Ziyarah of the grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam)

These are the days of Haj.  People who are getting the honor of performing Haj as well as paying their respects to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in the same journey.  Some people are straightaway going to Madina and some are going there after completing of the Haj rites.  Those who are lucky enough to pay their respects to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) get the honor of being cleaned of their sins in the court of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and then go on the blessed house of Allah.  Those who are first going to Makkah are getting the chance of being cleaned of all sins before Allah and then get to pay their respects to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

Presenting oneself before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is a great bounty for a believer and the means of achieving the highest (spiritual) stations.  Presenting oneself before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the surest possible means of gaining the closeness of Allah.  It is the means of forgiveness of sins and a strong shelter for gaining mercy and pardon.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given glad tidings of intercession for those who visit His sanctuary.  Allah Himself has declared doing so to be a means of forgiveness and pardon for the sinners and the transgressors, a special center for acceptance of repentance (Tauba) and descent of divine mercy.  Allah says in Surah Nisa:

 

And We have not sent any Messenger but that he must be obeyed by the Command of Allah. And, (O Beloved,) if they, having wronged their souls, had come to you imploring the forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) had also asked forgiveness for them, then (owing to this mediation and intercession) they would certainly have found Allah Most Relenting, Ever-Merciful.  Surah Nisa (4:64)

 

In this verse Allah mentions 3 things:

 

(1)  Presenting oneself before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) on committing a sin.

 

(2)  Repentance.

 

(3)  The intercession of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) for them.

 

When all these 3 things are done, then Allah grants acceptance to the repentance for that person and that person becomes deserving of the illimitable mercy of Allah.

 

All the experts of Hadith and exegesis agree that this command was not limited only to the earthly life of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), but that it holds good even after His passing away into the presence of Allah.

 

At least 2 incidents are found in this regard, which show that the command of this verse is to be followed after the demise of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as well.