Riyad as-Salihin, 1029

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went to the (Baqi') cemetery and said, "May you be secured from punishment, O dwellers of abode of the believers! We, if Allah wills, will follow you. I wish we see my brothers." The Companions said, "O Messenger of Allah! Are not we your brothers?" He (ﷺ) said, "You are my Companions, but my brothers are those who have not come into the world yet." They said; "O Messenger of Allah! How will you recognize those of your Ummah who are not born yet?" He (ﷺ) said, "Say, if a man has white-footed horses with white foreheads among horses which are pure black, will he not recognize his own horses?" They said; "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah!" He (ﷺ) said, "They (my followers) will come with bright faces and white limbs because of Wudu'; and I will arrive at the Haud (Al-Kauthar) ahead of them." [Muslim].

وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أتى المقبرة فقال‏:‏ ‏"‏السلام عليكم دار قوم مؤمنين وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون، وددت أنا قد رأينا إخواننا‏"‏ قالوا‏:‏ أولسنا إخوانك يا رسول الله‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏أنتم أصحابي، وإخواننا الذين لم يأتوا بعد‏"‏ قالوا‏:‏ كيف تعرف من لم يأتِ بعد من أمتك يا رسول الله‏؟‏ فقال‏:‏ ‏"‏أرأيت لو أن رجلا له خيل غر محجلة بين ظهري خيل دهم بهم، ألا يعرف خيله ‏؟‏‏"‏ قالوا بلى يا رسول الله، قال‏:‏ فإنهم يأتون غرًا محجلين من الوضوء وأنا فرطهم على الحوض ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 8, Hadith 39

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) It is permissible to visit the graves, as they remind us of the Hereafter. The reason behind the reported prohibition of visiting the graves is that people in the initial phase of Islam had recently left polytheism; that is why the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) feared that their hearts would be attached to the graves. So, he prohibited them from visiting them. Thereafter, when monotheism and faith settled in people’s hearts, he encouraged them to visit the graves, and the prohibition was thus abrogated. 2) It is Sunnah for a Muslim to give this greeting when he visits the graves: “Peace be upon you, dwellers of the abode of the believers.” 3) The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were brothers and companions to the Prophet; but those who came later are his brothers, not his companions. 4) The trace of ablution in the face and limbs on the Day of Judgment will be a sign characterizing this Ummah, out of Allah’s grace and bounty. 5) We may supplicate Allah to have mercy on the dwellers of the graves, but we may not ask those in the graves to supplicate for us, as they have no power to bring about benefit or cause harm.

Related hadiths5