Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Islam allows visiting shrines or graves if the purpose is remembrance of Allah, reflection on the Hereafter, and making du`a for the deceased. What is forbidden is praying to the deceased or believing they can grant benefit or harm, as these actions contradict the principles of Tawhid.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Is Visiting Shrines or Graves Permissible in Islam?
Visiting graves—whether of loved ones, scholars, or the righteous—is permissible in Islam when it fosters the remembrance of Allah and the Hereafter. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I used to forbid you from visiting graves. Now visit them, for they remind you of the Hereafter” (Muslim). Go to reflect, recite the Quran, and make du`a for the deceased.
Maintain a clear understanding of Tawhid: ask only Allah for help. Do not pray to the dead, call on them for aid, or believe they control benefit or harm. Scholars from the Sunni schools encourage visits for reflection and du`a, prohibiting worship-like acts at graves.
Permissible Acts During Shrine or Grave Visits
- Visit to remember death, read the Quran, and ask Allah to forgive them.
- Do not supplicate to the deceased or seek their intervention.
- Gestures of respect are acceptable as long as they do not devolve into superstition or ritual innovation.
Grave visitation should soften the heart and inspire good deeds. We honor the righteous by following their example and praying for them, not to them. May Allah keep our hearts firm on pure Tawhid and grant mercy to all who have returned to Him.
Explore related Islamic rulings here:
- Is It Permissible to Visit Graves Exclusively on Friday’s?
- Is Visiting Graves on Eid Allowed?
- Can a Muslim Visit a Non-Muslim Grave?
- Can a Woman Go to a Funeral in Islam?
- Is Offering Prayer at Graveyards Permissible?
- What Are the Funeral Rituals for a Dead Child?
- Any Benefit for Sprinkling Water on Graves?
- Dedicating Reward of Good Deeds to the Dead: Permissible?
Almighty Allah knows best.