Ruling on Travelling for the Purpose of Visiting Graves and the Hadith: "Lā Tushaddu ar-Riḥāl"
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Matters of Funerals, Volume 1, Page 267
Respected Ḥāfiẓ Ṣāḥib, the ḥadīth you mentioned regarding the visitation of graves is indeed respectable for us. You stated that both men and women are included in this permission — I have read this. I also studied the book "Al-Wasīlah" by Imām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله, in which I came across a ḥadīth of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stating that travel is to be undertaken only for the visitation of three places: Bayt al-Maqdis, Baytullāh, and al-Masjid al-Nabawī.
So how can it be permissible to travel with the intention of visiting anything else? If one undertakes a journey to visit a grave, then clearly that would also be a journey with a specific intention. Kindly clarify this matter in detail. Your explanation would be appreciated.
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The ḥadīth you referred to from the book "Al-Wasīlah" by Imām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله has also been cited by this humble writer in his letter. You may refer to the letter for confirmation.
The excerpt states:
“This permission includes both men and women, but the condition is that Shadd ar-Riḥāl (i.e., undertaking a journey) should not be done solely for the purpose of visiting graves, and women should not visit frequently, because the ḥadīth says:
«لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلاَّ إِلٰی ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ»”
Here, Shadd ar-Riḥāl means “to travel.” Therefore, the intended meaning of my writing is:
“The condition is that one must not travel solely for the purpose of visiting graves.”
① Visiting graves is permissible for both men and women.
② However, it is conditional that one must not set out on a journey solely with the intention of visiting graves.
③ This is because the Prophet ﷺ said:
«لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلاَّ إِلٰی ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ»
(Travel should not be undertaken except to three mosques: al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, al-Masjid al-Nabawī, and al-Masjid al-Aqṣā.)
The summary of your question is as follows:
✔ Visiting graves is permissible,
✔ But travelling with a specific intention for it is not religiously valid.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I understand, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Matters of Funerals, Volume 1, Page 267❖ Question:
Respected Ḥāfiẓ Ṣāḥib, the ḥadīth you mentioned regarding the visitation of graves is indeed respectable for us. You stated that both men and women are included in this permission — I have read this. I also studied the book "Al-Wasīlah" by Imām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله, in which I came across a ḥadīth of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stating that travel is to be undertaken only for the visitation of three places: Bayt al-Maqdis, Baytullāh, and al-Masjid al-Nabawī.
So how can it be permissible to travel with the intention of visiting anything else? If one undertakes a journey to visit a grave, then clearly that would also be a journey with a specific intention. Kindly clarify this matter in detail. Your explanation would be appreciated.
❖ Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The ḥadīth you referred to from the book "Al-Wasīlah" by Imām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله has also been cited by this humble writer in his letter. You may refer to the letter for confirmation.
The excerpt states:
“This permission includes both men and women, but the condition is that Shadd ar-Riḥāl (i.e., undertaking a journey) should not be done solely for the purpose of visiting graves, and women should not visit frequently, because the ḥadīth says:
«لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلاَّ إِلٰی ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ»”
Here, Shadd ar-Riḥāl means “to travel.” Therefore, the intended meaning of my writing is:
“The condition is that one must not travel solely for the purpose of visiting graves.”
✿ Clarification:
① Visiting graves is permissible for both men and women.
② However, it is conditional that one must not set out on a journey solely with the intention of visiting graves.
③ This is because the Prophet ﷺ said:
«لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلاَّ إِلٰی ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ»
(Travel should not be undertaken except to three mosques: al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, al-Masjid al-Nabawī, and al-Masjid al-Aqṣā.)
❖ Conclusion:
The summary of your question is as follows:
✔ Visiting graves is permissible,
✔ But travelling with a specific intention for it is not religiously valid.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I understand, and Allah knows best what is correct.
