Can women visit graves

In the light of Hadith, the scholars of the Ummah have permitted women to visit graves with a few conditions.  The women should be in Hijab, there should not be any mixing of men and women and no fear of moral corruption, as it is established that Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) visited graves.

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that once Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) was coming back from a graveyard.  I asked her:  O mother of the believers!  Where are you returning from?  She said:  From the grave of my brother Abdur Rahman Bin Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him).  I asked:  Didn’t the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) prohibit visiting graves?  She said:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had prohibited, but later ordered it.  (Mustadrak ‘Alas Saihain, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 533, Hadith No. 1341)

 

The jurists and the Hadith-Experts have deduced from the word “Zuru” in Arabic that visiting of graves is Mustahab (commendable) for both men and women.  They have declared this Hadith as abrogating those in which the women who visit graves have been cursed.  The words:  “….but later ordered it” of the aforementioned Hadith also support this opinion that visiting of graves is Mustahab (commendable).

 

Hadhrat Mulla Ali Qari (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes:

 

Translation:  Now as far as the Hadith, which has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has cursed those women who visit graves frequently, some scholars are of the opinion that this is before the command of visiting graves had been given.  When general permission was given, women also were included in this.  I say about this that this issue is dependent on history, as the command of prohibition is for both men and women.  In the same way, the command of “Fazuruha” includes women as well.   (Mirqaat, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 406)

 

Imam Tirmidhi says in Jame’ Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 203:

 

Translation:  Some scholars hold the view that this command is before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) permitted visiting graves.  When He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gave the permission, both men and women are included in it.

 

The leader of the women in Jannah, Hadhrat Fatima Zahra (May Allah be well pleased with her) would visit the blessed grave of Hadhrat Ameer Hamza, offer Salaat and make moving supplications.  (Mustadrak ‘Alas Saihain, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 533, Kitab Ul Janaaiz)

 

Hadhrat Imam Ahmed Bin Ismail Tahtahawi (dec. 1231) says:

 

Translation:  To summarize, the permission for women is when the visitation is performed in such a way that there is no fear of moral corruption and most authoritative opinion is that the permission of visiting is established for both men and women, as Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah be well pleased with her) would visit the grave of Hadhrat Ameer Hamza (May Allah be well pleased with him) every Friday and Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) would visit the grave of her brother Hadhrat Abdur Rahman Bin Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) in Makkah.  (Haashiya Tahtahawi Ala Miraqil Falah, Pg. No. 620)

 

And Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) knows best.

 

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri,

[Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,

Founder/Director Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]