The Ruling on Traveling to the Prophet's Grave and Asking Him for Forgiveness
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The question: We return to the letter of our brother Ahmad al-Huri from Damascus. Our brother presented some of his questions in a previous session, and in this session he has a set of questions. He says: Allah the Exalted said in His noble Book: [Al-Nisa: 64-65]. The question is: Some Muslims take this verse to mean that there is no harm in a Muslim going and traveling to the grave of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), while he is in his grave, to seek forgiveness for him. Is this action correct as Allah the Exalted said? And does the meaning of "came to you" in the language mean that they came to you in your life or in your death? And does a Muslim become an apostate from Islam if he does not judge by the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? And is the dispute here about worldly matters or about religion?
The answer: This noble verse contains an encouragement for the community to come to him if they wrong themselves with some of the sins, or if they fall into something greater than that, such as shirk (associating partners with Allah), that they come to him repentant and regretful so that he may seek forgiveness for them (peace and blessings be upon him). This is intended in his lifetime (peace and blessings be upon him), where he calls the hypocrites and others to come to him to declare their repentance and return to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and to ask him (peace and blessings be upon him) to ask Allah to accept their repentance and rectify their conditions. For this reason, he said: [Al-Nisa: 64]. Obedience to the messengers is by the permission of Allah. Whoever Allah permits and wills to guide is guided, and whoever Allah does not will to guide is not guided. So the matter is in His hand (Glorified and Exalted is He) what Allah wills happens, and what He does not will does not happen, [At-Takwir: 29].
Then He said:[An-Nisa 4:64] meaning: the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) meaning: repentant and regretful, not merely by words, [An-Nisa 4:64] [Al-Nisa: 64]. So it is an encouragement for them, an encouragement for the servants to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to declare their repentance to him and to ask Allah for them. It is not intended after his death (peace and blessings be upon him) as some ignorant people think! No, after his death, one does not come for this purpose. Rather, one comes to greet him for those who are in the city or who arrive there from outside for the purpose of praying in the mosque and reading in it, and the like. So if one comes to the mosque, he greets the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his two companions. But one does not travel specifically for the purpose of visiting the grave only, but for the mosque, and the visit to the noble grave and the graves of Abu Bakr and Umar is incidental to the visit to the mosque; due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Bulugh al-Maram 5:58. So one does not travel to the graves, but when one arrives at the mosque and intends to greet the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his two companions, or does not intend that, it is prescribed for him to greet the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and to greet his two companions (may Allah be pleased with them both). But one does not travel for the purpose of visiting the grave only, due to the previous hadith.
As for what concerns seeking forgiveness and repentance, this is as it is: in his lifetime, not after his death.
The evidence for this is that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not do that, and they were the most knowledgeable people about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the most learned in jurisprudence. Also, he (peace and blessings be upon him) does not possess that after his death, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Riyad as-Salihin 1383. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) informed that whoever prays for him, his prayer is presented to him (peace and blessings be upon him). This is a specific matter regarding the prayer for him (peace and blessings be upon him): As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 64:539. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . It was said: O Messenger of Allah! How is it presented to you when you have died? He said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1637Da’if (Darussalam).
So this is specific to the prayer upon him (peace and blessings be upon him). And in the other wording:. This is a specific matter regarding the prayer and greeting upon him (peace and blessings be upon him) that it is conveyed to him.
As for coming to the grave to repent at the grave and seek forgiveness at the grave, this has no basis. Rather, it is reprehensible and not permissible, and it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). It is a means to come and ask him for intercession, or ask him to heal the sick, or so on, or ask him to pray for him. And this is not permissible; because this is not among his specific attributes (peace and blessings be upon him) after his death, nor among the attributes of anyone else. So the fact that he is one who has died means he is not called upon, nor is intercession sought from him, neither the Prophet nor anyone else (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, intercession is sought from him in his lifetime (peace and blessings be upon him). The man says: O Messenger of Allah! Intercede for me that Allah may forgive me. Intercede for me that Allah may heal my sick person... that He may return my missing person... that He may give me such and such.
And so on the Day of Resurrection after the resurrection and rising; because they are alive. The believers will come to Adam to intercede for them until judgment is passed between them, so he excuses himself, and refers them to Noah, so Noah excuses himself, then Noah refers them to Abraham, so he excuses himself, then Abraham refers them to Moses, so he excuses himself, then Moses refers them to Jesus, so he excuses himself (peace and blessings be upon him), then Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) refers them to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), who says: I am the one for it. So he advances and prostrates under the Throne (peace and blessings be upon him) and praises his Lord with great praises, then he intercedes for the people of the standing place until judgment is passed between them.
And so he intercedes for the people of Paradise until they enter Paradise; because he is alive, standing, and present. But in the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) after his death (peace and blessings be upon him), intercession is not sought from him, nor is he asked to seek forgiveness for people, nor to heal the sick, nor to return the missing, nor any other of these matters. And so the rest of the dead are not asked for any of these matters. Rather, they are prayed for and forgiveness is sought for them if they are Muslims. Yes.
(64) And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful. (65) But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذْ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَحِيمًا فَلا وَرَبِّكَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًاThe answer: This noble verse contains an encouragement for the community to come to him if they wrong themselves with some of the sins, or if they fall into something greater than that, such as shirk (associating partners with Allah), that they come to him repentant and regretful so that he may seek forgiveness for them (peace and blessings be upon him). This is intended in his lifetime (peace and blessings be upon him), where he calls the hypocrites and others to come to him to declare their repentance and return to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and to ask him (peace and blessings be upon him) to ask Allah to accept their repentance and rectify their conditions. For this reason, he said:
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah.
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِAnd you do not will except that Allah wills - Lord of the worlds.
وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَThen He said:
And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذْ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَAnd they asked Allah for forgiveness
فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَand the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them
وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُthey would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَحِيمًاOne should not undertake journeys except to three mosques: al-Masque al-Haram (in Makkah ), the Aqsa mosque, or this mosque (in Madinah).
لا تشد الرحال إلا إلى ثلاثة مساجد: المسجد الحرام، ومسجدي هذا، والمسجد الأقصىAs for what concerns seeking forgiveness and repentance, this is as it is: in his lifetime, not after his death.
The evidence for this is that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not do that, and they were the most knowledgeable people about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the most learned in jurisprudence. Also, he (peace and blessings be upon him) does not possess that after his death, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).
إذا مات ابن آدم انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث: صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهWhoever prays upon me, Allah prays upon him ten times for that
من صلى علي صلى الله عليه بها عشرًاIncrease your prayer upon me on Friday, for your prayer is presented to me
أكثروا علي من الصلاة يوم الجمعة فإن صلاتكم معروضة عليfor Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets
إن الله حرم على الأرض أن تأكل أجساد الأنبياءSo this is specific to the prayer upon him (peace and blessings be upon him). And in the other wording:
Indeed, Allah has angels who move about, conveying to me the greetings of my Ummah.
إن لله ملائكة سياحين يبلغونني عن أمتي السلامAs for coming to the grave to repent at the grave and seek forgiveness at the grave, this has no basis. Rather, it is reprehensible and not permissible, and it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). It is a means to come and ask him for intercession, or ask him to heal the sick, or so on, or ask him to pray for him. And this is not permissible; because this is not among his specific attributes (peace and blessings be upon him) after his death, nor among the attributes of anyone else. So the fact that he is one who has died means he is not called upon, nor is intercession sought from him, neither the Prophet nor anyone else (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, intercession is sought from him in his lifetime (peace and blessings be upon him). The man says: O Messenger of Allah! Intercede for me that Allah may forgive me. Intercede for me that Allah may heal my sick person... that He may return my missing person... that He may give me such and such.
And so on the Day of Resurrection after the resurrection and rising; because they are alive. The believers will come to Adam to intercede for them until judgment is passed between them, so he excuses himself, and refers them to Noah, so Noah excuses himself, then Noah refers them to Abraham, so he excuses himself, then Abraham refers them to Moses, so he excuses himself, then Moses refers them to Jesus, so he excuses himself (peace and blessings be upon him), then Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) refers them to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), who says: I am the one for it. So he advances and prostrates under the Throne (peace and blessings be upon him) and praises his Lord with great praises, then he intercedes for the people of the standing place until judgment is passed between them.
And so he intercedes for the people of Paradise until they enter Paradise; because he is alive, standing, and present. But in the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) after his death (peace and blessings be upon him), intercession is not sought from him, nor is he asked to seek forgiveness for people, nor to heal the sick, nor to return the missing, nor any other of these matters. And so the rest of the dead are not asked for any of these matters. Rather, they are prayed for and forgiveness is sought for them if they are Muslims. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.