Ruling on Opening Graves Other Than for Need or Necessity

When someone dies among us, it is customary in Sudan that after forty days, the family visits the grave, including the women and children. They open the grave and have corn kernels with them, which they spread over the deceased, and they throw—so I believe—stones on either side of the deceased. Is this permissible? And do women visit graves?
Answer: This practice is a religious innovation (bid'ah) with no basis in the Shari'ah. Opening the grave and placing grains on it, or perfume, or clothes, or anything else, is all reprehensible (munkar) with no basis; rather, it is among the innovations. The grave is not opened after that except for a need, such as if the workers forget their tools, like a shovel or the like, and it is opened for that reason, or if something of importance falls from one of them, and it is opened for that reason. As for opening it to see the deceased, or to put clothes on him, or perfumes, or grains, all of this is an innovation with no basis.
Women are also not permitted to visit graves, due to the statement of Abu Hurayrah, Ibn Abbas, and others: . The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the women who visit graves. Abu Hurayrah, Ibn Abbas, and Hassan ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that. Initially, he permitted everyone to visit, then he prohibited the women and affirmed it for the men, saying to them: . So he affirmed it for the men and prohibited the women from visiting. The wisdom in that, and Allah knows best, is that they are a trial (fitnah), and because of their lack of patience. So it was the wisdom of Allah that He prohibited them from visiting so that they do not become a trial and do not cause others to become a trial. Yes.