Here are three hadith of the final
Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم
regarding graveyards and visiting them.
1.
"I once forbade you from visiting graves, but visit
them now, for they will draw your attention away from this world and remind you
of the Hereafter."³
2.
No person passes by the grave of a person he knew in the
world and gives salam, except the deceased recognises him and replies.⁴
3.
He who visits both or one of his parents graves every Friday
will be forgiven and recorded as righteous.⁵
4.
It is sunnah to visit the graves of Muslims and a great
privilege to visit the shrines of saints and martyrs. Conveying reward to them
is a commendable and rewardable action.⁶
5.
If one desires to visit the grave of any Muslim (or saint of
Allah), it is recommended to offer two units of voluntary salah at home (at a non-disliked time).
³ Sunan Ibn Mājah, vol. 2, p. 252, hadith 1571
⁴ Tārīkh Baghdād, vol. 6, p. 135, hadith 3175
⁵ Shu'ab al-Īmān, vol. 6, p. 201, hadith 7901
⁶ Fatāwā Riḍawiyyah, vol. 9, p. 532
In
every unit, one should recite Āyat al-Kursī once and Al-Ikhlāṣ three times
after Al-Fātiḥah. He should then convey the reward of this salah to the
deceased. Allah will create light in the grave of the deceased and grant
immense rewards to that individual (i.e. the sender of the rewards).¹
6.
Avoid
trivial speech and actions when on the way to visit a grave or shrine.²
7.
Neither kiss the grave nor touch it, but stand at some
distance from it.³
8.
It is forbidden to perform sajdat al-ta'zīm (prostration of
reverence) before a grave. If this is done with intention of worship, it is an
act of disbelief.⁴
9. One should use the old path in the
graveyard where there have never been graves of Muslims, even in the past. One
should not traverse a new path. It is stated in Radd al-Muḥtār: "(By
digging up the graves in a graveyard) It is forbidden to walk upon the new path
made upon this."⁵ In fact, even if one thinks a path may be new, it is
impermissible and a sin to walk upon it.⁶
10.
It
has been seen at the shrines of many saints, that the graves of Muslims are
demolished to make flooring for the benefit of visitors. Laying down, walking,
standing, reciting the Quran, reciting litanies, and sitting etc. upon such
floors is forbidden. One should recite Al-Fātiḥah from afar.
¹
Fatāwā Hindiyyah, vol. 5, p. 350
² Ibid
³ Fatāwā Riḍawiyyah, vol. 9, pp. 522-526
⁴ Fatāwā Riḍawiyyah, vol. 22, p. 423
⁵ Radd al-Muḥtār, vol. 1, p. 612
⁶ Durr al-Mukhtār, vol. 3, p. 183
11. One should stand facing the
deceased's face when visiting and should leave from the direction of their feet
so that one remains in their line of sight. One should not approach from the
head-side, as the deceased will have to turn his head to look.¹
12.
Stand
in the graveyard such that one's back is to the qiblah and face towards the
occupants of the graves. After this, one should say:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا أَهْلَ الْقُبُورِ، يَغْفِرُ اللهُ لَنَا
وَلَكُمْ، أَنْتُمْ لَنَا سَلَفٌ وَ نَحْنُ بِالْأَثَرِ
Peace be upon you, O people of the
graves! May Allah forgive us and you. You are our precursors, and we are to
follow.²
13. Whoever enters the graveyard and
recites the following, all believers that have passed away since Allah created
Prophet Ādam عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام will then pray for
his forgiveness.³
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ الْأَجْسَادِ الْبَالِيَةِ وَ الْعِظَامِ
النَّخِرَةِ الَّتِي خَرَجَتْ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَ هِيَ بِكَ مُؤْمِنَةٌ، أَدْخِلْ
عَلَيْهَا رَوْحًا مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَسَلَامًا مِنِّي
¹ Fatāwā Riḍawiyyah, vol. 9, p. 532
² Mirqāt al-Mafātīḥ, vol. 4, p. 253, under hadith 1765,
derived
³ Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, vol. 8, p. 257, hadith 22
O Allah! O Lord of these
deteriorated bodies and decayed bones that left this world whilst believing in
You! Have Your mercy and my salam reach them!
14. The final Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم announced:
Whoever
enters the graveyard, recites Al-Fātiḥah, Al-Ikhlāṣ, and Al-Takāthur, and then
prays as thus, "O Allah! Whatever I have recited of the Quran, convey its
reward to the believing men and women in this graveyard", all these
believers will vouch for him on the Day of Judgement.¹
15.
It
is mentioned in a hadith, "Whoever recites Al-Ikhlāṣ eleven times and
conveys its reward to the deceased, shall attain reward equal to the number of
the former."²
16. Incense sticks should not be lit
upon graves, as this is bad etiquette and an ill omen. If used to provide
pleasant scent to visitors, it should be inserted in an empty place near the
grave if available, as providing pleasant fragrance is desirable.³
17.
Imam
Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ
mentions, "As narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 'Amr b. al-'Āṣ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said to his son as
he passed away, 'When I die, neither should a female wailer nor fire accompany
me.'"⁴
18.
Lanterns and candles etc. should not be placed on top of graves,
as this is fire, and keeping fire upon the grave is harmful to the deceased. If
the intention is to light the way for travellers at night or those that are
reciting the Quran, then the lantern or candle should be placed to one side of
the grave in an empty place. That vacant place should not be the position of a
grave that has now been effaced.
¹
Sharḥ al-Ṣudūr, p. 311
² Durr al-Mukhtār, vol. 3, p. 183
³ Fatāwā Riḍawiyyah, vol. 9, pp. 482-525, selected
⁴ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, p. 75, hadith 192; Fatāwā Riḍawiyyah, vol.
9, p. 482
19. The following four days are preferable
for visiting graves: Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.¹ It is superior to
visit after fajr on Friday.²
20.
It
is superior to visit graves on blessed nights, especially Laylat al-Barā'ah.³
Similarly, it is superior to visit graves during auspicious days as well, such
as both Eids, on the 10th of Muḥarram, and during the first ten days of Dhū
al-Ḥijjah.⁴
21. When visiting a graveyard, instead of talking unnecessarily and thinking about useless things, remember your death and shed tears if possible. Remember your sins and contemplate the punishment in the grave. Ensure to repent of your sins. Imagine that just as these dead people are laying in their graves alone, you too will be in the same position one day.
صَلُّوا
عَلَى الْحَبِيْبِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد
¹
Fatāwā Hindiyyah, vol. 5, p. 350
² Fatāwā Riḍawiyyah, vol. 9, p. 523
³ Fatāwā Hindiyyah, vol. 5, p. 350
⁴ Ibid
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