Visiting the Graves

’Umm ‘Atiyyah al-Ansāriyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited women from walking with funeral processions. This was due to concerns about potential temptation for them and through them and their limited patience. However, she (may Allah be pleased with her) also mentioned that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not emphasize this prohibition as strongly as he did with other forbidden matters.

1. Women are prohibited from following funeral processions—this is a general ruling that applies to following the deceased to where the body is prepared and prayed over, and the cemetery where burial occurs.
2. The reason for the prohibition is that women often cannot endure such sorrowful scenes and emotionally intense situations, as they might exhibit distress and anxiety contrary to the required patience.
3. The default ruling of prohibition is that it signifies strict forbiddance. However, ’Umm ‘Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) understood from contextual evidence that the Prophet's prohibition against women following funeral processions was not absolute or emphatic. Nonetheless, there are other Hadīths that indicate stronger restrictions on attending funerals than what this particular Hadīth suggests.

صحيح البخاري (2/ 78) (1278). صحيح مسلم (2/ 646) (938). تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لعبد الله البسام (ص285). تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لابن عثيمين (2/ 366).

‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) informed that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said during his illness that became severe and led to his death: May Allah curse the Jews and Christians and expel them from His mercy, for they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship by building over graves, praying at them, or facing them in worship. Then she (may Allah be pleased with her) said: If it were not for that prohibition and warning from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and the Companions' fear that his grave might be treated the way the Jews and Christians treated the graves of their prophets, his grave would have been made apparent and prominent.

1. This is one of his final advices, which indicates its significance and the need to give it careful attention.
2. The emphatic prohibition and strict forbiddance of taking graves as places of worship or intentionally praying at them, except for the funeral prayer, as this leads to venerating the deceased, circumambulating his grave, touching its corners, or calling upon his name—all of which are acts and means of Shirk (polytheism).
3. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was so attentive and careful about Tawhīd (monotheism) and fearful about venerating the graves, for this leads to Shirk.
4. Allah Almighty protected His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) from having acts of Shirk committed at his grave. He inspired his Companions and those who came after them to safeguard his grave by keeping it from being made prominent.
5. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) adhered to the Prophet's advice and were diligent in preserving Tawhīd.
6. The prohibition of imitating the Jews and Christians, and that building over graves is one of their practices.
7. Offering prayer at the graves or towards them falls under taking the graves as places of worship, even if no mosque is built there.

صحيح البخاري (2/ 102) (1390). صحيح مسلم (1/ 376) (529). تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لعبد الله البسام (ص292). تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لابن عثيمين (2/ 376). الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (1/ 236).

The Mother of the Believers ‘Ā'ishah tells a story that happened with her and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when he was with her on her night. He went to bed, took off his garment and shoes, and placed them near his feet. He then lay down until he thought she had slept, then he gently took his garment so that he would not awaken her, and then gently put on his shoes; then he opened the door, went out, and gently shut the door. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did all of this secretly so that he would not awake her or let her know that he left her. Perhaps she would become afraid of being alone in the darkness of the night. ‘Ā'ishah put on her garment and covered herself, and set out after him. When he came to Al-Baqī‘ – a graveyard in Madīnah – he stood for a long time, then raised his hands thrice in supplication. Then he turned around to go back to his home. ‘Ā'ishah then turned around quickly. He began to walk fast and she began to walk fast as well. He began to run and she began to run too. She arrived before him and entered her home and laid down. He entered and said: "Why are you out of breath, O ‘Ā'ish?" which means that her chest was rising and her breathing was labored, like one who has been walking fast and cannot catch his breath while speaking. She told him there was nothing. So he said to her: "You either tell me or Allah, the Subtle and the Aware, will tell me." She then told him what had happened, and he asked her: "Are you the person I saw in front of me?" When she answered in the affirmative, he pushed her on her chest and it hurt her. Then he said: "Do you think Allah and His Messenger would do you injustice?" meaning that I would go to one of my other wives on your night? She said: "Whatever people conceal, Allah knows it. Yes." It was like a self-affirmation that this was the case and Allah knows it. Then he informed her that Jibrīl came to him, and he did not enter his home because ‘Ā'ishah had already taken off her clothes and got ready to sleep. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) thought that she had slept and did not like to wake her up lest she would feel afraid of being alone in the darkness of the night. Jibrīl said to him: "Your Lord commands you to go to the inhabitants of Al-Baqī‘ graveyard and seek forgiveness for them." So he obeyed the command and came to the inhabitants of Al-Baqī‘ graveyard and sought forgiveness for them and supplicated for them. ‘Ā'ishah said: "What do I say to them, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Say: Peace be upon the inhabitants of this place among the believers and Muslims. May Allah have mercy upon those who have gone on ahead of us and those who come later on, and we will join you, if Allah wills."

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