My father has been deceased for a long time, and he is far from me, and I am unable to visit him except after two or three years. Is it possible for me to be dutiful to him?
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The questioner : The questioner says: My father has been deceased for a long time, and he is far from me, and I am unable to visit him except after two or three years. Is it possible for me to be dutiful to him in some way while I am far from him?
The Shaykh : The intended meaning of visiting the dead is to make supplication for them, and supplication for them reaches them wherever the supplicant is, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):Riyad as-Salihin 949.
So you should supplicate to Allah for your father in whatever place you are, whether you are far away or close, and there is no need to visit his grave. Yes, if you are in the same country and you come for a need and then go to visit your father, there is nothing wrong with that. But to set out on a journey to his grave to visit it, that is prohibited.
The Shaykh : The intended meaning of visiting the dead is to make supplication for them, and supplication for them reaches them wherever the supplicant is, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):
When a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: A continuous charity, knowledge by which people derive benefit, pious son who prays for him.
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث : صدقة جارية ، أو علم ينتفع به ، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهSo you should supplicate to Allah for your father in whatever place you are, whether you are far away or close, and there is no need to visit his grave. Yes, if you are in the same country and you come for a need and then go to visit your father, there is nothing wrong with that. But to set out on a journey to his grave to visit it, that is prohibited.