Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaamu alaikum. A couple of months ago, one of my nearest one died due to old age. She died around 11 pm and was burried about 11 am the next morning. After Quran Khani {which i know is not right (biddah)} held for her after isha, then next day, the blood-relatives went to her grave at about 11 pm after Quran khani. I cant understand why they went at night only? why not some other day? i can`t understand. Is it compulsory to go like the relatives did, after Quran khani or is it to go within 24 hours of Quran khani to the grave of the dead.

I wll be very grateful to you if you reply my question at earliest through the light of Quran and Sunnat.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Visit grave after 24 hours

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Is it compulsory to go like the relatives did, after Quran khani or is it to go within 24 hours of Quran khani to the grave of the dead.
It is indeed the obligatory duty of the believers to give their deceased brother or sister in faith a honorable Islamic burial, and there is absolutely no harm if one wishes to visit their graves and/or supplicate the Lord Most Gracious to have Mercy on their souls at any time.

To perform the innovated rite and ritual of ‘Quran Khani’ for the deceased, or to believe that it is necessary or compulsory or meritorious for the relatives to visit the grave of the deceased within 24 hours or any stipulated time or any stipulated day, is absolutely against the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws). Any who does or believes so would be guilty in the Court of Allah Subhanah for following an innovation in the perfect deen of Islam.

Aisha narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘If somebody innovates something which is not present in our religion, then that thing will be rejected.’

Related by Bukhari.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people.”

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan