83 - Chapter: What to say when coming to the graveyards or passing by them

3237 - Al-Qa'nabi narrated to us, from Malik, from al-'Ala' ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah: that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, went out to the graveyard and said: "Peace be upon you, O abode of believing people. And indeed, Allah willing, we will join you."

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Al-Nawawi said in "Al-Majmu'" 5/310-311: What the majority definitively held is that it is disliked for them (women) as a matter of tanzih (disliked but not prohibited), and al-Ruyani mentioned in "Al-Bahr" two opinions: one, that it is disliked as the majority said; the second, that it is not disliked, and this is the more correct opinion in my view when safety from temptation is assured. The author of "Al-Mustazhari" said: In my view, if their visitation is to renew grief, wailing, weeping, and lamentation as is their custom, it is forbidden. He said: Upon this is the hadith interpreted: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, cursed women who frequently visit graves." But if their visitation is for reflection without wailing or lamentation, it is disliked.

Al-Nawawi used as evidence the hadith of Anas and the hadith of 'A'ishah mentioned previously regarding the permissibility of visitation, saying: The point of indication is that he, peace and blessings be upon him, did not forbid them from visiting. We say: Al-Qurtubi said something similar in "Al-Tadhkirah," p. 18.

(1) Its chain of transmission is authentic. 'Abd al-Rahman: he is Ibn Ya'qub, the freed slave of the Harqah tribe, and al-Qa'nabi: he is 'Abdullah ibn Maslamah ibn Qa'nab. It is in "Muwatta' Malik" 1/28-29.

Muslim (249), Ibn Majah (4306), and al-Nasa'i (150) also narrated it through various chains from al-'Ala' ibn 'Abd al-Rahman.

It is also in "Musnad Ahmad" (7993) and "Sahih Ibn Hibban" (1046) and (3171).

Al-Khattabi said: Regarding his saying "And indeed, Allah willing, we will join you," it is said that this is not in the sense of the exception that enters speech due to doubt or uncertainty, but rather it is the habit of the speaker to beautify and adorn his speech with it, just as a man says to his companion: "If you do good to me, I will thank you, Allah willing," and "If you entrust me, I will not betray you, Allah willing," and similar speech, not intending doubt in his words. And it has been said: He entered the graveyard accompanied by people who were truly believers in faith, while others were suspected of hypocrisy, so his exception was directed toward them rather than the believers, and its meaning is joining them in faith. And it has been said: The exception pertains to maintaining faith until death, not to death itself.