Question: What is the ruling on visiting graves, seeking intercession through shrines, and bringing goods such as wealth and sheep as offerings there? As people do at the graves of Sayyid al-Badawi (in Sudan), Sayyiduna Husayn ibn Ali رضي الله عنهما (in Iraq), and Sayyida Zainab رضي الله عنها (in Egypt). Please benefit us with your answer and may Allah bless your knowledge. (Ameen)
Answer: There are two types of visiting graves. One type is permissible and desirable in terms of showing mercy and compassion to the people of the graves, praying for them, remembering death, and preparing for the Hereafter, because the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
زوروا القبور فإنها تذكركم الآخرة
“Visit the graves, for they remind you of the Hereafter.”
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم himself used to visit graves, and so did his companions رضي الله عنهم. This type is specifically for men, not for women.
As for women, visiting graves is not permissible for them; rather, it is necessary to forbid them from doing so. Because it is established from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that he cursed women who visit graves. Also, due to their impatience and wailing during the visit, there is a possibility of causing fitnah (temptation) and that they themselves may fall into fitnah. Similarly, it is not permissible for them to follow funerals to the cemetery because it is narrated in an authentic hadith from Sayyida Umm Atiyyah رضي الله عنها that:
نهينا عن اتباع الجنائز ولم يعزم علينا
“We have been forbidden to follow funerals, and it has not been made obligatory upon us.”
↰ From this, it is proven that due to the fitnah caused by them and the fear of their lack of patience, they are forbidden from going behind funerals to the cemetery. The fundamental basis of this prohibition is the command of Allah, the Glorious and Majestic:
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا
“The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, when he gives you an order concerning any matter, take it, and when he forbids you from something, then desist.”
↰ However, it is permissible for both men and women to participate in performing the funeral prayer, as established in authentic hadiths from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the companions رضي الله عنهم. Indeed, Umm Atiyyah رضي الله عنها’s statement that “it has not been made obligatory upon us to follow funerals” does not justify women following funerals because the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم command to forbid is a prohibition. Umm Atiyyah’s statement is her own ijtihad (juristic reasoning) which does not contradict the Sunnah.
The second type is an innovation: that the visitor asks the people of the graves for prayers and help for himself, or sacrifices animals in their name, or offers vows in their name. This is absolutely forbidden and is “major shirk.” We seek Allah’s forgiveness. Similar to these innovations are acts such as coming to them to ask for prayers for blessing, performing prayers, or reciting Quran. These are innovations and absolutely not permissible. All these matters are among the “means of shirk.” In fact, there are three categories related to this topic.
First category: Permissible — visiting graves to remember the Hereafter and to pray for the people of the graves.
Second category: Innovation — reciting Quran, praying, or sacrificing animals at the graves for blessing; these are innovations and among the means of shirk.
Third category: Major shirk — when a person visits a grave to sacrifice animals to gain the pleasure of the deceased buried there and seeks nearness to that deceased through the sacrifice, or asks that grave (dead person) for prayers or help instead of Allah, whether the help is for relief from distress or victory over enemies.
It is extremely necessary to avoid all these innovative types of visiting.
Also, it makes no difference whether the one being called upon (for help or prayers) is a Prophet, a righteous person, or anyone else. (There is no difference between more or less righteous in this matter.) Whether the person does this at the grave of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, or Sayyiduna Husayn رضي الله عنه, or Sheikh al-Badawi, or Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani رحمه الله, or any other (saint’s) grave, it is all the same as what ignorant people do. Only Allah is the Helper.
