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:

Aswa burhaan bhai..i must say your website provides excellent data on islam which really helps and clears lots of doubts, i need a bit clarification on `` did ever muhammed saws visited grave on 14th shabaan (janat ul baqi)``

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Answer:

Did prophet (peace be upon him) visit grave 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.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) would occasionally visit the graveyard of ‘Baqi’ in Madinah, but there is nothing in the established Sunnah whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) declared that visiting the graveyards on a particular or specific day or night was more meritorious than at any other time!

Although it is possible that one amongst the nights that the Messenger of Allah (saws) chose to visit the ‘Baqi’ graveyard in Madinah happened to be the middle of Shabaan, it was not something the Messenger of Allah (saws) did every year!

There is absolutely no evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (saws) endorsed the visiting of graveyards on the 14^th of Shabaan or to celebrate or commemorate or perform any rituals whatsoever on this particular day (and night). Neither the Messenger of Allah (saws), nor his noble companions, nor the believers of the earliest generations ever commemorated or celebrated the 14^th of Shabaan or held it more meritorious than any other night of the year….and when something is not endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws) in the deen, it is aught but a ‘bida’ and an innovation….and every single innovation to the pure and perfect deen of Islam is a manifest error and a sin in the Sight of the Lord.

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 and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan