The Ruling on Women and Children Greeting the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)

Question:
Do women and children greet the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from behind?

Answer:
For men, the recommended practice (sunnah) is to greet him facing his face, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, then turn slightly toward al-Siddiq, and then slightly toward 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both. This is the recommended practice. As for women, it is not appropriate to greet him. As for children, those who know how to greet him should greet him along with the men. As for women, the recommended practice is that they do not greet him, otherwise the state would be lenient with them; because some imams permit women to visit graves, and for this reason the state has been lenient with them in this matter. However, the stronger view is that women do not visit his grave or the grave of anyone else, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him; due to the hadith that the Messenger cursed those who visit graves. This is general. As for his saying, “Visit the graves, for they remind you of the Hereafter,” this is specific to men; it is an address to men. This is the stronger view.