Question # 043
What should we pray when we visit the graveyard? Are women allowed to visit the graveyard?
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.
May Allah (swt) reward you for your concern. The following supplications (duas) may be read: Narrated by Ibn Abbas, Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) passed by the graves at Al-Madinah. He turned his face towards them and said, "Peace be upon you, Oh people of the graves. May Allah forgive us and you. You have preceded us, and we are to follow."
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا أَهْلَ اَلْقُبُورِ, يَغْفِرُ اَللَّهُ لَنَا وَلَكُمْ, أَنْتُمْ سَلَفُنَا وَنَحْنُ بِالْأَثَرِ
(Riyaadhus Saliheen, 583) -Tirmidhi
Similarly,
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمُ أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَاحِقُونَ نَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ
Peace be upon you, O inhabitants of the abodes, believers and Muslims, and we will join you soon if Allah wills. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you). (Ibn Majah)
One may recite portions of the Quran (such as, Surah Fatihah, the beginning and ending portions of Surah Baqarah, Surah Ikhlaas (3 times) etc).
However, these are not specific and one may recite whatever he knows from the Quran. Regarding women visiting the graveyard, it would be permissible with conditions (must strictly be adhered to):
Women should not be present at the time of burial when there are crowds of men (no intermingling).
Women should be accompanied with a mahram.
Women should be dressed appropriately (satr covered, hijab and niqaab etc).
Women should not wail or cry loudly.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Regards,
Student - Jamiah Islamiyah Abu Bakr
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Kasim Ingar
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