Chapter
Visiting Graves Is Recommended ..........

His statement, “Visiting graves is recommended”: according to the jurists, a sunnah is that for which one is rewarded when doing it in compliance with the command, yet is not punished for leaving it. It thus occupies a rank between what is permissible and what is obligatory.

“Graves” is the plural of “grave,” though the plural is not intended here; rather, visitation is recommended even if there is only one grave.

Thus, if a person were to die in an open wilderness, and we passed by him and stopped at his grave to visit it, there would be nothing wrong with that.

The evidence for this is that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “asked his Lord’s permission to visit his mother’s grave, and He granted him permission; and he asked His permission to seek forgiveness for her, but He did not grant him permission.” (1) This was because she died upon disbelief before Islam, and it is not lawful for anyone to seek forgiveness for any disbeliever.

His statement, “Visiting graves is recommended,” refers to visiting them in order to supplicate for them, not to invoke them.

Is this visitation for reflection, or for seeking blessing from their soil?

The answer is: it is for reflection.

The recommended nature of visiting graves is established by the sunnah and scholarly consensus, as al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, related.

As for the sunnah, it is established by the Prophet’s words and actions.

As for his words, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “I had forbidden you from visiting graves