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:

Dear Brother,

Pls let me know what a muslim men & women to do when attending graves of prophets

ALLAHAFEEZ

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Answer:

Visiting prophet(saws) grave

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.

Sa'id bin Al-Musayyib reported from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (saws) said, "You should not undertake a special journey to visit any place (of worship) other than the three Mosques: the Sacred Mosque of Makkah, this mosque of mine (in Madinah), and Al-Aqsa Mosque (of Jerusalem)."

Related by Bukhari, Muslim, and Abu Daw'ud.

Respected brother in Islam, first and foremost, it is not lawful for a believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to undertake a special journey only to visit any place of worship (or a grave, or a tomb, or a shrine, etc.) except the three holy Masjids of Makkah, Madinah, and Jerusalem.

If the Last and Final Messenger of Allah (saws) was not buried in Madinah, it would not have been lawful for the believers to undertake a special journey only to visit the grave of their beloved Prophet (saws)!

If one undertakes a journey to visit the Prophet’s (saws) Masjid in Madinah, there is absolutely no harm if one pays one’s respects near the Prophet’s (saws) grave which is adjacent to the Prophet’s Masjid in Madinah.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 5.133

Topic: Etiquette of Visiting the Prophet's (saws) Masjid and Grave

1. It is recommended that one should approach the Prophet's (saws) Masjid calmly and with composure. It is recommended that one should wear perfume, put on a nice clean dress and enter the masjid with the right foot, and say, ‘ Bismillah, Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa aalihi wa sallam, Allahummaghfir li zunubi waftah li abwaba rahmatika.’ (In the Name of Allah O Allah! Bless Mohammad (saws) his family and his followers. O Allah! Forgive my sins and open doors of Your mercy for me.)

2. One should offer a two rak'ahs as greetings to the Masjid with calm and humility, preferably in the ‘raudah’ marked by the green carpets, or if one cannot find space there, then anywhere else in the Prophet’s (saws) Masjid.

3. After this one should head toward the grave of the Prophet (saws) and give greetings of peace to the Prophet (saws) saying: ‘Assalamu 'alaika ya rasulallah. Assalamu 'alaika ya nabiyallah’. (Peace be on you, O the Messenger of Allah. Peace be on you, O, the Prophet of Allah)

4. Then if one wishes, one may offer their greetings at the graves of Hadrat Abu Baker As-Siddiq (r.a.) and Hadrat Umar bin Al-Khattab (r.a.) who are buried alongside the Prophet (saws).

5. Then facing the direction of Qiblah the visitor may recite the durood, supplicate for himself, his family, friends, relatives, and the rest of the Muslims to his heart’s desire.

6. A visitor should not raise his voice more than needed to hear himself.

7. Absolutely avoid and abstain from wiping ones hands on the chamber (i.e., the grave of the Prophet (saws)), or kissing it, etc. The Prophet (saws) has absolutely forbidden all such things.

Abu Daw'ud related from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (saws) said, "Do not turn your houses into graves, nor make my grave a place of festivity. Send your greetings upon me, for your greetings are conveyed to me wherever you are."

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