The Ruling on Women Visiting Graves
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Q: My maternal aunt’s father passed away, and she visited his grave once. She wants to visit it again, and she heard a hadith meaning that it is forbidden for a woman to visit graves. Is this hadith authentic? If it is authentic, does she have a sin that requires expiation?
A: The correct view is that it is not permissible for women to visit graves due to the hadith mentioned. It is established that he (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who visit graves. Therefore, it is obligatory for women to refrain from visiting graves. The one who visited the grave out of ignorance has done nothing wrong, and she should not return. If she does, she must repent and seek forgiveness, and repentance wipes out what came before it. Thus, visiting graves is specific to men. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1569Sahih (Darussalam).
Initially, visiting graves was prohibited for both men and women because the Muslims were new to the worship of the dead and attachment to the dead. So, they were prohibited from visiting graves to block the means to evil and cut off the source of shirk (associating partners with Allah). When Islam became established and they came to know Islam, Allah prescribed for them visiting graves because of the admonition and remembrance therein, such as the remembrance of death and the Hereafter, making du'a' (supplication) for the dead, and sending blessings upon them. Then, Allah prohibited women from doing so in the most correct of the scholars' opinions because they cause fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for men, and perhaps they themselves would be tempted, due to their lack of patience and their excessive grief. So, out of Allah’s mercy and kindness to them, He prohibited them from visiting graves. In this, there is also kindness to the men, because the gathering of everyone at the graves may cause fitnah. So, out of Allah’s mercy, they were prohibited from visiting graves.
As for prayer, there is nothing wrong with it; women pray for the deceased. The prohibition is only regarding visiting graves. It is not permissible for a woman to visit graves in the most correct of the scholars' opinions due to the hadiths indicating the prohibition of that. She does not have to pay an expiation; she only has to repent.
A: The correct view is that it is not permissible for women to visit graves due to the hadith mentioned. It is established that he (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who visit graves. Therefore, it is obligatory for women to refrain from visiting graves. The one who visited the grave out of ignorance has done nothing wrong, and she should not return. If she does, she must repent and seek forgiveness, and repentance wipes out what came before it. Thus, visiting graves is specific to men. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.
زوروا القبور فإنها تذكركم الآخرةInitially, visiting graves was prohibited for both men and women because the Muslims were new to the worship of the dead and attachment to the dead. So, they were prohibited from visiting graves to block the means to evil and cut off the source of shirk (associating partners with Allah). When Islam became established and they came to know Islam, Allah prescribed for them visiting graves because of the admonition and remembrance therein, such as the remembrance of death and the Hereafter, making du'a' (supplication) for the dead, and sending blessings upon them. Then, Allah prohibited women from doing so in the most correct of the scholars' opinions because they cause fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for men, and perhaps they themselves would be tempted, due to their lack of patience and their excessive grief. So, out of Allah’s mercy and kindness to them, He prohibited them from visiting graves. In this, there is also kindness to the men, because the gathering of everyone at the graves may cause fitnah. So, out of Allah’s mercy, they were prohibited from visiting graves.
As for prayer, there is nothing wrong with it; women pray for the deceased. The prohibition is only regarding visiting graves. It is not permissible for a woman to visit graves in the most correct of the scholars' opinions due to the hadiths indicating the prohibition of that. She does not have to pay an expiation; she only has to repent.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.