['Aalim Network QR] Praying at Graves

[abbas@dircon.co.uk (Abbas Jaffer)]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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The following question was kindly answered by Mulla Asghar. The references
were inadvertently missed in the original post.

Regards,

Abbas Jaffer
Acting Moderator - ABDG-A.

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QUESTION:

I am extremely perplexed with the issue of praying at graves, or in more
simpler words offering salat at graves. Does Islam allow this? Why or why
not? Please explain.


To offer you more insight into my thinking process, I am aware that

        - ziayara of the graves is allowed
        - praying for blessings is allowed (at the graves)

What confuses me is this historical incident, Bibi Fatima (Blessings be on
her and her progeny and her followers), visited the grave of her uncle Hamza,
May Allah be well pleased with him, where she would offer the salat, pray
and weep.

Shia ref: The Rising of al Husayn, Shaykh Muhammad Mehdi Shams al Din
          Muhammadi Trust, page 27 Chapter the Ziyara.

Please help at clarifying the issue. 
..........................................................................

ANSWER:

According to Agha Seestani, it is Makruh (undesirable) to pray the
obligatory prayers on, in front of, or between graves or in the graveyard.

Agha also says that one should not offer prayers in front of the graves of
the Holy Prophet (S) or Holy Imams (A), if it entails irreverance, otherwise
there is no harm in it. (The irreverance may occur if you pray forward of
the place where the head of the Ma'sum lies).

As regards praying at the graveside of the martyrs, it may be that the Salat
you cite is the 2 Rakat recommended Salat following Ziyarat.

Wasalaam,

Asgharali M.M. Jaffer



Ref: Agha Seestani's translated version of his Taudhihul Masai'l, Masail Nos
895, 907.