Visiting graves in Shab Baraat

Shab Baraat and visiting graves Visiting graves is Mustahab. This command is not restricted to any time or place. In the Hadith, apart from the general command to visit graves, there is a evidence of a special command to visit graves in Shab Baraat. In Jame’ Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmed, At Targheeb Wat Tarheeb, Al Ghunya Li Talibi tariqil haqqi, there is a Hadith: Translation: Ummul Momineen Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa (May Allah be well pleased with her) said that one night I did not find the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in my house. I saw that He was sitting in Baqe’e. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Were you afraid that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and His Prophet would commit excess against you? I said: O Prophet of Allah! I thought that You had gone to some other wife. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) graces the skies of this world with His presence in Shab Baraat and forgives more number of people than the hairs of the goats of clan of Kalb. (Jame’ Tirmidhi , Vol. 1, Pg No: 156, Hadith No: 270, Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Pg No: 99, Hadith No: 1379, Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No: 24825, Musnad Ul Ansaar, Hadith No: 2482, Musannaf Ibn Shaiba, Vol. 7, Pg No: 139, Shu’abul Iman, Hadith No: 3666, Kanz Ul Ummall, Hadith No: 35184, Tafseer Durre Manthur, Surah Dukhan, At Targheeb Wat Tarheeb, Vol. 2, Pg No: 119, Al Ghunya Li Talibi tariqil haqqi Vol. 1, Pg No: 191) The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would decide an order to stay with His virtuous wives, the Ummahatul Momineen. When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was staying with Syeda Aisha Siddiqa (May Allah be well pleased with her), after some time in the night, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) left for Baqe’e. When Ummul Momineen did not find the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), at first she thought that He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had gone to some other Ummul Momineen. When she reflected about this for a moment, the fragrance of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) guided her to Baqe’e. The streets and the very air of Madina would remain fragrant with the fragrance of the blessed body of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and betray to His lovers that the mount of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had passed from here. The lovers of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would cover the whole journey in a trance and have the honor of seeing the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). She saw that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was in Sajdah praying, as written by Hadhrat Mulla Ali Qari in Mirqat Sharh Mishkaat: Translation: I saw that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was in Sajdah in baqe’e, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performed such a long Sajdah that I was worried whether He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had not returned to the presence of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ended His Salaat, then He turned His attention to me. That the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) visited Baqe’e in this blessed night shows that visiting graves in this night is Masnoon and Mustahab (Established by the Sunnah and commendable). Some people say that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) visited the graves once in Shab Baraat, so visiting once in a lifetime is no problem. Visiting graves each year is a bida’at. This thought of theirs is without any evidence, which is not acceptable to the Shariah. In the whole corpus of Hadith, there in no mention that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) did not visit graves each year. On the other hand, it is clearly mentioned that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would visit graves in other days as well. This very thought that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) visited graves only once is far, far away from truth because it is mentioned in the Hadith that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would visit graves whenever it was the turn of Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa razi, as given in a Hadith of Sahih Muslim: Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa (May Allah be well pleased with her), she says that whenever it was her turn with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), then in the last portion of the night, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would visit Baqe’e and say: Peace be upon you O faithful! What was promised to you has reached you. The bounties of the afterlife are kept ready for you and verily! You will meet us. O Allah! Forgive the Ahle Baqe’e. (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, Pg No: 313, Kitab Ul Janaaiz, Hadith No: 974, Sunan Nasai, Hadith No: 2012, Musnad Ahmed, Hadith No: 24297, Sahih Ibn Habban, Vol. 7, Pg No: 444,. Hadith No: 3172, Zujajatul Masabeeh, Vol. 1, Pg No: 487) Even now if someone insists that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) visited graves only once, even then visiting is established. If anyone from the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) follows this once or every year even then that person will be loved and liked by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). It is not a secret for those who have Islamic knowledge that regularly performing those deeds which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performed only once or a few times does not make that deed/act a Bida’ah. Instead, the one performing is worthy of reward as per his/her regularity. There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari: Translation: Verily! The best loved deed by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) is the one which is performed regularly even though it is less. (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Ur Riqaq, Hadith No: 6464; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No: 783; Sunan Nasai, Hadith No: 758) It is mentioned in the Hadith in Sahih Muslim: Translation: Whenever the Ahle Bait of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performed any deed, they would be regular in it. Visiting graves makes a person religious Visiting graves is by consensus Mustahab. It moves the heart and reminds one of death. It is mentioned in the Hadith: Translation: Remember profusely the one which cuts away pleasures. (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No: 2229, Sunan Nasai, Hadith No: 1801) Visiting graves makes one act upon this. It becomes a means of prayers of forgiveness for the deceased. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ordered the Ummah to visit graves as given in Sahih Muslim and other books of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ibn Buraidah (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: I had stopped you from visiting graves, now visit them. (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Ul Janaaiz, Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No: 2816, 3212, Sunan Nasai, Vol. 1, Hadith No: 2205/5558/5559; Mustadrak 'Alas Sahihain, Hadith No: 1334; Musannaf Abdur Razzaq, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 569, Hadith No: 6708; Musnad Ahmed, Hadith No: 4092/21880/21925/21939/21974; Sunan Sughra Lil Baihaqi, Hadith No: 1177, Sunan Kubra Lin Nasai, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 654, Hadith No: 2159/4512/5162; Sunan Kubra Lil Baihaqi, Hadith No: 7444, 7460; Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaiba, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 223, Hadith No: 145; Al Matalib Ul A'aliya li ibn Hajr Asqalani, Hadith No: 922, Mojam Ausat Tabarani, Hadith No: 2812/3083/6583, same book bab manismuhu Muhammad, Hadith No: 880, Mojam Kabeer Tabarani, Hadith No: 1403/11487; Shu'abul Iman, Hadith No: 8981, Sahih Ibn Hibban, Vol. 12, Pg. No. 213, Hadith No: 5390/5391/5400; Majma Uz Zawaaid, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 58, Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No: 12264) The order of visiting graves is not restricted by any time or place and includes both men and women and the first prohibition is overruled and abrogates by the word “Zuruha” (visit them). Hadhrat Shaykh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlwi (May Allah SWT shower His Mercy on him) says: Translation: Now visit them and this command abrogates the earlier one. (Ashe’atul Lama’aat, Vol. 1, Pg No: 764) It is given in Jame’ Tirmidhi : Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ibn Mas’ud razi that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: I had stopped you from visiting graves, now visit them as they make you religious and remind you of the afterlife. (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Hadith No: 976, Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, 112) It is given in Sahih Muslim: Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah razi that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) visited the grave of His mother………….He said: Visit graves as they remind you of the afterlife. (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, Pg No: 316, Vol. 1, Pg No: 112) There is a Hadith in At Targheeb wat Tarheeb: Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Sae’ed Khudri (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: I had stopped you from visiting graves, now visit them as there is lesson for all of us. In the above mentioned Hadith of 4 benefits of visiting graves are mentioned: 1. Remind one of death. 2. Remind one of the afterlife. 3. Gives us a warning. 4. To make one pious and virtuous. Whether they are the graves of the Auliya or the common Muslims, as per the Hadith these benefits are gained. But from the graves of the Auliya and the (virtuous persons) Saliheen, a person gains piety and virtuousness, as the graves of Auliya are the centers of blessings. For this reason, the Fuqaha have clarified the visiting of graves. Hujjatul Islam Imam Ghazali (May Allah SWT shower His Mercy on him) writes: Translation: It is Mustahab (Commendable) to visit the graves of the Auliya and the Saliheen, because in it apart from warning, there is the benefit of blessings as well. (Ihya Ul Uloom, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 473) Visiting graves for blessings is an axiom with the Ahl Ullah. Rejecting it is insisting on lies. Shaykh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlwi supports this in Ashe’atul Lama’aat, Vol. 1, Pg No: 762. The reason for visiting graves of the Auliya is gaining of blessings. Hadhrat Muhaddith E Deccan (May Allah SWT shower His Mercy on him) Syed Abdullah Shah Naqshbandi Qadri writes in his famous book of Hadith Zujajatul Masabeeh about this: Translation: Gaining blessings from the graves of the Auliya is allowed for women also provided they are aged. (Zujajatul Masabeeh, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 488) In the Hadith, the blessings that are gained from the graves of the Auliya are indicated in the words: " Finnaha tuzahhidu" (They make one pious). There can be 2 meanings of this Hadith: One that visiting graves make a person pious. The second is that the graves make one pious. This is an indication towards the blessings of the graves and the saints. About the pronoun "Ha" (they) in "Finnaha," Hadhrat Mulla Ali Qari (May Allah SWT shower His Mercy on him) writes: Translation: Because they that is visiting graves i.e. seeing them makes a person pious. The mention of death cuts away the pleasures and cleans away the filth of the hearts, for this reason it is said: When you are troubled by your affairs, seek the help of the people of the graves. Visiting graves and women The Fuqaha (Jurists) have, in the light of the Hadith, with a few conditions, allowed women to visit the graves. The women should be completely veiled, there should be no mixing of men and women, there should be no danger of corruption of any kind and they should not create a scene when something not to their liking happens. Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa and Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah SWT be well pleased with them) would visit graves. It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abi Mulaika (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him) that once Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa (May Allah SWT be well pleased with her) was returning from the graveyard when I asked: Where are you coming from O Ummul Momineen? She said: From the grave of my brother Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr (May Allah SWT be well pleased with them). I asked: Did the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) not prohibit from visiting graves? She said: He had prohibited. Then He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ordered visiting them. The Fuqaha have deduced from the word: ”Zuruha" that it is Mustahab for men as well as women to visit graves and consider the above mentioned Hadith to abrogate those Hadith in which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) curses those women who visit graves. The words of the Ummul Momineen in the aforementioned Hadith "Summa amara bi ziyaratiha" (then He ordered us to visit them) strengthens this deduction of the Fuqaha that visiting graves is Mustahab for both men and women. Hadhrat Mulla Ali Qari (May Allah SWT shower His Mercy on him) writes about the Hadith of "Zuruha" abrogating/canceling the other Hadith: Translation: Now the narration of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him) about the women visiting graves that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) cursed those women who visit graves a lot. Some scholars are of the opinion that this is before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) permitted visiting the graves. When general permission was given, the women were also included in it. The leader of the women in Jannah Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah SWT be well pleased with her) would visit the grave of her uncle Hadhrat Hamza (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him). Translation of Hadith: Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah SWT be well pleased with her) would visit the grave of her uncle Hadhrat Hamza (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him) every Friday. She would offer Salaat there and make moving Duas. (Mustadrak 'Alas Sahihain, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 533) Hadhrat Imam Ahmed bin Ismail Tahtahawi (May Allah SWT shower His Mercy on him) says: Translation: To summarize, it is permitted for women to visit graves when there is no danger of corruption and the most correct opinion is that the permission to visit graves is for both men and women because Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah SWT be well pleased with her) would visit the grave of Hadhrat Hamza (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him) every Friday and Syeda Aisha Siddiqa (May Allah SWT be well pleased with her) would visit the grave of her brother Hadhrat Abdur Rahman (May Allah SWT be well pleased with him) in Makkah.

Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri

Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director

Mufti Maulana Syed Zia Uddin Naqshbandi Quadri

Shaik-ul-Fiqh - Jamia Nizamia

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Visiting graves in Shab Baraat