Q: What is the ruling on visiting graves on the days of `Eids (Festivals) and other days? What is the ruling on reciting the Qur'an for the deceased beside their graves? Does this avail the deceased or not? I am asking this because I live in a village where all the people go out to the graves on the first day of `Eid and eat, drink and play there, while the graves, as I hear, should be a reminder to people to return to Allah as everyone will leave this worldly life.

A: It is prescribed to visit graves for two purposes: First, to remember the Hereafter as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I forbade you to visit graves, but now you may visit them for they remind of the Hereafter. Second, to supplicate to Allah for the deceased, as it is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to say when visiting the graves of Muslims in Baqi` (the graveyard of Madinah, near the Prophet's Mosque): Peace be upon you, O inhabitants of the abodes, believers and Muslims. Verily, we will, In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills), join you. You have passed before us and we will follow you. We pray to Allah for our well-being and for yours. O Allah forgive them and grant them mercy. As for sitting at the graves, eating, rejoicing and playing, this is not permissible. Similarly, it is not permissible to supplicate to the deceased as it is they who are most in need of supplicating to Allah for them. (Part No. 7; Page No. 442) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.