Conditions for Women Visiting Graves in Islam

✔ Women Visiting Graves: Conditions and Rulings in Islam
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori

❖ Women May Visit Graves — With Conditions​

Women are permitted to visit graves occasionally, provided they:


Avoid frequent visits
Refrain from crying loudly or wailing
Avoid adornment and display (زینت)
Adhere to modesty and proper behavior

Supporting Evidences for Permissibility​

➊ General Command Includes Women​

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:


فزوروها
"Now you may visit the graves."


This command is general and includes both men and women.

➋ Purpose of Grave Visitation: Reminder of the Hereafter​

Women, like men, share the same reason for visiting graves — to remember the Hereafter (تذکر الآخرۃ), which is a legitimate purpose.

➌ Visit of ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) to Her Brother’s Grave​

When ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr (رضي الله عنه) passed away, ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) visited his grave. When questioned, she replied:


نعم، ثم أُمر بزيارتها
"Yes, it was once prohibited, but later it was permitted."


Sahih: Hakim: 3761, Bayhaqi: 4/78, Tamhid: 3/233
✔ Authenticated by Imam Dhahabi and Hafiz Busiri
Ahkam al-Janaiz: p. 230

➍ Ā’ishah’s Inquiry About Grave Duʿā​

She asked the Prophet (ﷺ):


كيف أقول إذا زرت القبور؟
"What should I say when I visit graves?"


He replied with the prescribed du‘ā:


السلام على أهل الديار...


Muslim: 974
Nasa’i: 4/93, Bayhaqi: 4/78, Sharh al-Sunnah: 3/306, ‘Abd al-Razzaq: 2712, Ibn Majah: 1546

➎ Fatimah (رضي الله عنها) Visited Hamzah’s Grave Regularly​

She would visit the grave of her uncle Hamzah (رضي الله عنه) every Friday.


Hakim: 1/377

➏ Incident of a Woman Crying at the Grave​

The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a woman crying at a grave and said:


اتقي الله واصبري
"Fear Allah and be patient."


He did not stop her from being at the grave.
Bukhari: 1283


✔ Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله):
This proves the permissibility, since the Prophet (ﷺ) did not prohibit her presence at the grave.
Fath al-Bari: 4/244


✔ ‘Allamah ‘Ayni (رحمه الله):
This shows general permissibility of visiting graves for both men and women.
‘Umdat al-Qari: 3/76

Prohibition for Excessive Visitation​

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:


لعن رسول الله زوّارات القبور
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed women who visit graves excessively."


Hasan: Sahih Ibn Majah: 1280, 1281
Tirmidhi: 1056
Musnad Ahmad: 2/337
Ibn Majah: 1576, Mishkat: 1770
Irwa al-Ghalil: 232

Scholarly Explanation of the Hadith​

✔ Imam Qurtubi (رحمه الله):
The curse applies to women who visit excessively, as indicated by the emphatic Arabic form (زوّارات).
Tadhkirah: 1/11, Nayl al-Awtar: 3/63


✔ Mulla ‘Ali Qari (رحمه الله):
The prohibition is only for frequent visitation.
Mirqat: 4/256


✔ ‘Abd al-Rahman Mubarakpuri (رحمه الله):
Held the same opinion.
Tuhfat al-Ahwazi: 4/155


✔ Imam Shawkani (رحمه الله):
Deemed occasional visitation permissible, and excessive visitation blameworthy.
Nayl al-Awtar: 3/63


✔ Shaykh al-Albani (رحمه الله):
Frequent visits are not allowed for women.
Ahkam al-Janaiz: p. 235

⚠ Opposing View: Complete Prohibition​

Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) held the view that grave visitation by women is entirely prohibited.
Majmu‘ al-Fatawa: 24/151


But this is not the majority opinion, and contradicts authentic Hadith evidences.

Weak Hadith Warning All Women From Visiting Graves​

The version with the wording: زائرات القبور
"The Prophet (ﷺ) cursed women who visit graves" is weak.


Ahkam al-Janaiz: p. 236, Tirmidhi: 1056


If it were accepted, scholars agree that it applies to those who go adorned, wail, or violate decorum — not to modest, occasional visitors.

✔ Conclusion​

Occasional grave visitation by women is permissible,
but frequent, decorated, or emotional displays are forbidden.
☑ The objective must be reflection, du‘ā, and reminder of the Hereafter.