Can Muslim Women Go to Graveyard? The accurate opinion is that, due to the following hadith, women are not permitted to visit graveyards. Women who visit graves are cursed by the Prophet (peace be upon him). Women should quit going to graves.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed women who visit graves.”
Sunan Ibn Majah 1575, Book 6, Hadith 143
Let’s learn more about why not Can Muslim Women Go to Graveyard.
Visiting graveyards out of ignorance
Although she shouldn’t do it again, the woman who went to a grave without knowing about this ruling is not at fault. If she does, she must seek forgiveness and repent, because repentance nullifies everything that came before.
Who is allowed to visit the grave?
Visiting the graves is only permitted for men. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1569)
Why was it forbidden to visit graves during the early days of Islam?
Men and women were prohibited from visiting graves during the early days of Islam because the new Muslims were from a culture that practiced grave worship and deep emotional ties to the deceased. Therefore, it was prohibited for them to visit graves as an act of prevention to ward off evil and stop shirk.
Once the Islamic faith was firmly established and their understanding of it deepened, Allah SWT commanded people to visit the graves in order to learn about death and the Hereafter, offer prayers of mercy for the departed, and make du’a for them.
Narrated Buraidah:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: I forbade you to visit graves, but you may now visit them, for in visiting them there is a reminder (of death).
Sunan Abi Dawud 3235, Book 21, Hadith 147
Also Read: Malak-ul-Maut: Angel of Death in Islam
Why did Allah prohibit women from visiting graves?
Then, according to the most accurate academic viewpoint, Allah prohibited women from doing that because they lack patience and become easily agitated. In Islam, excessive lamentation, crying, and mourning for the deceased is not permitted. Thus in order to prevent this in graveyards as well, women were advised to not go to the graveyards, as they may not be able to control themselves, control their emotions. Therefore, Allah prohibited them from visiting graves out of His benevolence and charity. This is also a gesture of goodwill towards the men, as it may potentially lead to fitnah if they all gathered at the burial. Thus, out of mercy, Allah prohibited women from visiting cemeteries.
Can women offer prayers at funerals?
However, there is nothing wrong with women praying the funeral prayer as far as the prayer is concerned. The funeral prayer is open to women. The graves are the only places where visiting is prohibited. The more accurate of the two scholarly perspectives holds that women are not allowed to visit graveyards because hadiths prevent it. All she needs to do is honestly repent to Allah; she is not required to make any kind of atonement.
Can daughter visit father’s grave in Islam?
As mentioned earlier, women in general are not allowed to visit graveyards for the aforementioned reasons. Thus, a daughter cannot visit the father’s grave as well. She can make prayers and duas from her home and ask Allah for forgiveness and mercy for her father.
Can a wife visit her husband’s grave in Islam?
No, a wife cannot visit her husband’s grave because she might start lamenting and crying heavily. For her husband’s well-being in the hereafter, she can make duas and prayers from the comfort of her home and ask Allah for mercy and forgiveness for her husband, do charity work etc.
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