Visiting Graves
Total Hadiths 36
Prophetic Guidance and Sahih Hadiths on Visiting Graves
Discover what Islam teaches about visiting graves through these authentic prophetic narrations. According to these Sahih hadiths, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) frequently visited the Al-Baqi cemetery at night under divine command from Gabriel to seek forgiveness for the deceased believers. The Prophet (ﷺ) explicitly taught his companions to offer peace and prayers for the safety of both the living and the departed when entering graveyards. Furthermore, these narrations highlight a powerful emotional event where the Prophet (ﷺ) visited his own mother's grave and wept, which moved those around him to tears. From these records, Islamic scholars emphasize that the core purpose of visiting the graves is to offer duas for the dead and to serve as a vital spiritual reminder that makes the living deeply mindful of death and the upcoming afterlife.
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ الْيَامِيِّ، عَنْ مُحَارِبِ بْنِ دِثَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، أُرَاهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، - الشَّكُّ مِنْ أَبِي خَيْثَمَةَ - عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ح . وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا قَبِيصَةُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ح . وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ الْخُرَاسَانِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كُلُّهُمْ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ أَبِي سِنَانٍ .
This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 977bIn-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 137USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 2132
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي نَمِرٍ - عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ : كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كُلَّمَا كَانَتْ لَيْلَتُهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْرُجُ فِي آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ فَيَقُولُ : " السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ دَارَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا وَإِيَّاكُمْ مُتَوَاعِدُونَ غَدًا أَوْ مُوَاكِلُونَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لاَحِقُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لأَهْلِ بَقِيعِ الْغَرْقَدِ " .
It was narrated that 'Aishah said that: every time it was her night for the Messenger of Allah to stay with her, he would go out at the end of the night to Al-Baqi' and say: "As-salamu 'alaykum dara qawmin mu'minin, wa inna wa iyyakum mutawa'idun ghadan wa mutawakilun, wa inna in sha' Allahu bikum lahiqun. Allahummaghfir li ahli baqi'il gharaqad. (Peace be upon you, O abode of believing people. You and we used to remind one another about the Day of Resurrection and we are relying on one another (with regard to intercession and bearing witness). Soon we will join you, if Allah willing. O Allah, forgive the people of Baqi' Al-Charqad.)"
[1] See the wording of Muslim ; No. 2255; “What you were promised will come to you soon, after some delay...” which is the more popularly reported and preserved wording.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2039In-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 222English translation : Vol. 3, Book 21, Hadith 2041
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُحَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ : لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَائِرَاتِ الْقُبُورِ وَالْمُتَّخِذِينَ عَلَيْهَا الْمَسَاجِدَ وَالسُّرُجَ .
It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: "The Messenger of Allah cursed women who visit graves, and those who take them as Masjid and put lamps on them."
[1] The chain of the narration is weak. As for taking graves as Masjids , see chapter No. 106; as for women visiting graves - and that the curse is mentioned, it is narrated by other Companions, see Ibn Mâjah Nos. 1574 and 1576, and No. 1056 of At-Tirmidhi , see No. 225 of Ad-Da'if for details.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2043In-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 226English translation : Vol. 3, Book 21, Hadith 2045
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّلْتِ، عَنْ أَبِي كُدَيْنَةَ، عَنْ قَابُوسِ بْنِ أَبِي ظَبْيَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِقُبُورِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ " السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا أَهْلَ الْقُبُورِ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَنَا وَلَكُمْ أَنْتُمْ سَلَفُنَا وَنَحْنُ بِالأَثَرِ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ بُرَيْدَةَ وَعَائِشَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَأَبُو كُدَيْنَةَ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ الْمُهَلَّبِ وَأَبُو ظَبْيَانَ اسْمُهُ حُصَيْنُ بْنُ جُنْدُبٍ .
Ibn Abbas narrated: "The Messenger Of Allah Passed By The Graves Of Al-Madinah, So He Turned His Face Towards Them And Said: (As-Salamu Alaikum Ya Ahlul-Qubur! Yaghfirul-Lahu Lana Wa Lakun, Antum Salafuna Wa Nahnu Bil-Athar.) 'Peace Be Upon You O Inhabitants Of The Grave! May Allah Forgive Us And You; You Are Our Predecessors And We Are To Follow You.'"
[1] See Muslim , nos (974) 2255, 2256 and (975) 2275.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1053In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 89English translation : Vol. 2, Book 5, Hadith 1053
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، وَمَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْخَلاَّلُ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ النَّبِيلُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قَدْ كُنْتُ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ فَقَدْ أُذِنَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ فِي زِيَارَةِ قَبْرِ أُمِّهِ فَزُورُوهَا فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّرُ الآخِرَةَ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ وَابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَأَنَسٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأُمِّ سَلَمَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ بُرَيْدَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ لاَ يَرَوْنَ بِزِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ بَأْسًا . وَهُوَ قَوْلُ ابْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ وَأَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ .
Sulaiman bin Buraidah narrated from his father that: The Messenger Of Allah Said: "I Had Prohibited You From Visiting The Graves. But Muhammad Was Permitted To Visit The Grave Of His Mother: So Visit Them, For They Will Remind You Of The Hereafter."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1054In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 90English translation : Vol. 2, Book 5, Hadith 1054
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَنْبَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ أَتَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَبْرَ أُمِّهِ فَبَكَى وَأَبْكَى مَنْ حَوْلَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اسْتَأْذَنْتُ رَبِّي تَعَالَى عَلَى أَنْ أَسْتَغْفِرَ لَهَا فَلَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لِي فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ أَنْ أَزُورَ قَبْرَهَا فَأُذِنَ لِي فَزُورُوا الْقُبُورَ فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّرُ بِالْمَوْتِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) visited his mother's grave and wept and cause those around him to weep. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then said: I asked my Lord's permission to pray for forgiveness for her, but I was not allowed. I then asked His permission to visit her grave, and I was allowed. So visit graves, for they make one mindful of death.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3234In-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 146English translation : Book 20, Hadith 3228
حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ إِلَى الْمَقْبَرَةِ فَقَالَ " السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ دَارَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لاَحِقُونَ " . .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out to the graveyard and said: Peace be upon you, inhabitants of the dwellings who are of the community of the believers. If Allah wills we shall join you.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3237In-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 149English translation : Book 20, Hadith 3231
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " زُورُوا الْقُبُورَ فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّرُكُمُ الآخِرَةَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1569In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 137English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1569
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ زَارَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَبْرَ أُمِّهِ فَبَكَى وَأَبْكَى مَنْ حَوْلَهُ فَقَالَ: " اسْتَأْذَنْتُ رَبِّي فِي أَنْ أَسْتَغْفِرَ لَهَا فَلَمْ يَأْذَنْ لِي وَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ رَبِّي فِي أَنْ أَزُورَ قَبْرَهَا فَأَذِنَ لِي فَزُورُوا الْقُبُورَ فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّرُكُمُ الْمَوْتَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) visited the grave of his mother and wept, causing the people around him to weep. Then he said: ‘I asked my Lord for permission to seek forgiveness for her, but He did not give me permission. Then I asked my Lord for permission to visit her grave and He gave me permission. So visit the graves, for they will remind you of death.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1572In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 140English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1572
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ خَلَفٍ الْعَسْقَلاَنِيُّ أَبُو نَصْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ طَالِبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ زُوَّارَاتِ الْقُبُورِ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed women who visit graves.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1576In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 144English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1576
