Can Women Visit Graveyards in Islam?

Islamic Rules on Women Visiting Graveyards Explained

Question: Can women visit graveyards? Please provide a reasoned answer in the light of the Quran and Hadith.

Answer:

Alhamdulillah:

Among Muslims, there is significant debate regarding women visiting graveyards. Some people consider it haram (forbidden), while others deem it makruh (disliked). However, if we look towards the commands of the bearer of Shari’ah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), it becomes clear that it is permissible for women to visit graveyards. Nevertheless, visiting excessively is prohibited.

Initially, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had forbidden both men and women from visiting graveyards, but he later gave permission.

Buraidah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“I had forbidden you from visiting graves, but now you may visit them.”

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab Isti’dhan an-Nabi ﷺ Rabbahu, Hadith No. 977)

(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 22958)

In the narration of Abu Dawood, the words are:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“I had forbidden you from visiting the graves, but now visit them, for in visiting them there is a reminder of death.”

(Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 3235)

And in the narration of Ibn Majah, the words are:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 1569)

The permission to visit graves given in these hadiths includes both men and women.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to his mother’s grave and wept, and made those around him weep. Then he (ﷺ) said: “I asked my Lord for permission to seek forgiveness for my mother, but I was not granted permission. Then I asked for permission to visit her grave, and I was granted permission. So, visit the graves, for they remind you of death.”

(Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 3234)

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “I had forbidden you from visiting graves. But now Muhammad has been permitted to visit the grave of his mother. So you too visit them, for this reminds of the Hereafter.”

1. Imam Tirmidhi says: 1- The hadith of Buraidah is Hasan Sahih. 2- In this chapter, there are also hadiths from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, Ibn Mas’ud, Anas, Abu Hurairah, and Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them). 3- The people of knowledge act upon this. They see no harm in visiting graves. Ibn al-Mubarak, Shafi’i, Ahmad, and Ishaq bin Rahwayh are of this view.
   (Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1054)

The Mother of the Believers, Sayyidah A’ishah Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her), went to the graveyard in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Upon returning home, she asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for the supplication to be recited when visiting the graveyard, and he (ﷺ) taught her this dua:

السَّلَامُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَيَرْحَمُ اللهُ الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ بِكُمْ لَلَاحِقُون

َ (Sahih Muslim: Hadith No. 974)

It is narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Mulaykah that: “One day A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was coming from the graveyard, so I asked her:

‘O Mother of the Believers! Where are you coming from?’

She replied: ‘From the grave of my brother, ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr.’

I said: ‘Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) not forbid visiting graves?’

She replied: ‘Yes, he had forbidden it, but later he ordered to visit the graves.'”

(Al-Albani/Ahkam al-Jana’iz, 230, its chain of narration is Sahih, its narrators are trustworthy)

(Al-Albani/Irwa’ al-Ghalil, 234/vol. 3 • Sahih)

This hadith has a Sahih Isnad (authentic chain of narration).

All its narrators are thiqah (trustworthy).

Hafiz al-‘Iraqi says that:

“Ibn Abi al-Dunya has narrated it in his book ‘al-Qubur’ with a jayyid (good) chain of narration.”

This hadith was narrated by Mustadrak al-Hakim (1392) and through the same chain by al-Bayhaqi (7207).

See: “Takhrij Ahadith al-Ihya” (p. 1872)

And al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it Sahih in “al-Irwa'” (3/233).

And Ibn Majah (1570) narrated it briefly, with the following words:

It is narrated from A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) granted permission to visit graves.

Al-Busiri declared it Sahih in “al-Zawa’id” (2/42).

However, it should be remembered that this permission is for occasional visits. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden women from visiting graveyards frequently and has in fact cursed this act.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed women who frequently visit graves.

Imam Tirmidhi says:

1- This hadith is Hasan Sahih.

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab ma ja’a fi karahiyati ziyaratil-quburi lin-nisa’, Hadith No. 1056)

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 1576)

(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 8449)

The conclusion from these proofs is that women can occasionally go to the graves; it reminds one of the Hereafter. For visiting graves or any other righteous deed for which Islamic Shari’ah has not appointed a specific time or day, specifying any day or time for it is also a bid’ah (innovation). Therefore, specifying the days of Eid or the first ten days of Muharram for visiting graves are both innovations. Similarly, going to the graveyard dressed up, in colorful clothes, and in a state of improper veiling as if one is participating in a beauty pageant is an even greater calamity. Avoiding all these customs and traditions, women can occasionally visit the graveyard while observing proper pardah (veiling).

(And Allah the Almighty knows best what is correct)