The Ruling on Visiting Graveyards for Men and Women and Making Them a Place for Charity
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Question:
There are customs that dictate that the deceased’s relatives, both men and women, go to his grave every Thursday during the first three weeks after death, in order to give charity in the form of pastries and bread. What is the ruling in Islam regarding this?
Is it not better to give charity to the poor and needy in any other place, rather than going to the graveyards, especially given that it has been established that most of the living people present there sell what they collect from the families of the deceased and trade in it?
Answer:
There is no basis for this. There is no basis for specifying the visit every week or for giving charity at the graves. Rather, it is obligatory that the visit be unspecified; whenever the visit becomes easy, it is prescribed for men to visit the graveyards. Men visit them to remember the Hereafter, to remember death, and to make du'a for the deceased. He says:. This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). He taught them that when they visited the graveyards, they should say: Sunan Ibn Majah 1547Sahih (Darussalam).
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he visited the graveyards, would say:Sunan Abi Dawud 3237Sahih (Al-Albani). This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. And he would say: . And all of this is regarding men.
As for women, they do not visit graveyards, as mentioned previously. And as for specifying a particular day, Thursday or Friday, for the visit, there is no basis for it. Likewise, specifying the distribution of charity, such as bread, meat, or otherwise, at the graveyards has no basis. Rather, what is prescribed is that the one giving charity follows the poor to their homes and their neighborhoods, and gives them the charity without burdening them or inviting them to the graveyards. So the conclusion is that what is prescribed is that the believer follows the poor, knows their neighborhoods so that he can go to them with charity, and if they come to his home and ask for it, he gives them charity. As for making the graveyard a place for charity, this has no basis.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
There are customs that dictate that the deceased’s relatives, both men and women, go to his grave every Thursday during the first three weeks after death, in order to give charity in the form of pastries and bread. What is the ruling in Islam regarding this?
Is it not better to give charity to the poor and needy in any other place, rather than going to the graveyards, especially given that it has been established that most of the living people present there sell what they collect from the families of the deceased and trade in it?
Answer:
There is no basis for this. There is no basis for specifying the visit every week or for giving charity at the graves. Rather, it is obligatory that the visit be unspecified; whenever the visit becomes easy, it is prescribed for men to visit the graveyards. Men visit them to remember the Hereafter, to remember death, and to make du'a for the deceased. He says:
Peace be upon you, abode of a people of believers, and we, if Allah wills, are to follow you. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you. May Allah forgive us and you.
السلام عليكم دار قومٍ مؤمنين، وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون، نسأل الله لنا ولكم العافية، يغفر الله لنا ولكمAs-salamu ‘alaykum ahlad-diyar minal-mu’minina wal- muslimin, wa inna insha’ Allah bikum lahiqun, nas’alul-laha lana wa lakumul-‘afiyah (Peace be upon you, O inhabitants of the abodes, believers and Muslims, and we will join you soon if Allah wills. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you).
السلام عليكم أهل الديار من المؤمنين والمسلمين وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون نسأل الله لنا ولكم العافيةAnd the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he visited the graveyards, would say:
Peace be upon you, inhabitants of the dwellings who are of the community of the believers. If Allah wills we shall join you.
السلام عليكم دار قوم مؤمنين، وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون، غداً مؤجلون، اللهم اغفر لأهل بقيع الغرقدVisit the graveyards, for they remind you of the Hereafter. Visit the graveyards, for they remind you of death.
زوروا القبور فإنها تذكركم الآخرة، زوروا القبور فإنها تذكركم الموتAs for women, they do not visit graveyards, as mentioned previously. And as for specifying a particular day, Thursday or Friday, for the visit, there is no basis for it. Likewise, specifying the distribution of charity, such as bread, meat, or otherwise, at the graveyards has no basis. Rather, what is prescribed is that the one giving charity follows the poor to their homes and their neighborhoods, and gives them the charity without burdening them or inviting them to the graveyards. So the conclusion is that what is prescribed is that the believer follows the poor, knows their neighborhoods so that he can go to them with charity, and if they come to his home and ask for it, he gives them charity. As for making the graveyard a place for charity, this has no basis.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.