Question:
whether women can visit graveyards?
Answer:
Regarding this issue, in the early period around the 1980s, when this preaching movement began, we initially said that women were prohibited from visiting graveyards (ziyarah) and that the Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ had forbidden it. That is what we said at the beginning.
Later, we realized that this opinion was incorrect. Many years ago, we corrected it and even published articles clarifying that women should not be prevented from visiting graveyards for reflection. Those articles are still available online. However, many people still continue to say that women should not go to graveyards. Even though this correction was made around 45 years ago and was clearly explained, it has not reached everyone. That is why, even though written articles exist, we are now explaining it again in video form.
First, this discussion is about visiting graveyards, not visiting shrines (dargahs). One should not go to shrines because they are places where people worship individuals. That does not fall under grave visitation. Shrines are treated as places of worship, and the rulings related to them are different.
Regarding graveyards, there are several hadiths that mention that the Prophetﷺ cursed women who visited graves. These narrations appear in many books. However, most of these narrations are weak, except for one narration which is considered authentic. Let us examine this.
There is a hadith recorded in Tirmidhi (Hadith No. 294) stating that the Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ cursed women who visited graves, cursed those who built mosques over graves, and cursed those who lit lamps over them. This narration is reported by Abu Salih from Ibn Abbas. However, scholars such as Ibn Hajar, Abu Hatim al-Razi, Imam Nasai, Yahya ibn Ma’in, and others have declared Abu Salih to be a weak narrator. Therefore, this narration cannot be used as proof to prohibit women from visiting graves.
Similarly, another narration in Tirmidhi (Hadith No. 976) mentions that the Prophetﷺ cursed women who visit graves. This narration comes through Abu Huraira, narrated by Abu Salama and then by his son Umar ibn Abi Salama. Scholars such as Abdul Rahman ibn Mahdi, Ali ibn Madini, Yahya ibn Ma’in, Abu Hatim al-Razi, Shu‘bah, Muhammad ibn Sa‘d, Ibn Khuzaimah, and Nasai declared Umar ibn Abi Salama to be a weak narrator. Therefore, this narration is also weak.
However, there is one narration in Ibn Majah where all narrators are considered reliable, and it states that the Prophetﷺ cursed women who frequently visit graves. This narration is considered authentic. Even though this hadith is authentic, it is understood to have been abrogated (cancelled). In the early period of Islam, grave visitation was prohibited because people practiced improper rituals there. Later, when people gained proper understanding, the Prophetﷺ changed this ruling.
Evidence for this comes from a hadith in Sahih Muslim (Hadith No. 3651), where the Prophetﷺ said: “I had previously forbidden you from visiting graves. Now you may visit them.” This shows that the earlier prohibition was lifted. The prohibition applied to both men and women, and later permission was given to both.
There is also a narration in Al-Hakim regarding Aisha (Mother of Believers) (may Allahﷻ be pleased with her). It states that she visited a graveyard and was returning from there when Abdullah ibn Abi Mulaika asked her: “O Mother of the Believers, where are you coming from?” She replied that she had visited the grave of her brother, Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakr. He asked her whether the Prophetﷺ had not forbidden visiting graves. She replied that the Prophetﷺ had initially forbidden it but later permitted it. This narration is also considered authentic.
Another narration in Sahih Muslim mentions that Aisha (Mother of Believers) asked the Prophetﷺ what supplication she should recite if she visited graves. The Prophetﷺ taught her to say: “Peace be upon the believing men and women dwelling here. May Allahﷻ have mercy on those who went before us and those who come later. If Allahﷻ wills, we too will join you.” This shows that the Prophetﷺ taught a woman what to recite when visiting graves, which indicates that women were allowed to visit graves.
Despite these explanations and articles written decades ago, many people still hold on to the earlier misunderstanding. This is because people stopped researching and verifying knowledge. Many questions asked today arise from old misunderstandings. People have forgotten to allocate time to seek proper knowledge.
Women are allowed to visit graveyards. When they go, they should recite the supplication taught by the Prophetﷺ. The purpose of visiting graves is to remember the Hereafter. When a person stands in a graveyard, they realize that they too will die one day and should correct their life before that time. This reminder is needed for both men and women. The remembrance of the Hereafter is not only for men but also for women.
Therefore, women may visit graveyards, but they should not visit shrines. When visiting graveyards where relatives are buried, one should stand there, offer salutations, reflect internally, pray to Allahﷻ, and remember that those who passed away have gone ahead and we will follow them. One should pray for them and return. This is a good and recommended practice.
Women are permitted to perform grave visitation. That is the correct understanding.