Author: Allama Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jibreen (حفظہ اللہ)
The Prophet (ﷺ) outlined the benefits of visiting graves as follows:◈ It serves as a reminder of the Hereafter.
◈ It fosters detachment from worldly desires.
◈ It is a means of earning reward through supplicating for the deceased and seeking Allah’s mercy for them.
The Prophet (ﷺ) also prohibited inappropriate speech or conduct during grave visits.
Allah knows best!
Question:
What is the ruling on specifying Fridays or the days of Eid for visiting graves?Answer:
Visiting graves is permissible without designating specific days, as established in authentic Hadiths. In the early days of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) initially prohibited visiting graves to prevent excessive wailing, praising the deceased, or engaging in practices of ignorance. Once the Prophet (ﷺ) was satisfied that the people understood Islamic teachings, he permitted visiting graves.The Prophet (ﷺ) outlined the benefits of visiting graves as follows:◈ It serves as a reminder of the Hereafter.
◈ It fosters detachment from worldly desires.
◈ It is a means of earning reward through supplicating for the deceased and seeking Allah’s mercy for them.
The Prophet (ﷺ) also prohibited inappropriate speech or conduct during grave visits.
Authentic Hadiths Supporting General Permission:
Several authentic narrations support the general permission for visiting graves:- The Hadith of Buraidah, Abu Hurairah, and Umm Atiyyah (رضی اللہ عنہم) in Jami' al-Usul (Vol. 11, Pg. 152).
- Imam Ibn Majah narrates:
"I had forbidden you from visiting graves, but now you may visit them, as they make you renounce worldly desires and remind you of the Hereafter."
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Funerals, Chapter on Visiting Graves, Hadith 1571. Its chain is Hasan.) - Imam Al-Haythami in Majma’ al-Zawaid (Vol. 3, Pg. 57) records similar narrations from Abu Sa’id, Umm Salamah, Aisha, Zaid bin Al-Khattab, Ali, Zaid bin Thabit (رضی اللہ عنہم), and others regarding the permissibility of visiting graves.
Ruling on Visiting Graves on Specific Days:
Although there is general permission to visit graves, designating specific days like Fridays or the days of Eid for grave visits is not proven from authentic Hadiths. Many narrations that mention such practices are either severely weak or fabricated. Therefore, one should refrain from assigning specific days for grave visits.Examples of Weak or Fabricated Narrations:
- Visiting Graves on Fridays:
A narration attributed to Abu Hurairah (رضی اللہ عنہ) states:
"Whoever visits the graves of their parents or one of them every Friday, their sins will be forgiven, and they will be recorded among the dutiful."
This narration was recorded by Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat and Al-Saghir, but it contains a weak narrator, Abdul Kareem Abu Umayyah. (Declared fabricated in Da'if al-Jami’ al-Saghir, Hadith 5205.) - Visiting Graves on Eid Days:
A narration attributed to Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ) mentions that visiting graves on the days of Eid is Sunnah. This was recorded by Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat, but its chain includes Harith Al-A'war, who is severely weak. - Recognizing Visitors on Fridays or Saturdays:
Some reports claim that the deceased recognize visitors who visit on Fridays or Saturdays. These reports are often based on dreams, personal opinions, or unverified traditions and lack strong evidence.
Conclusion:
Visiting graves is encouraged for its spiritual benefits, as long as it is done without specifying particular days like Fridays or Eid. Designating specific days for grave visits is not substantiated by authentic Islamic teachings. Therefore, it is advisable to follow the general guidance provided in authentic Hadiths and avoid practices based on weak or fabricated narrations.Allah knows best!