The Ruling on Visiting Graves After the Festival Prayer

Question:
This questioner from Yemen says in this question: The people of our mosque all go out together after every festival prayer to visit the graves as a group. What is the ruling on this? Are they rewarded?

Answer:
There is no basis for this. Going out to the graves after the festival prayer is merely a custom for some people. If they visit the graves on the day of the festival, or on Friday, or on any other day, there is no specific day designated for this. Designating the day of the festival, or designating Friday, or designating another day is not permissible; there is no basis for it. However, the Sunnah is that they should visit the graves regularly from time to time, as circumstances allow. If their time permits on Friday, on the day of the festival, or at other times, they should do so. But they should not think that this day has a special status; it does not. However, the Sunnah is to visit the graves when it is easy to do so, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): .
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to visit them and make du'a for their inhabitants. So there is no difference between the day of the festival, or Friday, or Thursday, or any other day. As far as we know, there is no known time for this. But the believer should seek out times when he has an opportunity, because a person may be occupied with his affairs. So if he finds an opportunity on Friday, or on the day of the festival, or otherwise, he should do so, visit the graves, and greet them.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Companions that when they visit the graves, they should say: This is his teaching to his Companions (peace and blessings be upon him), whether it is at night or during the day. If you visit them at night, or during the day, at the beginning of the day, in the middle of the day, at the end of the day, at night, at its beginning, in its middle, or at its end, as circumstances allow. Yes.
As for women, no, they are not permitted to visit the graves. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who visit the graves. But they may make du'a for the deceased in the mosques, in the prayer areas; there is no harm in that. They may pray with the men for the deceased; there is no harm in that. But as for visiting the graves, he (peace and blessings be upon him) warned them against it and cursed those who visit the graves.
And the wisdom behind this—and Allah knows best—is that they have little patience, and because they are a source of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
So it is obligatory for them to obey Allah and His Messenger and not to visit the graves. But du'a is required from everyone, from men and women. Du'a for the deceased Muslims, for their relatives, and for their dead: "O Allah, forgive them. O Allah, have mercy on them. O Allah, save them from the Fire. O Allah, raise their ranks in Paradise..." and other such good supplications. "O Allah, expiate their sins. O Allah, accept their good deeds. O Allah, do not deprive us of their reward, and do not afflict us after them." Du'a is required at home... on the road... at the grave... it is all good, whether at the time of visiting or otherwise. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.