Grave Visitation in Islam: Ruling, Etiquettes, and Reflections

◈ Ruling and Etiquettes of Visiting Graves in Islam ◈
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori

❖ The Ruling on Visiting Graves​

Visiting graves is legislated (مشروع) in Islam, particularly for men. It serves as a reminder of the Hereafter and a means of softening the heart.

✦ ① Prophetic Permission and Instruction​

Narrated by Buraidah رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:


"قَدْ كُنْتُ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ، فَقَدْ أُذِنَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ فِي زِيَارَةِ قَبْرِ أُمِّهِ، فَزُورُوهَا، فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّرُ الْآخِرَةَ"
“Indeed, I had forbidden you from visiting graves, but now permission has been granted to Muhammad to visit his mother’s grave. So visit them (graves), for they remind you of the Hereafter.”
➤ Sources: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 977, Tirmidhī: 1054, Abū Dāwūd: 3235, Ibn Ḥibbān: 3168, Ḥākim: 1/376, Bayhaqī: 4/76

✦ ② Visiting Without Uttering Falsehood​

Another narration states:


"فمن أراد أن يزور فليزر ولا تقولوا هجرا"
“Whoever wishes to visit (the graves), let him do so — but do not speak false or inappropriate words.”
➤ Source: Nasā’ī: 1/285–286

✦ ③ Reminder and Reflection​

Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه narrated:


"زوروا القبور، فإن فيها عبرة"
“Visit the graves, for they are a source of reflection (lesson).”
➤ Sources: Aḥmad: 3/38, Ḥākim: 1/374, Bayhaqī: 4/77
◉ Imām Ḥākim stated: This hadith is according to the conditions of Muslim.
◉ Imām Dhahabī agreed.
◉ Imām Haythamī affirmed that its narrators are all trustworthy.

✦ ④ Scholarly Opinions​

✔ Majority of Scholars (Jumhūr):
Grave visitation is Mustaḥabb (recommended).
➤ Tuhfat al-Aḥwadhī: 4/150


✔ Ibn Ḥazm رحمه الله:
He considered visiting graves obligatory (wājib), even if once in a lifetime.
➤ Nayl al-Awṭār: 3/26

✦ ⑤ Facing the Qiblah During Grave Visitation​

In a hadith it is mentioned:


"فجلس النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم مستقبل القبلة وجلسنا معه"
“The Prophet ﷺ sat facing the Qiblah, and we sat with him.”
➤ Sources: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2751, Abū Dāwūd: 3212, Nasā’ī: 2001, Ibn Mājah: 1548, Aḥmad: 4/297


From this, it is understood that facing the Qiblah while visiting graves is recommended (Mustaḥabb), not obligatory.

Summary of Etiquettes:​

❖ Visiting graves is Sunnah and reminds one of death and the Hereafter.
❖ It is recommended for men, while women may visit with conditions.
❖ The visitor should face the Qiblah while sitting, not the grave itself.
❖ Refrain from saying any false or inappropriate words during visitation.


وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ