and Ahmad who permit travelling to visit the graves of the prophets and the righteous, such as Abū Hāmid al-Ghazālī, Abū al-Hasan ibn ‘Abdūs al-Harrānī, and Abū Muhammad ibn Qudāma al-Maqdisī.

These scholars say that such travel is not forbidden, citing the general wording of the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him:

“Visit the graves.”

Some who are unfamiliar with hadith may cite reports concerning visiting the Prophet’s grave, peace and blessings be upon him, such as his saying:

“Whoever visits me after my death, it is as though he visited me during my lifetime.”

This was narrated by al-Dāraqutnī and Ibn Mājah.

As for the saying mentioned by some people:

“Whoever performs Hajj but does not visit me has shunned me,”

none of the scholars has narrated it. It is like the saying:

“Whoever visits me and my father Abraham in the same year, I guarantee him Paradise from Allah.”

The scholars agree that no one has narrated this either, nor has anyone cited it as evidence. Rather, some of them cite the report narrated by al-Dāraqutnī and similar reports.

Abū Muhammad al-Maqdisī argued that travelling to visit graves is permissible on the grounds that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to visit the mosque of Qubā’. He answered the hadith, “Do not undertake a journey,” by interpreting it as meaning that such travel is not recommended.