Women Visiting Graves:
Regarding women visiting graves, scholars have held different opinions:
Some have said that it is permissible, or even recommended, and its ruling is the same as for men.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، وَمَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلَانَ، وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْخَلَّالُ، قَالُوا: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمِ النَّبِيلُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: قَدْ كُنْتُ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ، فَقَدْ أُذِنَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ فِي زِيَارَةِ قَبْرِ أُمِّهِ، فَزُورُوهَا فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّرُ الْآخِرَةَ . قَالَ: وَفِي الْبَاب، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، وَابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، وَأَنَسٍ، وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، وَأُمِّ سَلَمَةَ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى: حَدِيثُ بُرَيْدَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ، وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ لَا يَرَوْنَ بِزِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ بَأْسًا، وَهُوَ قَوْلُ: ابْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ، وَالشَّافِعِيِّ، وَأَحْمَدَ، وَإِسْحَاق
Hadith (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1054):
Muhammad ibn Bashshār, Mahmūd ibn Ghīlān, and al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī al-Khallāl said:
Abū ‘Āṣim al-Nabīl narrated to us from Sufyān, from ‘Alqamah ibn Mirthad, from Sulaymān ibn Buraydah, from his father, who said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“I had previously forbidden you from visiting graves, but now permission has been granted to Muhammad to visit the grave of his mother. So visit them, for they remind you of the Hereafter.”
And in this regard, there are narrations from Abū Sa‘īd, Ibn Mas‘ūd, Anas, Abū Hurayrah, and Umm Salamah.
Abū ‘Īsā (al-Tirmidhi) said:
“The hadith of Buraydah is hasan sahih (good and authentic), and the scholars act upon this narration; they do not see any problem with visiting graves. This is also the opinion of Ibn al-Mubārak, al-Shāfi‘ī, Ahmad, and Ishāq — that visiting graves is permissible and without restriction.”
However, another group of scholars have said that this act is disliked (makruh), and this is the opinion of the majority of scholars (jumhur al-‘ulama).
And a group of scholars have considered it haram (forbidden) — this opinion appears to be the strongest, based on the authentic hadith:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُحَادَةَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا صَالِحٍ، يُحَدِّثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَائِرَاتِ الْقُبُورِ، وَالْمُتَّخِذِينَ عَلَيْهَا الْمَسَاجِدَ وَالسُّرُجَ.
Sunan Abu Dawood (3236)
Muhammad ibn Kathir narrated to us; Shu‘bah informed us from Muhammad ibn Juhādah, who said:
I heard Abū Sālih narrate from Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed women who visit graves, and those who build mosques over them and light lamps upon them.”
It is also reported:
> “Allah has cursed women who frequently visit graves.” (Narrated by Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Mājah)
And in another narration:
“Allah has cursed women who visit graves, and those who build mosques or place lamps upon them.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasā’i, and al-Hākim)
This condemnation and curse indicate prohibition (haram), because the Lawgiver (Allah the Exalted) does not curse something that is merely permissible or disliked (makruh), but only that which is strictly forbidden.
As for the reason behind this prohibition and censure, scholars have mentioned two main reasons:
1. Women are generally more emotionally sensitive in the face of calamities, and seeing the graves of their loved ones may cause them to cry loudly and wail — which harms both their religion and their health.
2. Cemeteries are usually located in isolated or remote places, and women going there may be exposed to danger or harassment by immoral or wicked individuals.
Summary:
The wisdom behind this prohibition is that women are generally more vulnerable to emotional distress, and visiting graves may lead them into trials and temptations. Therefore, they have been forbidden from visiting graves to protect them from such dangers and tribulations.