Visiting Graves
213 questions
Is visiting archaeological sites forbidden (haram)? And what is the ruling on benefiting from them? And if it is forbidden, why did the Prophet's Companions not demolish them during the conquest?
Does visiting graves in Egypt equal visiting my brother's grave buried outside of it, or is traveling to visit him obligatory?
Does our annual visit to the tomb of our righteous saintly grandfather—150 km away—where we slaughter animals, recite the Quran, and supplicate for him and his neighbors, contradict Islamic law? Is slaughtering there considered an offering to idols, and is that visit polytheism? And is it obligatory to undertake a journey to visit the grave of a father buried in the same cemetery?
What is the Islamic ruling regarding the direction of graves?
Is it necessary for an unmarried woman to have a محرم when visiting graves?
Is it permissible to visit the grave of a Christian for the purpose of visiting only, without the intention of supplicating for them?
Is it considered a shortcoming not to visit graves except once after the father's death? Does the deceased feel that, and what are the recommended good deeds for him?
Is it permissible to carry a small Mus'haf during supererogatory and obligatory prayers for one who forgets some verses, and what is the supplication for obtaining a righteous spouse? And does reciting Al-Fatihah 112 times open closed doors? And what are the supplications that should be recited to relieve worries? And is the death of a father from a stroke in the brain and heart considered martyrdom? And what should I do regarding a young man who is my brother's friend, and I pray to Allah that he be destined for me?
Is it permissible for an unveiled woman, 23 years of age, to visit graves?
Is visiting shrines or mausoleums permissible (halal) or forbidden (haram)? Please clarify.
Are there abrogated Ahadith?
How can one atone for not visiting or communicating with a sick cousin, knowing that she has now passed away and it is not possible to attend the funeral?
Is it permissible to bring children to the graveyard, is there a specific age for that, and what is the ruling of Islamic law on this matter?
Is a father considered an infidel (kafir) or a heretic (zindiq) simply because he is a Sufi who attends mawlids (celebrations of the Prophet's birth), and are his prayers, fasting, and night vigils unacceptable because of this, especially given that he does not engage in other Sufi innovations (bid'ah) like dancing and visiting graves?
Is it permissible to bring children to cemeteries, is there a specific age for this, and is it limited to boys to the exclusion of girls?
Is it permissible to go to the graveyard to search for an uncle's grave and then lie down in it for a few minutes in remembrance?
Is visiting graves at dawn for three days from the day of burial (فكَّة الوحدة - "breaking the solitude") forbidden or sinful?
Is it permissible to visit graves and speak with the dead?
Does a father incur sin for refusing an autopsy for his deceased son to determine the cause of death, and what should he do if sin is incurred?
Does visiting the tomb of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), Hussein, Abbas, and others equate to seventy Hajj pilgrimages to the Sacred House of Allah, and did the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: "Whoever visits my Ahl al-Bayt after my death, seventy Hajj pilgrimages will be written for him"?
Is it permissible for a menstruating woman to enter a graveyard? And is the Hadith, "The passing of a woman, a black dog, or a donkey in front of a worshiper invalidates his prayer," authentic or weak? And is it valid to perform ablution with water into which a woman has put her hand? And is betting with money among friends forbidden?
Is it permissible to visit graves, despite what was said that the Messenger did not visit his children and wives there, and does the recitation of the Qur'an reach the deceased, or only supplication, and should a Muslim only approach the entrance of the graveyard and not enter a specific grave to pray for mercy upon his relatives?
Do the dead recognize their visitors, return their greetings, and hear them, and do they feel the passage of time between one visit and another? What are the recommended days for visiting graves, and what is the interpretation of Allah’s saying: "It will be as though they had not remained [in the world] except for an afternoon or a morning thereof"?
What is the ruling on supplicating at graves, whether secretly or openly, and is there any evidence for that from the Book or the Sunnah?