Visiting graves is a recommended practice in Islam. Through grave visitation, a Muslim remembers death and gains an opportunity to pray for those who have passed away. However, Islamic teachings also establish clear boundaries to ensure that this practice remains consistent with the principle of monotheism.
One deviation that must be avoided is asking favors from the inhabitants of graves or treating them as intermediaries (wasilah) to draw closer to God. Such actions are not permitted in Islam. Prayer and supplication must be directed to God alone.
The Qur’an firmly warns believers not to call upon anyone besides God. In one verse, God says:
وَلَا تَدْعُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَلَا يَضُرُّكَ ۖ فَإِنْ فَعَلْتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذًا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“And do not call upon anything besides God that can neither benefit you nor harm you. If you do so, then you will surely be among the wrongdoers.” (QS. Yunus: 106)
This verse emphasizes that all forms of prayer, hope, and worship must be directed solely to God. Seeking help from those who have already died contradicts the monotheistic principle that Islam upholds.
The Qur’anic Warning Against Intermediaries in Worship
In many cases, the practice of asking favors from graves is accompanied by the belief that the deceased can serve as intermediaries who bring a person closer to God. However, the Qur’an also records a similar argument once used by polytheistic communities in the past. God says:
وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى
“And those who take protectors besides Him say, ‘We do not worship them except so that they may bring us closer to God.’” (QS. az-Zumar: 3)
This verse explains that treating created beings as intermediaries in acts of worship represents a deviation in faith. Therefore, during grave visitation, Muslims must safeguard the purity of their belief by avoiding any request directed toward the deceased.
Instead, Islam encourages the opposite practice: praying for those who have passed away. The Prophet Muhammad demonstrated this through his own example. A narration reported by Aisha describes how the Prophet once visited the cemetery of Jannat al-Baqi and offered a prayer for its inhabitants. He said:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ دَارَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللّٰهُ بِكُمْ لَلَاحِقُونَ، اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأَهْلِ بَقِيعِ الْغَرْقَدِ
“Peace be upon you, O dwellers of the abode of believing people. Indeed, God willing, we will soon follow you. O God, forgive the inhabitants of Baqiʿ al-Gharqad.” (Narrated by Muslim).
This prayer shows the correct orientation of grave visitation. Rather than asking anything from the deceased, Muslims are encouraged to ask God to forgive them.
Therefore, grave visitation remains a commendable practice as long as it follows the guidance of Islamic teachings. Its purpose is to remind believers of death and to pray for those in the grave, not to seek help from them or treat them as intermediaries to God.
Reference:
Council for Religious Opinion and Reform of Muhammadiyah Central Board, “Hukum dan Tuntunan Ziarah Kubur”, in Suara Muhammadiyah magazine No.10, 2013.
