other than the three mosques, and that it has no relation to traveling to visit graves.
And we say: Suppose that the intended meaning of the one with prayers and peace is this, but did any of his Companions or any of the Imams of the Ummah travel to visit the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? There is absolutely no record of this. And if there is no record, we have in them a model to follow. So we say: Do not travel to visit the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). But travel to Madinah for prayer in the Prophet's Mosque, because prayer in it is better than a thousand prayers in any other place except the Sacred Mosque. Yes.