Q: What response do I give to this sister. She sent me the following:
I have a question regarding visiting Rawdah (Blessed grave of Nabi [sallallahu alaihi wasallam]) as the workers here have created a doubt in my mind. Is it possible to get the answer?
A staff member was explaining that when we (ladies) visit the Rawdah, our intention should purely be ibaadah in Riyadh ul jannah and not to visit Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as he disliked ladies visiting graveyards. Then she quoted an ayah/hadeeth in Arabic and stated that He never said ladies shouldn’t visit graves except for mine. So she mentioned that we should all rectify our intentions before going inside.
I know there is a difference in opinions and people in Saudi might be from a different school of thought, but for us being Hanafi what is the ruling?
A: It is not at all prudent for one to acquire direction in deen from an ordinary worker. Therefore, do not pay attention to what you have heard. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has commanded us in his mubaarak hadith to visit his mubaarak grave. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said “The person who visits my grave after I pass away is like the person who has visited me in my lifetime”. (Tabraani)
This Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is general and applies to men and women. All the four mazhabs (Hanafi, Maaiki, Shaafi and Hambali) are unanimous that the Ambiyaa are alive in their graves. In another Hadith Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “Whoever visits my grave, my intercession becomes obligatory for him.” (Musnad Bazzaar)
Furthermore, the Fuqahaa have written that when one sets out on the journey of umrah or hajj, one should make the intention of going to visit the grave of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). This is greatly rewarding and regarded among the greatest of nafil ibaadaat.
Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Khaandelwi (rahmatullahi alayh) has written, “The consensus of the four mazhabs is it is mustahab to visit the grave of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).”
A detailed discussion regarding this maslah can be found in Fazaail-e-Hajj of Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Khaandelwi (rahmatullahi alayh), Chapter 8 – page 132.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)