First, let us listen to a hadith of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He said, “I used to forbid you from visiting graves. Now, you should visit them, as they make one disinterested in the world and remind of the Hereafter.”^[1]

*    If anybody wants to visit the grave of a Muslim, it is recommended that he offers two units of voluntary salah at his home (at a non-disliked time). In both units, he should recite Ayat al-Kursī once and Al-Ikhlāṣ three times, after Al-Fātiḥah. He should then convey the reward of this prayer to the deceased. Allah will create light in the grave of the deceased and grant immense rewards to that person (i.e. the sender of rewards).^[2]

*    One should avoid useless speech on the way to visit the graves.^[3]

*    One should use the old path in the graveyard where there have never been graves of the Muslims, even in the past. One should not traverse a new path. It is mentioned in Radd al-Muḥtār: “(By digging up the graves in a graveyard) It is forbidden to walk upon the new path that is made from this.”^[4]

*    In fact, even if one thinks a path may be new, it is impermissible and a sin to walk upon it. ^[5]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                     صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Announcement

The remaining sunnahs and manners of visiting graves will be mentioned in study circles. Please do take part in them to learn more!