Ruling on Visiting Shrines and Graves
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Question:
Is visiting graves and the shrines of the awliya (close friends of Allah) permissible in Islam?
Answer:
The ruling on visiting depends on the details: If one visits graves, whether the graves of the awliya or the graves of Muslims in general, for the sake of taking a lesson, remembering death and the Hereafter, making du'a' (supplication) for them, and seeking mercy for them, then this is prescribed (mashru'). This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 1569Sahih (Darussalam), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Companions to say when they visited graves: Sunan Ibn Majah 1547Sahih (Darussalam).
This is the prescribed visit, and it is specific to men, not women; because he (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who visit graves, which indicates that this visit is specific to men.
Initially, visiting was prohibited. Was it prohibited in the early days of Islam? Yes, because they were accustomed to attaching themselves to the dead, so it was part of the wisdom of Allah that He prohibited them from visiting, at first, all of them, men and women. Then He granted them a dispensation (rukhsah) to visit, men and women. Then the prohibition for women became established, and the permission for men remained; because women do not have patience, and a trial (fitnah) may occur for them when visiting graves by remembering their relatives, their companions, their husbands, and the like. So it was part of the wisdom of Allah that He prohibited them from visiting graves so that they would not be led into trial or lead others into trial.
And this was established for men specifically. The purpose of it is to remember, seek mercy for the dead, seek forgiveness for them, and remember the Hereafter. Even if they are disbelievers (the dead), if one visits the graves for the sake of remembrance only, without making du'a' for them or greeting them; because they are disbelievers, one visits only for the sake of remembrance, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) visited his mother. She had died in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah), and he sought permission from his Lord to seek forgiveness for her, but he was not granted permission, so he visited her only for the sake of taking a lesson.
So the graves of Muslims are visited for making du'a' for them, remembering the Hereafter and death, and seeking forgiveness for the dead only. And if the dead are disbelievers, the visit is for the sake of remembrance and taking a lesson only.
As for the second type of visit: it is not permissible. It is visiting them to make du'a' to them, calling for aid (istighathah) from them, making vows (nadhr) to them, seeking their help, support, and rescue, or rubbing against their graves and stones, or circumambulating them. All of this is not permissible, and this visit is not permissible. This is what some ignorant people do: they visit the graves to ask them and call for aid from them, as happens sometimes with some ignorant people with al-Badawi, or al-Husayn, or Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir in Iraq, or others. This is not permissible.
So the visit is of two types: prescribed, and prohibited, innovative.
So the prescribed one: is that they visit to seek mercy for them, and to remember the Hereafter and death only. This is prescribed, required, and commanded.
The second visit is an innovative, denounced one, and it is: visiting the graves to make du'a' to the dead, calling for aid from the dead, or making du'a' through them, seeking nearness to Allah through a means (tawassul) through them, or rubbing against their graves, or circumambulating them, or praying at them. This is prohibited. It varies (and its types), some of it is shirk (associating partners with Allah) and some of it is bid'ah (religious innovation).
So praying at them and sitting at them for du'a' is bid'ah (religious innovation). As for circumambulating them so that they may intercede for him or benefit him, or making du'a' to them, or calling for aid from them, or making vows to them, or seeking help, this is major shirk (shirk akbar) which Allah has forbidden and prohibited His servants from.
May Allah guide everyone to what pleases Him and rectify the intention of everyone, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Is visiting graves and the shrines of the awliya (close friends of Allah) permissible in Islam?
Answer:
The ruling on visiting depends on the details: If one visits graves, whether the graves of the awliya or the graves of Muslims in general, for the sake of taking a lesson, remembering death and the Hereafter, making du'a' (supplication) for them, and seeking mercy for them, then this is prescribed (mashru'). This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.
زوروا القبور فإنها تذكركم الآخرةAs-salamu ‘alaykum ahlad-diyar minal-mu’minina wal- muslimin, wa inna insha’ Allah bikum lahiqun, nas’alul-laha lana wa lakumul-‘afiyah (Peace be upon you, O inhabitants of the abodes, believers and Muslims, and we will join you soon if Allah wills. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you).
السلام عليكم أهل الديار من المؤمنين والمسلمين وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون، نسأل الله لنا ولكم العافيةThis is the prescribed visit, and it is specific to men, not women; because he (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who visit graves, which indicates that this visit is specific to men.
Initially, visiting was prohibited. Was it prohibited in the early days of Islam? Yes, because they were accustomed to attaching themselves to the dead, so it was part of the wisdom of Allah that He prohibited them from visiting, at first, all of them, men and women. Then He granted them a dispensation (rukhsah) to visit, men and women. Then the prohibition for women became established, and the permission for men remained; because women do not have patience, and a trial (fitnah) may occur for them when visiting graves by remembering their relatives, their companions, their husbands, and the like. So it was part of the wisdom of Allah that He prohibited them from visiting graves so that they would not be led into trial or lead others into trial.
And this was established for men specifically. The purpose of it is to remember, seek mercy for the dead, seek forgiveness for them, and remember the Hereafter. Even if they are disbelievers (the dead), if one visits the graves for the sake of remembrance only, without making du'a' for them or greeting them; because they are disbelievers, one visits only for the sake of remembrance, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) visited his mother. She had died in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah), and he sought permission from his Lord to seek forgiveness for her, but he was not granted permission, so he visited her only for the sake of taking a lesson.
So the graves of Muslims are visited for making du'a' for them, remembering the Hereafter and death, and seeking forgiveness for the dead only. And if the dead are disbelievers, the visit is for the sake of remembrance and taking a lesson only.
As for the second type of visit: it is not permissible. It is visiting them to make du'a' to them, calling for aid (istighathah) from them, making vows (nadhr) to them, seeking their help, support, and rescue, or rubbing against their graves and stones, or circumambulating them. All of this is not permissible, and this visit is not permissible. This is what some ignorant people do: they visit the graves to ask them and call for aid from them, as happens sometimes with some ignorant people with al-Badawi, or al-Husayn, or Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir in Iraq, or others. This is not permissible.
So the visit is of two types: prescribed, and prohibited, innovative.
So the prescribed one: is that they visit to seek mercy for them, and to remember the Hereafter and death only. This is prescribed, required, and commanded.
The second visit is an innovative, denounced one, and it is: visiting the graves to make du'a' to the dead, calling for aid from the dead, or making du'a' through them, seeking nearness to Allah through a means (tawassul) through them, or rubbing against their graves, or circumambulating them, or praying at them. This is prohibited. It varies (and its types), some of it is shirk (associating partners with Allah) and some of it is bid'ah (religious innovation).
So praying at them and sitting at them for du'a' is bid'ah (religious innovation). As for circumambulating them so that they may intercede for him or benefit him, or making du'a' to them, or calling for aid from them, or making vows to them, or seeking help, this is major shirk (shirk akbar) which Allah has forbidden and prohibited His servants from.
May Allah guide everyone to what pleases Him and rectify the intention of everyone, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.