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:

Assalam-u-Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah!

Please can you clarify the merits of going to the graveyard (khabristaan) on Shab-e-baraah?

There are two different schools of thought on this matter.

One says that this auspicious night should be spent in Ibaadat of the Almighty, and one should not waste time visiting graveyards. The other says that it is sunnah to visit the graveyard on this night, and one who does so, all the "mauta" (those laid to rest in the burrial ground) will pray for his "maghfirat" ( pray for his forgiveness) untill the day of judgement.

Please can you clarify as to the authenticity of the above statements?

thanks,

Jazakallah khair,

Tayib Ahmed.

(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:

Visiting graveyard on shabe baraat

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Abdallah ibn Buraidah reported from his father that the Prophet (saws) said: "I had forbidden you to visit graves, but now you may visit them. It will remind you of the Hereafter." (Muslim, Ahmad, and the Sunan)

In the beginning the Prophet (saws) prohibited the believers from visitlng the graves because of their proximity to the jahiliyyah (Days of Ignorance). After they had fully entered the fold of Islam, became well pleased with it, and had fully accepted its laws, the Prophet (saws) permitted them to visit graves as their visit would remind them of their own final place of destination and the Hereafter. And that intention and mission of visiting graves is evident in the supplication the Messenger of Allah (saws) would make when he visited any graveyard.

Ibn Abbas reported: "Once the Prophet (saws) passed by graves in Madinah. He (saws) tumed his face toward them saying: 'Peace be upon you, O dwellers of these graves. May Allah forgive us and you. You have preceded us, and we are following your trail'."

Related by Tirmidhi.

Aishah reported: "I asked: 'What should I say when I pass by a graveyard, O Messenger of Allah (saws)?' He (saws) replied, 'Say, "Peace be upon the believing men and women dwelling here. May Allah grant mercy to those who have preceded us and those who are to follow them. Certainly, Allah willing, we will join you"'.

Related by Muslim.

There is absolutely no evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah, nor in the example of the noble companions that the so called night of ‘shabb-e-baraat’ has any significance whatsoever in Islam, or a night for visiting graveyards, or to commemorate or celebrate this night with any special prayer, rite, or ritual whatsoever!

If one celebrates or commemorates this or any other night with rites and rituals of worship when there is no evidence that the Messenger of Allah (saws) endorsed it, they would be guilty of inventing and following an innovation or ‘bida’ in the perfect deen of Islam; and without an iota of a doubt, every innovation in the perfect deen of Islam is an error and a grave sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

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.

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.”

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.”

Whenever one wishes to remember one’s death or the Hereafter, one may go and visit the graveyard…for that will re-enforce the basic and inevitable Truth that death is indeed imminent and one day he too will be brought here and laid to rest. There is no day specified by the Messenger of Allah (saws) for the believers to visit the graves of their loved ones, neither the ‘shabb-e-baraat’, nor the days of Eid, nor any other day of the year. If one from themselves invent or nominate a day to visit graveyards and believes that their self-appointed day is better or more meritorious than other days, then indeed they would be guilty of the abomination of inventing and following an innovation or ‘bida’!

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 and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan