Dear Islamic brothers! We learn from this Hadith that it is a Sunnah to visit the graveyard on Shab-e-Bara’at. In the beginning of Islam, the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had forbidden the visiting of graveyards, but gave permission for us to do so later on. Sayyiduna Buraydah رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates that the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: “I had forbidden you from visiting graves; (I now give you permission to) visit them.”^[1]

Let us hear the commentary of this blessed Hadith from the book of Maktaba-tul-Madina, entitled, ‘Faizan-e-Chehl Hadith’:

“In the beginning of Islam, visiting graves was forbidden for both, Muslim men and women. This was because people had newly accepted Islam, and due to previously practicing idol worship, there was fear they would start to worship graves. Once Islam had become firm in them, this prohibition was removed. Similarly, when alcohol was declared Haram, the containers used for alcohol were also prohibited, lest the people see the containers and remember alcohol again. When people became accustomed to not drinking alcohol, the prohibition of using these containers was also removed.

This command to visit the graves is one of ‘Istihbaab’ (i.e. it is recommended). In reality, women were also included in this ruling, and they were also given permission to visit graves. However, women should not visit graves now, and they should not exit their homes to visit any grave, except for the blessed resting place of the final Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Nevertheless, if a woman is going somewhere else and happens upon a grave on the path, she can visit it, just as Sayyidatuna Aa’isha Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا visited the grave of Sayyiduna Abd-ur-Rahman رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ. Adding to this, if a woman comes across a grave in a home, she may also visit it.

The noble grave of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was present in the home of Sayyidatuna Aa’isha Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا, of which she رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا was the custodian. It should be remembered that in the Hadith, the word زُوْرُوْا’ i.e. ‘visit them’ is a general command. Therefore, it is permissible for Muslims to