Some Mālikī scholars in Damascus were also asked about it, and they wrote similarly. We have heard that someone in Egypt examined it and concurred. We shall now present the question on which the scholars of Baghdad wrote, the request for a ruling and the aforementioned shaykh’s answer to it, followed by the jurists’ responses. Here is the text of the question and the answers.

Our esteemed scholars and virtuous guides, the imams of the religion and guides of the Muslims—may Allah grant them success in attaining His pleasure and perpetuate guidance through them—are kindly requested to examine the request for a ruling and its answer, attached to this inquiry and transcribed below. Its wording is as follows:

What do the esteemed scholars, the imams of the religion—may Allah benefit the Muslims through them—say concerning a man who intends to travel to “visit the graves of the prophets and the righteous,” such as our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and others? May he shorten his prayers during his journey? Is such a visit prescribed by Islamic law or not?

It has been reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Whoever performs Hajj but does not visit me has slighted me.”

“And whoever visits me after my death is like one who visited me during my lifetime.”