Can women visit the graveyard?
Praying the salatul janaza (janaza prayer)
Praying the janazah (funeral) prayer is prescribed for both men and women, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Whoever attends the janazah until he offers the prayer will have one qirat (of reward), and whoever attends until (the deceased) is buried will have two qirats.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, what are the two qirats?” He said, “Like two great mountains,” meaning, of reward. (Saheeh – agreed upon).
Can women go to graveyard?
On following the Janazah in the cemetry, we have different opinions:
According to some schools it is disliked, but not prohibited
Um ‘Atiyya narrated:
We were forbidden to accompany funeral processions but not strictly. (Bukhari)
Scholars commented that this hadith was not a strict prohibition i.e it meant that it is not haram for women to follow the janaza in the graveyard but it is not recommended.
Imam Al-Qurtubi said the hadith is not recommending following the Janazah for women, and this is the majority opinion of the scholars and Imam Malik.
According to some schools it is permissible for women to follow the janaza
On the other side, there are some narrations in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah and Sunan Al-Nasa’i and ibn Majah which show its permissibility:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be on him) was attending a funeral. ‘Umar saw a woman and shouted at her, but the Prophet (peace be on her) said,
“Leave her alone, O ‘Umar, for the eye weeps and the heart is afflicted, and the bereavement is recent.” (Ibn Majah)
The first time I saw women following the janazah, at a distance and attended the burial, a man told them off and said they were cursed. He was standing over the grave and telling them off, which was not the right time to do it. Presumably he was quoting this hadith:
Allah has cursed women who frequent graves (Ahmed and Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)
However, there is another equally valid narration, in which the Prophet (peace be on him) said:
“I [once] had forbid you from visiting graves, [and I now enjoin] you to do so, so that the visit may serve as a beneficial reminder.” (related by Muslim and others)
and in the version of al-Haakim:
‘ for [such visits] soften the heart, bring tears to the eyes, and serve as a reminder of the Hereafter, [but be careful] not to speak forbidden expressions [i.e. while visiting].’ (Sahih al-Jaami’)
The second hadith abrogated the first one.
We have to acknowledge therefore that there are two opinions, not just one on this matter.
The etiquette of visiting the graveyard
There is an etiquette to visiting the cemetery and there should never be shouting and screaming and wailing. This is haram. This was Jahiliya (pre-Islamic) culture, which is why the Prophet (peace be on him) was teaching his ummah to control their emotions. As long as they can behave appropriately and control excessive outpouring of emotions, they can visit the graveyard.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، كَيْفَ أَقُولُ لَهُمْ؟ قَالَ: قُولِي: السَّلاَمُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَيَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَلاَحِقُونَ.
A’isha said: I asked: “O Allah’s Messenger, how should I address them (the inhabitants of the graves)?” He replied: “Say: Peace be upon the inhabitants of this place from among the believers and the Muslims, and may Allah have mercy on those who have gone ahead of us, and those who come later, and indeed we shall, inshā’ Allāh, join you.” (Muslim)
Should you visit graves?
Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said:
I prohibited you from visiting graves, but visit them now. Verily, they will weaken your attachment to the world and remind you of the Hereafter. (ibn Majah)
Visiting graveyards remind you of your final destination. They bring you back to the ultimate reality. You still have time become more grateful. Visit hospitals and graves makes us more grateful for our blessings and appreciative of time.
Can menstruating women visit Riyad ul Jannah?
Yes she can visit based on the two hadith of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who said:
“I had forbidden you to visit graves, but now you may visit them.” (Muslim)
“It will remind you of the Hereafter.” (Tirmidhi)
Based on these two narrations, menstruating women may visit the graves because it is a reminder of the akhirah (Hereafter).
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