Visiting Graves (Ziyarah)

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By Sheikh Ahmad Kutty

A Muslim should not forget the dead after burial. He should constantly mention them in his prayers. According to the Qur’an, the believers should pray for those who have preceded them in faith:

رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَلِإِخۡوَٲنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلۡإِيمَـٰنِ

Rabbanaa ighfir lanaa wa li ikhwaanina al-lladheena sabaqoonaa bi al-imaani

“Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith..” (Al- Qur’an: 59:10)

Visiting graves is a Sunnah of the Prophet (upon whom be Allah’s blessings and peace). Its purpose is three fold:

1. To greet the deceased.
2. Ask forgiveness for him.
3. To remind oneself of his own final destiny.

The intention of visiting should never be to seek favours from the buried, even in the case of a Prophet or a saint. To do so is blatant shirk- an unforgivable sin according to the Qur’an. (See al-Qur’an 4:116)

Initially, the Prophet (upon whom be Allah’s blessings and peace) had forbidden people from visiting graves, because of their inclination to commit shirk. He lifted the prohibition only when he was assured that they would not commit this grave sin. However, the prohibition remains in effect when and where there is a tendency of veneration of graves. Among such objectionable practices are touching, kissing, bowing or prostrating at graves.

In order to prevent all forms of shirk, the Prophet (upon whom be Allah’s blessings and peace) has taught us the proper manner of greeting the dead, which is as follows:

[mp3: http://www.areweprepared.ca/audio/visiting the graves.mp3] 

Assalaamu ‘alaykum ‘ahlad-diyaari, minal-mu’mineena walmuslimeena, wa ‘innaa ‘in shaa’ Allaahu bikum laahiqoona [wa yarhamullaahul-mustaqdimeena minnaa walmusta’khireena] ‘as’alullaaha lanaa wa lakumul- ‘aafiyata.

Peace be upon you, people of this abode, from among the believers and those who are Muslims , and we , by the Will of Allah , shall be joining you . [May Allah have mercy on the first of us and the last of us] I ask Allah to grant us and you strength. (Reported by Muslim)

The End.