The wisdom behind prohibiting women from visiting graves
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Question:
This questioner says in this question: We know that visiting graves is forbidden for women, but the question is, O honorable Shaykh: If a woman passes by graves on her way, should she recite the supplication for passing by a grave? And what is the wisdom behind prohibiting women from visiting graves?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon whoever follows his guidance. As for what follows:
It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1569Sahih (Darussalam) And he taught his Companions that when they visited graves, they should say: Sunan Ibn Majah 1547Sahih (Darussalam).
The wisdom behind visiting graves is that it reminds a person of death, reminding him of the Hereafter, along with the kindness shown to the deceased, supplicating for them, and seeking mercy for them. As for women, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited them from doing so. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) initially prohibited everyone from visiting graves in the early days of Islam, when people had recently left behind shirk (associating partners with Allah); they were prohibited. Then permission was granted to everyone to visit graves. Then Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) specified men for visiting graves, excluding women. In fact, it came in the hadith:.
The wisdom behind this, as the scholars said—and Allah knows best—is that they have little patience and are a trial for men, so Allah closed this door. This is because if they visit graves, they may not be able to control themselves from crying, wailing, and screaming. They may also be a trial for the men visiting the graves on the way, in the cemetery, or on the return. So the wisdom behind this—and Allah knows best—as the scholars said, is that they are a trial and that they have little patience. Therefore, it is not safe for them when they see the graves—graves of their fathers, mothers, brothers, and husbands—that they do what is not appropriate, such as screaming, moaning, wailing, tearing clothes, and the like. Nor is it safe that they become a trial for the men, or that they are tempted by the visiting men. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) is the Wise, the All-Knowing; He does not prohibit anything except for a wisdom. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
This questioner says in this question: We know that visiting graves is forbidden for women, but the question is, O honorable Shaykh: If a woman passes by graves on her way, should she recite the supplication for passing by a grave? And what is the wisdom behind prohibiting women from visiting graves?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon whoever follows his guidance. As for what follows:
It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.
زوروا القبور؛ فإنها تذكركم الآخرةAs-salamu ‘alaykum ahlad-diyar minal-mu’minina wal- muslimin, wa inna insha’ Allah bikum lahiqun, nas’alul-laha lana wa lakumul-‘afiyah
السلام عليكم أهل الديار، من المؤمنين والمسلمين، وإنا -إن شاء الله- بكم لاحقون، نسأل الله لنا ولكم العافية، يرحم الله المستقدمين منا، والمستأخرينThe wisdom behind visiting graves is that it reminds a person of death, reminding him of the Hereafter, along with the kindness shown to the deceased, supplicating for them, and seeking mercy for them. As for women, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited them from doing so. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) initially prohibited everyone from visiting graves in the early days of Islam, when people had recently left behind shirk (associating partners with Allah); they were prohibited. Then permission was granted to everyone to visit graves. Then Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) specified men for visiting graves, excluding women. In fact, it came in the hadith:
The Messenger of Allah cursed the women who visit graves.
لعن رسول الله زائرات القبور من النساءThe wisdom behind this, as the scholars said—and Allah knows best—is that they have little patience and are a trial for men, so Allah closed this door. This is because if they visit graves, they may not be able to control themselves from crying, wailing, and screaming. They may also be a trial for the men visiting the graves on the way, in the cemetery, or on the return. So the wisdom behind this—and Allah knows best—as the scholars said, is that they are a trial and that they have little patience. Therefore, it is not safe for them when they see the graves—graves of their fathers, mothers, brothers, and husbands—that they do what is not appropriate, such as screaming, moaning, wailing, tearing clothes, and the like. Nor is it safe that they become a trial for the men, or that they are tempted by the visiting men. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) is the Wise, the All-Knowing; He does not prohibit anything except for a wisdom. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.