Does Islam forbid visiting the grave of a deceased person?

[Ruhi_Rose]

 



The Wahabi / Salaf community, in accordance with their own made-up ideology, do not believe in visiting the graves of loved ones to recite the Fatiha.  Some of them quote the following verse of Surah At-Taubah to justify their concept.
 
"And never (O Muhammad) pray for one of them who dieth, nor stand by his grave. Lo! they disbelieved in Allah and His messenger, and they died while they were evil-doers."  (9:84)

However, the truth is much the opposite. 
 
The above verse of Surah At-Taubah is not a dictate to stop everyone from visiting the graves of their loved ones.  Instead it clearly indicates that we are allowed to visit the graves of believers.
 
The explanation of my conclusion is as follows. 
 
Surah At-Taubah, largely deals with scheming hypocrites and disbelievers who were attacking and ambushing Muslims .. even after the conquest of Makkah.  In this Surah, Allah has also disclosed the mindset of such people.  The hypocrites, who pretended to be Muslims, would often make excuses for not not joining battles to fight the enemies of Islam,  neither would they be willing to pay alms to the poor and would deride the Prophet (pbuh).  They would do much to earn the wrath of Allah.
 
In order to know the right context of Verse 9:84 quoted above, I am also quoting 10 other verses from the same Surah At-Taubah which precede Verse 9:84.  If you read the following verses, it will be simple enough to understand that Verse 9:84 refers only to the graves of hypocrites and idolaters.
 
"And of them are those who vex the Prophet and say: He is only a hearer. Say: A hearer of good for you, who believeth in Allah and is true to the believers, and a mercy for such of you as believe. Those who vex the messenger of Allah, for them there is a painful doom."   (9:61) 
 
"The hypocrites fear lest a surah should be revealed concerning them, proclaiming what is in their hearts. Say: Scoff (your fill)! Lo! Allah is disclosing what ye fear."  (9:64)
 
"And if thou ask them (O Muhammad) they will say: We did but talk and jest. Say: Was it at Allah and His revelations and His messenger that ye did scoff ?"  (9:65)
 
"The hypocrites, both men and women, proceed one from another. They enjoin the wrong, and they forbid the right, and they withhold their hands (from spending for the cause of Allah). They forget Allah, so He hath forgotten them. Lo! the hypocrites, they are the transgressors."   (9:67)
 
"They swear by Allah that they said nothing (wrong), yet they did say the word of disbelief, and did disbelieve after their Surrender (to Allah). And they purposed that which they could not attain, and they sought revenge only that Allah by His messenger should enrich them of His bounty. If they repent it will be better for them; and if they turn away, Allah will afflict them with a painful doom in the world and the Hereafter, and they have no protecting friend nor helper in the earth."  (9:74)
 
"Those who point at such of the believers as give the alms willingly and such as can find naught to give but their endeavours, and deride them - Allah (Himself) derideth them. Theirs will be a painful doom."   (9:79)
 
"Ask forgiveness for them (O Muhammad), or ask not forgiveness for them; though thou ask forgiveness for them seventy times Allah will not forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His messenger, and Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk."   (9:80)
 
"Those who were left behind rejoiced at sitting still behind the messenger of Allah, and were averse to striving with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way. And they said: Go not forth in the heat! Say: The fire of hell is more intense of heat, if they but understood."     (9:81)
 
"Then let them laugh a little: they will weep much, as the reward of what they used to earn."   (9:82)
 
"If Allah bring thee back (from the campaign) unto a party of them and they ask of thee leave to go out (to fight), then say unto them: Ye shall never more go out with me nor fight with me against a foe. Ye were content with sitting still the first time. So sit still, with the useless."    (9:83)  

 
The very fact that in Verse 9:84 the dictate of not standing by the graves specifically refers to the hypocrites / idolaters clearly means that the practice of standing by the graves of believers is not forbidden. 

The Noble Quran does not state anywhere that in normal circumstances one should not visit the graves of their loved ones (who are presumably believers).  Of course, it must be remembered that while visiting graves, the prayer that we recite by the graveside must be directed only to Allah.  For this purpose it's highly advisable that when we recite the Fatiha or any supplication by the side of the grave of a loved one, always turn away from the grave and face the Kaabah while reciting it.

[Zainab_M]

This is a nice post.  Makes perfect sense.  The very fact that Allah Almighty specifies the sort of people at who's graves believers are not permitted to stand is itself a clear indication that believers are allowed to stand at the graves of other deceased believers.  Otherwise Allah's dictate would simply be that we are not to stand at gravesides at all.  Also you were very right that prayers and supplications at graveside must be directed to Allah alone.  Brother Steve Rockwell also mentioned this point that it's best to turn toward the Kaa'ba and recite Fatiha and your supplications when you are at the graveside of a loved one.

I absolutely agree that Verse 9:84 discards the Wahabi view of not visiting all graves.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

This is another important clarification and a much disputed one.  I see your point well.  Allah has stopped believers from standing by the graves of disbelievers and hypocrites because the practice of visiting graves did exist.   Therefor, Allah specifically prohibits from standing before the graves of a certain section of people of the community i.e. hypocrites and idolater.