Types of Grave Visits and Their Rulings

Question:
The listener (Maher A. H.) from Minya Governorate in Egypt sent a message saying: Some people among us insist that visiting the graves of the shaykhs is lawful, and that there is nothing of religious innovation in it. By the graves of the shaykhs, I mean: the grave of al-Badawi, the Imam al-Husayn, al-Abbas, Sayyidah Zaynab, Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, and others. And not only that, but they also circulate some stories about the Imam al-Husayn, claiming that he returns the greeting with a loud voice, and that he apologizes when he does not return the greeting, and explains the reason, which is usually that he is meeting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The people among us believe this and follow their visits, seeking blessing from them. We want, in addition to the answer to our question—which is the position of Islam regarding visiting the graves of the shaykhs and the righteous—a guiding word for those who visit these graves and seek blessing from their occupants. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
There are two types of visits: an innovative visit and a legislated visit. As for visiting graves to make du'a for the deceased, to seek mercy for them, and to remember the Hereafter, this is a prescribed matter. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The Prophet used to visit al-Baqi' and make du'a for the people of al-Baqi' (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him), and he used to visit the martyrs and make du'a for them. So visiting the graves of the shaykhs from among the scholars and the good, or the graves of Muslims in general, for the purpose of making du'a for them, seeking mercy for them, and remembering the Hereafter, is a prescribed matter. This is because when a person visits graves, he remembers death, he remembers the Hereafter, and this results in preparation for the Hereafter, and in his activity in good and righteous deeds. There is no difference in this between visiting the graves of scholars or the graves of ordinary people. So if one visits the grave of al-Husayn, or the grave of al-Badawi, or the grave of Sayyidah Zaynab, or any other, for the sake of remembrance, remembering the Hereafter, making du'a for them, and seeking mercy for them, this is part of the legislated visit.
As for the second type, the innovative visit: it is that which is done for the sake of seeking blessing from the one being visited, rubbing against his grave, or circling his grave, or calling for aid from him, by saying: "O my master, help, help," or "intercession, intercession," or "aid, aid." This is an innovative and reprehensible visit. In fact, if it involves making du'a or calling for aid, it becomes major shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is the religion of the polytheists, the religion of Abu Jahl and his like, who used to call upon al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat, seeking aid from them. This is major shirk. So the one who visits al-Husayn to make du'a to him alongside Allah, to seek aid from him, the one who makes vows to him, the one who asks him for help, or al-Badawi, or al-Abbas, or Zaynab, or any other; all of this is major shirk. And the one who hears a voice, it is not the voice of al-Husayn, nor the voice of al-Badawi, nor any other, but they are the Shayatins (devils) who call them to extremism regarding these people. They hear the voices of the Shayatins who call to evil, from among the Shayatins of the jinn who call to shirk with Allah and the worship of other than Allah.
Returning the greeting from the deceased does not mean that he hears it. There is a disagreement among the scholars regarding his return of the greeting. Some affirmed that he returns it, but it is something that is not heard. Others did not affirm that. It is authentically reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: And the people do not hear the return of the greeting from him (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him). And in another hadith: (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him). So he returns it to them even if they do not hear it.
And likewise, regarding the deceased, it is reported in some narrations that if a servant visits a deceased person whom he knew in this world and greets him, he returns the greeting to him. But this does not mean that he hears his voice; rather, the soul returns the greeting. As for the body, it has perished, and decay has overtaken it, or decay has overtaken part of it. It is only the souls.
Returning the greeting is not heard from the deceased. And returning the greeting also does not necessitate making du'a to him or seeking aid from him. So whether he returns the greeting or not, this is not related to a legal ruling. Rather, the ruling is related to your making du'a to the deceased and seeking aid from the deceased. This is major shirk, or asking him for help, or aid, or intercession. This is from major shirk, even if he returned the greeting, even if we assume that you heard the return of the greeting. It is not permissible for you to make du'a to him other than to Allah, nor to seek aid from him, nor to make vows to him, nor to ask him for help and aid. All of this is worship of other than Allah, whether from the dead, or from idols, or from trees, or from stones. All of this is not permissible, and this is the practice of the first polytheists. So it is obligatory to be cautious of that.
And likewise, seeking blessing from graves through their soil, their stones, or their fences is not permissible. And if one intends by this to seek blessing from them, and that they give him blessing and provide him with blessing, this becomes a type of worshipping them other than Allah, and a type of seeking blessing in reality. So that is not permissible. Rather, the visit is for remembering the Hereafter and seeking mercy for the deceased, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
So the believer visits them to remember the Hereafter, and to make du'a for them. They are in need of du'a. He makes du'a for them, seeks mercy for them, and asks Allah for them for forgiveness, mercy, and pardon. This is the legislated visit.
So it is obligatory upon everyone who claims Islam to be cautious of what nullifies his Islam and corrupts his Islam, such as shirk with Allah . And it is obligatory upon the ignorant person to ask the people of knowledge and have them clarify it to him. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his Companions when they visited graves to say: And he used to say when visiting the people of al-Baqi': He makes du'a for them and seeks mercy for them. This is the legislated visit.
So it is obligatory upon every Muslim to adhere to this legislated visit, and to be cautious of the innovative and shirk-based visits that the ignorant people do with many of the graves. And Allah is the One to be sought for help. Yes.

The presenter : Allah is the One to be sought for help. May Allah reward you with good.