Visiting The Graves Of Prophets and Waliys?

[Alsunna Teacher]

The Permissibility Of Visiting The Grave Of The Prophet

Visiting the grave of the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, was performed by the Companions and the Salaf and Khalaf who came after them.

Many hadiths cite the benefit of this deed and the scholars of Islam have written books about this matter.

Among these hadiths is the one related by ad-Daraqutniyy that the Prophet said:

من زار قبري وجبت له شفاعتي

Which means: <<On the Day of Judgment, I will intercede for the one who visits my grave with the good intention.>>

So visiting the graves of the Prophets or the Waliys is a good thing in Islam. There's not one proof where it says it's forbidden to visit their graves or to recite al-Fatihah for them. Only deviants like wahhabis whom cannot be trusted oppose, and so whatever they say is meaningless.


- And it's confirmed that the Prophet visited the grave of Muslims, and he used to say: which means: "O people of the graves, peace be upon you"

- Our Prophet also advised us to visit the graves as it reminds us of the hereafter, al-akhirah. And it's confirmed that he visited the grave of his mother and the mother of Imam ^Aliy who raised him, and he made tawassul by himself for her.

- SaHabah used to visit the graves. Our master Bilal al-Habashiy and al-Muzaniy to visited the Prophet's grave and touched it for blessings, tabarruk.

-It was mentioned that Imam ash-Shafi^iy said: "Whenever I had a need, I used to visit the grave of Abu Hanifah and ask Allah by him (tawassul) and I find that Allah answers my supplications". روي عن الشافعي أنه كان يقول: "إني لأتبرك بأبي حنيفة وأجيء إلى قبره في كل يومٍ ـ يعني زائرًا ـ فإذا عرضت لي حاجة صليت ركعتين وجئت إلى قبره وسألت الله تعالى الحاجة عنده فما تبعد عني حتى تقضى".

-Al-Hafidh al-Jazariy who was after Ibn Taymiah the misguided, al-Jazariy said: "among the places where du^a' is answered is at the graves of the pious Muslims"

- Imam an-Nawawiy (who is Ash^ariy, Sufiy, known to have authored the book of 40 Nawawiy Hadith) he said in his book al-Majmoo^ volume 8/274 in the book of "Description of Pilgrimage" chapter: Visiting the Grave of the Prophet (Sallallahu ^alayhi Wa Sallam) he said: "And then he (the visitor of the Prophet's grave) goes back to his first stand towards the face of the Prophet sallalahu ^alayhi wa sallam and makes Tawassul by Him (asks Allah by the Prophet) and asks for intercession by Him (the Prophet) to Allah".

And many many other proofs on this such as the saying of the scholars such as Abul-Fadl ^Ubaydullah Ibn ^Abd-ir-Rahman Ibn Muhammad az-Zuhriyy who said: I heard my father say: The grave of Ma^ruf is tested for the fulfillment of needs. Whoever said there : "Qul Huwallahu Ahad" one-hundred times and asked Allah, ta^ala, what he wanted, Allah would fulfil his need. Also such as the saying of Imam Ibrahim al-Harbiyy who said: "The grave of Ma^ruf is the tested antidote"!

This all means that the graves are a place to remember death, and to make du^a' to Allah asking Allah to fulfill our needs, and even if one made tawassul by the Prophet or that pious waliy it's not forbidden.

Proofs on calling out such as saying "Ya Muhammad":
Al-Bukhariy narrated in al-Adab al-Mufrad that ^Abdullah son of Omar's foot was paralyzed, a man told him: "mention the most beloved people to you, and so he said: "Ya Muhammad", and he was cured. صلى الله عليه آله وصحبه وسلم

- Also in the book al-Bidayah wan-Nihaiyah for Ibn Kathir whom wahhabis adore, in the volume containing the 7th and 8th chapter, page 105-104 he mentions that Bilal the son of al-Harith al-Muzaniy the companion who had travelled to visit the Prophet's grave and asked Allah by the Prophet (tawassal Bi Rasulillah), in that book he said: "Ya Muhammadah". He did not blaspheme, and none of the companions considered him as a blasphemer for saying "Ya Muhammadah"!! and that's because the companions knew that it's permissible to ask Allah by the virtue and status of our beloved Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه آله وصحبه وسلم even when he's absent.

- Among what was mentioned concerning calling on someone other than Allah, whether that one is present, absent, dead or alive, is the saying of the Prophet: which means: <<If the animal of anyone of you went out of control in the wilderness, then call: 'O slaves of Allah, help me'>>, since there are slaves of Allah [i.e. the angels] who will respond to him.


The Muslim believes that only Allah creates the benefit and the harm, and the Muslim only worships Allah. When one makes Tawassul, he's asking Allah for things by the Prophet or the Waliy in honoring them we hope that Allah answers our du^a'.
Allah knows best.

[Alsunna Teacher]

Visiting the Grave of the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam

There is consensus among the scholars that it is sunnah to visit the grave of the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, both for he who lives in al-Madinah and he who travels there for the express purpose of visiting the Prophet's grave, and doing so is a great act of obedience. It is sunnah for the visitor to also have the intention to travel to pray in the mosque of the Prophet. Whoever travels to al-Madinah for this purpose should remember in his heart the great honor of the city of al-Madinah, and that it is the best city after Makkah. He should ask Allah to benefit him from this visit and to accept it as a worship from him. It is sunnah to perform the purificatory bath (ghusl) before entering al-Madinah and to wear one's cleanest clothes. Upon entering the mosque of the Prophet, one says:

I enter with the Name of Allah. Praise be to Him.
بسم الله والحمد لله

O Allah, raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad and his Al and protect his nation from that which he fears for them.
اللهم صلّ على محمد وعلى آله وسلّم


O Allah, forgive my sins.
اللهم اغفر لى ذنوبى

Open for me the Gates of Your Mercy (Guide me to the ways in which I may earn Your Mercy).
وافتح لى أبواب رحمتك

One enters the mosque with one's right foot and exits with one's left. One enters the mosque with the intention to go to the Rawdah  and pray Tahiyyatul-Masjid there next to the mimbar. Then, one moves to the grave of the Prophet and stands in front of it, about four (4) cubits away from it, facing it, with one's back to the Qiblah. Standing there, one looks

to the ground, without thinking about the worldly matters, having one's heart full with love and respect for the Prophet, who is buried there. One says in a medium (normal) voice:

As-salamu ^alayka; O Messenger of Allah.
السلام عليك يا رسول الله

As-salamu ^alayka; O Prophet of Allah.
السلام عليك يا نبي الله



As-salamu ^alayka; O the Best among the Creations of Allah.
السلام عليك يا خِيرَةَ الله


As-salamu ^alayka; O Beloved One of Allah.
السلام عليك يا حبيب الله



As-salamu ^alayka; O the One chosen by Allah.
السلام عليك يا صَفْوَةَ الله



As-salamu ^alayka; O you, the Master of the Messengers and the Seal of the Prophets.
السلام عليك يا سيَّدَ المرسلين وخاتم النبيين



As-salamu ^alayka; O the Best of the entire creations.
السلام عليك يا خير الخلق أجمعين



As-salamu ^alayka; O Leader of those who are Ghurr and Muhajjalun  .
السلام عليك يا قائد الغرّ المحجّلين



As-salamu ^alayka; and to your good and pure Al (your pious followers), your family, your wives, and your companions.
السلام عليك وعلى آلك وأهل بيتك وأزواجك وأصحابك الطيبين الطاهرين

 

As-salamu ^alayka; and to the rest of the prophets and messengers.
السلام عليك وعلى سائر الأنبياء والمرسلين


May Allah reward you for what you did for us with the best reward that He ever gave a prophet or messenger for what he did for his nation.
جزاك الله يا رسول الله عنّا أفضل ما جزى نبيا ورسولا عن أمته

May Allah raise your rank every time a person remembers to mention you and every time another forgets to do so, because his mind is occupied with other matters.
صلى الله عليك كلما ذكرك ذاكر وغفل عن ذكرك غافل

 

May Allah raise your rank in the best, most perfect, and greatest way Allah raised the rank of anyone among the entire creation.
أفضل وأكمل وأطيب ما صلّى على أحد من الخلق أجمعين

I bear witness that no one is God except Allah, without any partner with Him.
I bear witness that you are the slave of Allah and His Messenger and the best among His creations.
واشهد أنك عبده ورسوله وخِيرته من خلقه


I bear witness that you conveyed the Message and you fulfilled the trust with which Allah ordered you. And you truly advised your nation for the good matters.
واشهد أنك قد بلغت الرسالة وأدَّيت الأمانة ونصحت الأمة

And you performed jihad in the best way.
وجاهدت فى الله حق جهاده


O Allah, give Prophet Muhammad a high status, and give him a great merit, and enable him to intercede for the people on the Day of Judgment as You promised him. Give him the ultimate (among the good things) of what a person may ask You.
اللهم وآته الوسيلة  والفضيلة وابعثه مقاما محمودا الذى وعدته  وأته نهاية ينبغي أن يسأله السائلون


O Allah, raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad, Your slave and Your Messenger; the Ummiy  Prophet. May Allah raise the rank of his Al, his wives, and his descendants like Allah raised the rank of Ibrahim and the Al of Ibrahim. [O Allah, bless Muhammad, the Ummiyy Prophet, his Al, wives, and descendants, like you blessed Ibrahim and the Al of Ibrahim.

You are the One Who deserves to be praised for all the endowments You give. You are the Great, the Glorified and the Praised One.
اللهم صلى على محمد عبدك ورسولك النبي الأمي وعلى آل محمد وأزواجه وذريته كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم فى العالمين إنك حميد مجيد

The one who does not to memorize all this du^a', or does not have time to say all of it can merely say "As-salamu ^alayka, ya Rasul-Allah."
السلام عليك يا رسول الله


One should not leave that place without at least saying this.

Then, one moves one cubit to the right to say salam to Abu Bakr, saying:
As-salamu ^alayka, O Abu Bakr, the one chosen by the Prophet, and the other person who was with him in the cave.

السلام عليك يا أبا بكر
صفي رسول الله وثانيه فى الغار

May Allah reward you with a high reward for what you did for the nation of the Prophet.
جزاك الله عن أمة نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم خيراً



Then, one moves again to the right one cubit, and says salam to our Master ^Umar, saying: As-salamu ^alayka, O ^Umar, the one by whom Allah strengthened Islam.
السلام عليك يا عمر أعزّ الله بك الإسلام



May Allah reward you with a high reward for what you did for the nation of the Prophet.
جزاك الله عن أمة نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم خيراً


Then, one returns to the place where one first stood in front of the grave of the Prophet and makes tawassul  by the Prophet, asking Allah for what one wishes (by the status of) the Prophet. Then, one turns to face the Qiblah and makes du^a' for oneself and for whomever one wishes. If a person had asked one to give his salams to the Prophet, let one say:


As-salamu ^alayka, O Messenger of Allah from (one names the person).
السلام عليك يا رسول الله من فلان


or (One names the person) gives his salam to you, O Messenger of Allah.
فلان يسلم عليك يا رسول الله

[Alsunna Teacher]

بسم الله والحمد لله
اللهم صلّ على محمد وعلى آله وسلّم
اللهم اغفر لى ذنوبى
وافتح لى أبواب رحمتك
السلام عليك يا رسول الله
السلام عليك يا نبي الله
السلام عليك يا خِيرَةَ الله
السلام عليك يا حبيب الله
السلام عليك يا صَفْوَةَ الله

السلام عليك يا سيَّدَ المرسلين وخاتم النبيين
السلام عليك يا خير الخلق أجمعين
السلام عليك يا قائد الغرّ المحجّلين
السلام عليك وعلى آلك وأهل بيتك وأزواجك وأصحابك الطيبين الطاهرين
السلام عليك وعلى سائر الأنبياء والمرسلين
جزاك الله يا رسول الله عنّا أفضل ما جزى نبيا ورسولا عن أمته
صلى الله عليك كلما ذكرك ذاكر وغفل عن ذكرك غافل أفضل وأكمل وأطيب ما صلّى على أحد من الخلق أجمعين

واشهد أنك عبده ورسوله وخِيرته من خلقه
واشهد أنك قد بلغت الرسالة وأدَّيت الأمانة ونصحت الأمة وجاهدت فى الله حق جهاده
اللهم وآته الوسيلة  والفضيلة وابعثه مقاما محمودا الذى وعدته  وأته نهاية ينبغي أن يسأله السائلون
اللهم صل على محمد عبدك ورسولك النبي الأمي وعلى آل محمد وأزواجه وذريته كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم فى العالمين إنك حميد مجيد

[Alsunna Teacher]

REMARKS

Be cautious! Do not take as an example what some ignorant people do next to the grave of the Prophet when they deviate from the aforementioned matter. One should follow the examples of the pious people and the knowledgeable pious scholars in this matter.

Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiyy narrated from al-Fudayl Ibn ^Iyad that he said: "Follow the ways of guidance. It will not harm you if the number of people following that way are few. Beware of the ways of misguidance. Do not be fooled by the large number of losers."

It is disliked to wipe your hands or clothes on the walls surrounding the grave of the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam.

"The return trip home is a solemn, reflective time for many pilgrims.  The joy of completing the Pilgrimage (Hajj or ^Umrah) is satisfying but bittersweet .  The obligation is complete, but each Muslim must end that special event which has changed his life so profoundly.  There is an unsettling realization he may never return again to walk those spots the Prophet himself once walked.  The Pilgrim has earned the title of "Hajj" (m.) or "Hajjah" (f.)

The eyes of "the Hajj" and "the Hajjah" show what is in the heart. . .  the twinkle at the mention of the experience; the tears for the yearning to return once more."

[Alsunna Teacher]

Therefore, visiting the graves is not shirk as wahhabis claim. In fact they claim that every grave in a mosque must be destroyed and that praying in it is forbidden!!

Praying in the mosque that has a grave is not forbidden. All the Muslims have done this act without any objections from any of the scholars, not only that, even the grave of our Prophet is inside his mosque for hundreds of years! Only wahhabis falsely accuse Muslims with worshiping the graves just because of visiting them and praying in such mosques.

May Allah bless you, and make us and you strong defenders of the religion, and Allah knows best.

[Alsunna Teacher]

According to Imam ash-Shafi^iy Radiallahu ^Anhu it's a condition in janazah prayer to recite suratul-Fatihah for the dead. And your intention is to recite it ON THE DEAD person. So that alone is a proof that reciting al-Fatihah at any time for the dead Muslim is permissible and rewardable, and that insha'Allah the dead will benefit from this recitation. So Isal Thawab al-Fatihah is hoped that's why in the niyah you say: " 'Usalliy Salatul-Janazah ^an fulan " so you pray it for a specific person, and that's permissible.

As for making dhikra for the dead scholars or waliys, it's not forbidden as long as no haram acts are committed. So you can make like a mawlid for them by reciting qur'an and making dhikr and feeding the poor and you can say: "we do this and give the reward (thawab) to so and so" or you can say "we recite al-Fatihah and give its accepted reward to the Prophet, the waliys and the pious" this is permissible in Islam because Allah said:

لعموم الآية :{وافعلوا الخير لعلكم تفلحون} (سورة الحج/77)
وحديث :"من سن في الإسلام سنّة حسنة فله أجرها" رواه مسلم.

«من سنَّ في الإسلام سنة حسنة فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بها إلى يوم القيامة، لا ينقص من أجورهم شىء ومن سنَّ فِى الإسلام سنة سيئة فعليه وزرها ووزر من عمل بها إلى يوم القيامة لا ينقص من أوزارهم شىء»


The Ayah means: {And do the good deeds so that you shall prosper}.

And the hadith of the Prophet "Imam Muslim related, through the route of Jarir Ibn ^Abdullah, the Prophet said which means: <<The one who innovates a good innovation in Islam has its reward and a reward similar to those who follow him in it--until the Day of Judgment--without lessening their reward. The one who innovates an innovation of misguidance would be sinful for it and has sins similar to those who follow him in it--until the Day of Judgment--without lessening their sins.>>

And that's why miladun-Nabiy celebration is permissible as long as no haram acts are committed in them. Since when is reciting qur'an, dhiker, naat nasheed or feeding the poor was haram??


It was narrated: That the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, which means "When the (muslim) son of Adam dies, his deeds stop except for three; a charity resulting in a continuing benefit, knowledge benefiting others, and a pious offspring making supplication to Allah for him" (Related by Al-Bukhariyy).

Therefore, the claim of the wahhabis is unfounded. They are ignorant sect that emerged from Saudi Arabia that opposed all the sunni scholars namely the four schools of Ahlus-Sunnah.