The Ruling on Reciting al-Fatihah at the Graves of the Awliya

Q: What is the ruling on one who visits graves and then recites al-Fatihah? Especially at the graves of the awliya, as they are called in some neighboring Arab countries? Even though some of them say: I do not want shirk (associating partners with Allah), but if I do not visit this wali (close friend of Allah), he comes to me in a dream and says to me: Why did you not visit me? What is the ruling on that? May Allah reward you with good.

A: It is recommended for Muslim men to visit graves, as Allah the Exalted has prescribed; because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): , which Imam Muslim recorded in his Sahih. Muslim also narrated in his Sahih from Buraydah ibn al-Husayb (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his companions to say when they visited graves: .
It is authentic from him (peace and blessings be upon him), from the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), that he used to say when visiting graves: . And during the visit, the Prayer and Peace be upon him did not recite Surat al-Fatihah or any other part of the Qur'an. So reciting it during the visit is a bid'ah (religious innovation), and so is reciting any other part of the Qur'an; because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): , which is agreed upon as authentic. And in a narration by Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him), he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . And in Sahih Muslim, from Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with them both), from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that he used to say in his sermon on Friday: . And al-Nasa'i recorded it and added: .
So it is obligatory for Muslims to adhere to the pure Shari'ah and to beware of bid'ah (religious innovation) in visiting graves and elsewhere. The visit is prescribed for the graves of all Muslims, whether they are called awliya or not. Every believer, male and female, is among the awliya (close friends of Allah), as Allah the Exalted said: : [Yunus: 62-63]. And He the Exalted said in Surat al-Anfal: [al-Anfal: 34].
And it is not permissible for the visitor or anyone else to make du'a' (supplication) to the dead, or seek aid from them, or make vows for them, or slaughter for them at their graves or in any place to draw near to them; so that they may intercede for him, or cure his sick person, or support him against his enemy, or for any other of his needs; because these matters are acts of worship, and all worship is for Allah alone, as He the Exalted said: [al-Bayyinah: 5]. And He the Exalted said: : [al-Dhariyat: 56]. And He the Exalted said: [al-Jinn: 18]. And He the Mighty and Majestic said: [al-Isra: 23]. And the meaning is: He commanded and advised. And He the Exalted said: : [Ghafir: 14]. And He the Mighty and Majestic said: [al-An'am: 162-163]. And the verses in this meaning are many.
It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: It is agreed upon as authentic from the hadith of Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him). This includes all acts of worship, such as prayer, fasting, bowing, prostration, Hajj, supplication, slaughter, and vows, as well as other types of worship, just as the previous verses include all of that. In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated from 'Ali from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: .
In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: The hadiths regarding the command to worship Allah alone and the prohibition of associating partners with Him, and of the means to that, are numerous and well-known.
As for women, they are not permitted to visit graves; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): . And the wisdom in that, and Allah knows best, is that their visit may lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for them and for other men. And the visit to graves was prohibited in the early days of Islam to cut off the source of shirk (associating partners with Allah). So when Islam became widespread and tawhid (the oneness of Allah) spread, he (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted the visit for everyone, then he specifically prohibited it for women to cut off the source of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) through them.
As for the graves of disbelievers, there is no harm in visiting them for the sake of remembrance and taking a lesson, but they should not be called upon, nor should forgiveness be sought for them. This is because it is established in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked his Lord for permission to seek forgiveness for his mother, but He did not permit it. And he asked Him for permission to visit her grave, and He permitted it. And that is because she died in the jahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic age of ignorance) upon the religion of her people.
And I ask Allah to guide the Muslims, men and women, to understanding in the religion and to steadfastness upon it in speech, action, and creed. And to protect them all from everything that contradicts His pure Shari'ah. Indeed, He is the One who has the power to do that and is capable of it. And may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions.