What Is The Etiquette To Be Followed During Grave Visits?

What is the etiquette to be followed during grave visits?

Visiting cemeteries and thereby remembering death and drawing lessons from the dead lying in graves are recommended by Islamic creed.

A person who visits a grave should remember the Hereafter, think that life is temporary and one day s/he will die, too. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) would visit al-Baqi cemetery at nights and say, “Peace be upon you, abode of a people who are believers. What you were promised would come to you tomorrow, you receiving it after some delay; and God willing we shall join you. O Allah, grant forgiveness to the inhabitants of al-Baqi.” (Muslim, Jana’iz, 102). It is appropriate for people who visit graves to pray for the deceased, and to recite the Qur’an and grant its reward to the souls of those who are buried there.

However, one should stay away from acts and behaviors that are contrary to the essence of Islam and the understanding of tawhid and are harmful in terms of faith while visiting graves and tombs . Crying loudly and making noise near graves, kissing the fences and stones of graves, and crying by hugging the grave stones do not comply with Islam. As it is not right to regard the dead people in tombs as superhuman beings and think that they will accept duas or they have divine powers, submitting our needs and wishes to them, hoping for their help, seeing these visits as religious duty and asking for their help by wrapping pieces of clothes, lighting candles, sacrificing animals, and serving treats such as candy, etc. do not comply with Islam which is the religion of tawhid. Hoping for the help of deceased people and expecting something from them are dangerous acts in terms of Islamic faith.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA