The Hadith “Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him.”
Imām al-Dāraqutunī narrated in his Sunan from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet said:
“Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him.”
( Man zāra qabrī wajabat lahu shafā‘atī )
al-Daraqutni, al-Dulabi, al-Bayhaqi, Khatib al-Baghdadi, al-`Uqayli, Ibn `Adi, Tabarani, and Ibn Khuzayma in his Sahih, all through various chains going back to Musa ibn Hilal al-`Abdi from `Ubayd Allah Ibn `Umar, both from Nafi`, From Ibn`Umar:
"Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him."
Although declaring all the chains of this hadith imperfect (layyina), Dhahabi nevertheless said that they strengthened each other and declared the chain jayyid (good) as narrated, inMizan al-i`tidal, vol. 4, p. 226: "Huwa salih al-hadith" which means: "He (Musa ibn Hilal) is good in his narrations." That is: the hadith is hasan. Sakhawi confirmed him in the Maqasid al hasana, while al-Subki declared it sahih according to Samhudi in Sa`adat al darayn 1:77. Ibn`Adi said in al-Kamil fi al-Du`afa" (6:2350): "He (Musa ibn Hilal) is most likely acceptable; other people have called him "unknown" and this is not true... He is one of the shuyukhs of Imam Ahmad and most of them are trustworthy." Even Albani declared him thabit al-riwaya (of established reliability) in his Irwa' (4:338). About `Ubayd Allah ibn `Umar al-`Umari:
- Dhahabi calls him saduq hasan al hadith [truthful, of fair narrations] in al-Mughni 1:348;
- Sakhawi says of him salih al-hadith [of sound narrations]
in al-Tuhfa al latifa 3:366;
- Ibn Ma`in said to Darimi about him: salih thiqa [sound and reliable]
in al-Kamil 4:1459.
This is one of the proof-texts adduced by the ulama of Islam to derive the obligation or recommendation of visiting the Prophet's grave and seeking him as wasila (intermediary/means). See the chapter on visiting the Prophet's grave in Nawawi's book al-Adhkar and in Qadi Iyad's book al Shifa.
Sakhawi said in al-Qawl al-badi` (p. 160):
The emphasis and encouragement on visiting his noble grave is mentioned in numerous hadiths, and it would suffice to show this if there was only the hadith whereby the truthful and God-confirmed Prophet promises that his intercession among other things becomes obligatory for whoever visits him, and the Imams are in complete agreement from the time directly after his passing until our own time that this is among the best acts of drawing near to Allah.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami said in his commentary on Nawawi's Idah fi manasik al hajj:
Ibn Khuzayma narrated it in his Sahih but mentioned its weakness. Ibn al Kharrat and Taqi al-Subki declared it sound (sahih). Daraqutni and Tabarani also narrate it with the wording: "Whoever visits me with no other need than visiting me, it is my duty to be his intercessor on the Day of judgment" One version has: "It is Allah's duty that I be his intercessor on the Day of Judgment." Ibn al-Subki declared it sound.
The comment of the Saudi author Bin Baz whereby "The ahadith that concern the desirability of visiting the grave of the Prophet are all weak, indeed forged"
(kulluha da`ifa bal mawdu`a) in the 1993 edition of Fath al Bari (3:387) is insignificant.
( This scholar ( Bin Baz) deviated from ahlus sunnah belief. )
Imām al-Dāraqutnī narrated in his Sunan from Ibn ‘Umar ∗# that the Prophet said:
“Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him.”
(Man zāra qabrī wajabat lahu shafā‘atī)
I. Sourcing (takhrīj)
Narrated from Ibn ‘Umar by al-Dāraqutnī.
in his Sunan (2:278 #194),
al-T. ayālisī (2:12),
al-Dūlābī in al-Kunā wal-Asmā’ (2:64),
al-Khat. īb in Talkhīs.al-Mutashābih fīl-Rasm (1:581),
Ibn al-Dubaythī in al-Dhayl ‘alā al-Tārīkh (2:170),
Ibn Abī al-Dunyā in Kitāb al-Qubūr, al-Bayhaqī in Shu‘ab al-Īmān (3:490),
al-H. akīm al-Tirmidhī in Nawādir al-Us. ūl (p. 148),
al-Haythamī (4:2),
al-Subkī in Shifā’ al-Siqām (p. 12-14),
Abū al-Shaykh, Ibn ‘Adī in al-Kāmil (6:235, 6:351),
al-‘Uqaylī in al-D.u‘afā’4:170),
al-Bazzār in his Musnad with a very weak chain containing ‘Abd Allāh ibn Ibrāhīm al-Ghifārī ([cf. Ibn H. ajar’s Mukhtas. ar Musnad al-Bazzār (1:481 #822)]
with the wording (1) “Whoever visits my grave, my intercession shall take place for him” (h. allat lahu shafā‘atī
and Ibn H.ajar who indicated its grade of hasan in Talkhīs.al-H.abīr (2:266)
as it is strengthened by other h. adīths which both he and al-Haythamī mention ),
such as:
(2) “Whoever visits me without any avowed purpose other than my visit, it is incumbent upon meto be his intercessor on the Day of Resurrection.
” Narrated by al- Tabarānī in al-Awsat and al-Kabīr with a chain containing Maslama ibn Sālim and by Ibn al-Sakan in his Sunan al-Sihah as stated by al-Shirbīnī in Mughnī al-Muhtāj (1:512).
(3)“Whoever makes pilgrimage then visits me after my death it is as if he visited me in my life.”
Narrated by al-T. abarānī in al-Kabīr (12:406), al-Dāraqut.nī (2:278), and al-Bayhaqī, Sunan, (5:246#10054-10055)all through H.afs. ibn Abī Dāwūd al-Qārī whom only Ahmad declared passable (sālih).
Mamdūh said (p. 337-340) it is more da‘īf than other weak h. adīths in this chapter
(4) “Whoever visits my grave after my death is as those who visited me in my life.”
Narrated by al-Tabarānī in al-Kabīr (12:406) and al-Awsat. (1:94) with a chain containing ‘Ā’isha bint Yūnus, whose status is uncertain, and from H. āt.
ib by al-Dāraqutnī (2:278) with another chain which al-Dhahabī said
was one of the best chains in that chapter. Mamdūh said (p. 330-334) it is da‘īf but not mawdu.
(5) “Whoever makes pilgrimage and does not visit me, has been rude to me.”
Narrated by al-Dāraqutnī in his Sunan. Abū Ghudda said: “It is not forged as Ibn al-Jawzī and Ibn Taymiyya said,rather, a number of scholars considered its chain fair, and a number considered it weak.” Mamdūh.(p.344-346) considers it forged.
Al-‘Uqaylī in al-Du‘afā’ (4:170) declared the chains of Ibn ‘Umar’s narration “soft” (layyina) as did al-Dhahabī, the latter adding as did al-Bayhaqī and al-Fattanī in
Tadhkirat al-Mawduat – that they strengthened each other as none contains any liar nor forger,as stated by al-Suyūti in al-Durar al-Muntathira, al-Munāwī, and al-‘Ajlūnī in Kashf al-Khafā (2:328-329).
The narration (6) “Whoever visits me in al-Madīna anticipating reward (muh. tasiban), I shall be for him a witness and an intercessor on the Day of Resurrection.
Narrated from Anas by al-Bayhaqī,Shu‘ab(3:489-490), al-Jurjānī in Tārīkh Jurjān (p. 220, 433), Ibn Abī al-Dunyā, Ibn ‘Asākir, al-Jundī,and others,through Abū al-Muthannā Sulaymān ibn Yazīd al-Madanī al-Ka‘bī who was declared weak by
al-Dāraqutni Abū Hātim, and Ibn Hibbān while al-Tirmidhī considered his narrations fair cf. Ibn HajarLisān (7:481) and Tahdhīb (12:242). It was declared fair by al-Suyūtiin al-Jāmi‘ al-Saghīr (#8716) and fair or rather sound through its corroborators” by al-Ghumārī in al-Mudāwī (6:290) in confirmation of
al-Subkī in Shifā’ al-Siqām.
II. Grade (martaba)
The h.adīth “Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him”
is a fair (h.asan) narration as concluded by Imām Abū al-H. asanāt al-Lacknawī1 and his editor ‘Abd al-Fattāh.Abū Ghuddain the latter’s notes on the Muwat.t.a’ in Muh.ammad ibn al-H. asan’s narration (chapter 49: On the Prophet’s grave) as well as Shaykh Mah.mūd Mamdūh
2 although some early scholars declared itsound (s.ah.īh.) such as Ibn al-Sakan in al-Sunan al-Sihāh.and ‘Abd al-H.aqq al-Ishbīlī in al-Ah.kām, followed by Shaykh al-Islām al-Taqī al-Subkī in Shifā’ al-Siqām in view of the totality of the chains.
3 Other h.adīth scholars who considered it authentic are Ibn H.ajar’s student the h.adīth Master al-Sakhāwī,
4 the h.adīth Master of Madīna al-Samhūdī5 and Imām Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī in al-Jawhar al-Munaz zam fī Ziyārat al-Qabr al-Mukarram. Al-Ghassāni (d. 682) did not include it in his recension of al-Dāraqut.nī’s weak narrations entitled Takhrīj al-Ahādīth al-D. i‘āf min Sunan al-Dāraqut.nī.6 Some late scholars, beginning with Ibn Taymiyya, are undecided whether to grade this h.adīth weak or forged.
[u]
Imām al-Lacknawī said about this h.adīth:
There are some who declared it weak [e.g. al-Bayhaqī, Ibn Khuzayma, and al-Suyūt.
ī], and others who asserted that all the h.adīths on visitation of the Prophet are forged, such as Ibn Taymiyya and his followers, but both positions are false for those who were given right understanding, for verification of the case dictates that the h.adīth ishasan, as Taqī al-Dīn al-Subkī has expounded in his book Shifā’al-Siqām.”
.................................................. .................................................. ..............................
Among those who fall into the category of “Ibn Taymiyya and his followers”:
Muhammad Ibn ‘Abd al-Hādī who wrote al-Sārim al-Munkī in violent refutation of al-Subkī’s book on visitation but contradicted his own position in another book of his: he makes much ado about the reliability of ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar al-‘Umarī in al-Sārim al-Munkī, but relies upon him in another book, al-Tanqīh.!
8 Shaykh Mah.mūd Mamdūh refuted his weakening of this h.adīth in great detail
9 and stated that al-S. ārim al-Munkī is at the root of all subsequent generalizations in weakening the h.adīths that concern the desirability of visitation.
10The late ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Baz who reiterated Ibn Taymiyya’s imprudent verdict: “The h.adīths that concern the visitation of the grave of the Prophet are all weak, indeed forged”;
11The late Nāsir al-Albānī,12 who claimed that the visit to the Prophet ranks among the innovations 13 although himself the Innovator of our time.
A Nās ir al-Jadya‘, who in 1993 obtained his Ph.D. with First Honors from the University of Muhammad ibn Sa‘ūd after writing a 600-page book entitled al-Tabarruk in which he perpetuates the same aberrant claim.14
14
Imām al-Sakhāwī said:
The emphasis and encouragement on visiting his noble grave is mentioned in numerous h.adīths, and it would suffice to show this if there was only the h.adīth whereby the truthful and God-confirmed Prophet promises that his intercession among other things becomes guaranteed for whoever visits him, and the Imāms are in complete agreement from the time directly after his passing until our own
time that this [i.e. visiting him] is among the best acts of drawing near to Allāh.
15
1 In Zafar al-Amānī (p. 422) and al-Ajwibat al-Fād.
ila (p. 155).
2 In his Raf‘ al-Mināra (p. 280 and p. 318).
3 As related by Ibn H. ajar in Talkhīs al-H. abīr (2:267). Cf. al-Shawkānī in Nayl al-Awtar (5:95) and al-Sindī in hisnotes on Ibn Mājah.
4 In al-Qawl al-Badī‘ (p. 160).
5 In Sa‘ādat al-Darayn (1:77).
6 Published at Ryad: Dār ‘Alam al-Kutub, 1991.
7 Al-Lacknawī, Zafar al-Amānī (p. 422).
8 Ibn ‘Abd al-Hādī, Tanqīh. (1:122) cf. Mamdūh Raf‘ al-Mināra (p. 12).
9 In Raf‘ al-Mināra (p 280-318)
10 In Raf‘ al-Mināra (p. 9).
11 In his annotations on Ibn H. ajar’s Fath. al-Bārī (1989 ed. 3:387), echoing the exact words used by Ibn Taymiyya in his Minhāj (1986 ed. 2:441) and Fatāwā (27:119).
12 In his Irwa’ al-Ghalīl (4:337-338) in which he imitated Ibn ‘Abd al-Hādī. 13In Talkhīs Ah kām al-Janā'iz (p. 110) and elsewhere in his writings. 14Nasir al-Jadya’, al-T. abarruk (p. 322). Note that all these books are presently available in print, but not Shifā’ al Siqām!
15 Al-Sakhāwī, al-Qawl al-Badī‘ (p. 160). He contradicts himself in al-Maqās.
id al-H. asana (p. 413) where he adopts al-Dhahabī’s opinion that “the chains of the h. adīth of visitation are all ‘soft’ (layyina) but strengthen each
other because none of them contains any liar.”
There is no contest among the jurists of the Four Schools as to the probative force of the narration of Ibn ‘Umar, as it is adduced time and again by the jurists to support the strong desirability of visiting the Prophet in Madīna, especially among H anbalī sources early and late: al-Mardāwī, Ibn Hubayra, and others stated that the entirety of the early and late authorities in the Hanbalī Madhhab stipulate the desirability (istih.bāb) of visiting the grave of the Prophet in Madīna, most especially after Hajj,and/or travelling to do so.16 Ibn Muflih., al-Mardāwī, and Mar‘ī ibn Yūsuf in Ghāyat al-Muntahā stated the Sunnī character of visiting the graves of the Muslims and the permissibility (ibāh.a) of travelling to do
so. Mar‘ī reiterates this ruling in his unpublished monograph on the ethics of graves and visitation, Shifā’ al-Sudūr fī Ziyārat al-Mashāhid wal-Qubūr.
17.There are many additional sound texts illustrating the visit to the Prophet , among them that of the Companion Bilāl ibn Rabāh al-Habashī all the way from Damascus with the expressed intention of visiting the Prophet to greet him and, upon arrival, his rubbing his face against the Prophetic grave in tears before proceeding to raise the adhān upon the request of the two grandsons of the Prophet upon them peace
18 See also the Companions’ practice of seeking the Prophet as a means for their needs by visiting his grave, such as Bilāl ibn al-H. ārith al-Muzanī, Abū Ayyūb al-Ans.āri, ‘Ā’isha, and Fātima
19 And Allāh knows best.16 Ibn Qudāma, al-Mughnī (3:117, 3:297, 5:465),
al-Muqni‘ (1:466), al-Kāfī (1:619);
Ibn Muflih. , al-Mubdi‘ fī Sharh al-Muqni‘ (3:259);
al-Buhūtī, Kashshāf al-Qinā‘ (2:514-515; 5:36),
al-Rawd. al-Murba‘ (1:522);
Ibn Dawyān Manār al-Sabīl (1:256);
Shams al-Dīn ibn Muflih. , Furū‘ (3:523);
al-H. ajjāwī, Iqnā‘ (1:395);
‘Abd al-Rah.mān al-Ba‘lī, Kashf al-Mukhaddarāt (p. 193);
Mar‘ī, Ghāyat al-Muntahā (1:418), Dalīl al-T. alīb (p. 88);
Ah.mad al-Ba‘lī,al-Rawd. al-Nadī (p. 190);
Bahā’ al-Dīn al-Maqdisī (p. 209);
Ibn al-Najjār, Muntahā al-Irādāt (1:286);
Ibn al-Jawzī, al-Madhhab al-Ah. mad (p. 68);
Shams al-Dīn Ibn Qudāma, al-Sharh. al-Kabīr (3:494);
al-Kawladhānī,Hidāya (p. 105);
Ibn Hubayra, Ifs. āh.(1:297),
al-Mardāwī, Ins. āf (4:53).
17 Z.āhiriyya ms. cf. Ibn Muflih. , Mubdi‘ (2:107),
Mar‘ī, Ghāya (1:258),
al-Mardāwī, Ins. āf (2:317).
18Narrated by Ibn ‘Asākir (7:137) with a good chain (sanad jayyid) as stated by al-Shawkānī in Nayl al-Awtar(5:180),
at the conclusion of Kitāb al-Manāsik.
19All as cited in the sections on Tawassul and Visitation in the Encyclopedia of Islamic Doctrine.
http://sunniforum.net/showthread.php?t=206
Analysis on visiting the Grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him)
Shaykh ul Islam, Imam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani (rah) destroys Ibn Taymiyyah by saying in his world renowned Sharh of Sahih Bukhari called Fath ul Bari:"THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UGLY THINGS REPORTED FROM IBN TAYMIYYAH"
ألزموا ابن تيمية بتحريم شد الرحل إلى زيارة قبر سيدنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلّم وأنكرنا صورة ذلك، وفي شرح ذلك من الطرفين طول، وهي من أبشع المسائل المنقولة عن ابن تيمية
[Fath ul Bari, Sharh Sahih ul Bukhari (3/386)]
In the end Imam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani (rah) destroys the viewpoint of Ibn Taymiyyah and his ilk by proving travel for graves of Awliya let alone Anbiya, Ibn Hajr says:
فيبطل بذلك قول من منع شد الرحال إلى زيارة القبر الشريف وغيره من قبور الصالحين والله أعلم
So the Qawl (saying) of him is proven Batil (فيبطل) who says its forbidden to make journey towards ‘’Qabr Shareef’’(of Rasul Ullah salallaho alaihi wasalam) and other graves of ‘’Saliheen’’ (قبور الصالحين), and Allah knows the best. [Fath ul Bari, ibid]
Hadith # 1
ثنا القاضي المحاملي نا عبيد الله ابن محمد الوراق نا موسى ابن هلال العبدي عن عبيد الله ابن عمر عن نافع ، عن ابن عمر قال
: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من زار قبري وجبت له شفاعتي
Translation: Narrated by Ibn Umar (ra) that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Whosoever visits my grave then my intercession becomes Wajib for him[Sunnan al-Daraqutni Volume No. 2, Page No. 244, Imam al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman (3/490) and others]
In this hadith Jarah [criticism] is done on 2 narrators
1) Musa bin Hilal
2) Ubayd Ullah ibn Umar
Although there is Tadil [authentication] on both these narrators too (remember there has been Jarh even upon Imam Bukhari and Imam Abu Hanifa, therefore had Jarh superseded Tadil then all Imams would become Liars), First of all we can prove the hadith to be Sahih but still If people with Bughz (hatred) for Prophet (Peace be upon him) do not believe then we can present ahadith in which these two narrators are not present (remember these narrators are not Fabricators, the maximum jarah upon them is of weakness, hence Ibn Taymiyyah made a blunder to call all these ahadith as Mawdo)
1) Regarding Musa bin Hilaal, Imam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani (rah) while doing Tadil on him said:
وقال ابن عدي: أرجو أنه لا بأس به. قلت: وهو (صالح) الحديث، روى عنه أحمد، والفَضْلُ بن سَهْلٍ
Translation:Ibn Adi (rah) said: There is no harm in him and he said he is “SALIH UL HADITH” i.e. his ahadith are passable. From him have narrated Imam Ahmed and Fudhayl bin Sahl [Lisan ul Mizan, Volume No. 8, Page No. 157]
2) Regarding Ubayd Ullah Ibn Umar (ra) Sheikh ul Islam Imam Taqi ud din Subki (rah) said:
Imam Abu Hatim said that he saw Imam Ahmed praising him a lot. And Yahya bin Ma’een said: There is no harm in him and his ahadith are written. Ibn Adi said: There is no harm in him and he “Truthful” [Shifa us Siqaam fi Ziyaratal Khayr al Anaam, Page No.9]
وقد صحح هذا الحديث ابن السكن وعبد الحق وتقي الدين السبكي
Translation: This hadith is declared “Sahih” by Ibn al-Sakin (rah), Abdul Haq (rah) and Taqi ud din as-Subki (rah) [Nayl al Awtar 5:164]
C) Imam Sakhawi (rah) also declared it Sahih in al-Qawl al-Badi‘ (p. 160)
He also said:
قال الذهبي طرقه كلها لينة لكن يتقوى بعضها ببعض لأن ما في روايتها متهم بالكذب
Translation: Imam al-Dhahabi said: The chains of the hadith of visitation are all ‘soft’ (layyina) but strengthen each other because none of them contains any liar [Imam Sakhawi in al-Maqasid al Hasana, Volume No.1, Page No. 472]
Hadith # 2
حدثنا عبد الله ابن محمد ابن عبد العزيز نا أبو الربيع الزهراني نا حفص ابن أبي داود ، عن ليث ابن أبي سليم عن مجاهد عن ابن عمر قال
: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من حج فزار قبري بعد وفاتي فكأنما زارني في حياتي
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar:
Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: Whoever visits my grave after my death it is same as him visiting me in my life [Imam Tabrani in his Al-Kabir Volume No. 12, Page No. 291. Imam Bayhaqi in Sha’yb ul Iman Volume No. 3: Hadith #489]
Note: This hadith is also narrated by Ibn Umar (ra) but the "chain of narrators in this case are totally different" hence the hadith becomes Hassan (Good and sound)
A) Imam Ibn Qudama (rah) said:
ويستحب زيارة قبر النبي لما روى الدارقطني بإسناده عن ابن عمر قال: قال رسول الله : «من حج فزار قبري بعد وفاتي فكأنما زارني في حياتي» وفي رواية، «من زار قبري وجبت له شفاعتي
It is recommended to do Ziyarah of Prophet’s grave as it is narrated by Daraqutni with his Isnaad from Ibn Umar (ra) that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:Whosoever performs the Hajj after my death then he should visit my grave because It is as If he has visited me during my life. And he also narrated (another hadith) that Whosoever visits my grave then my intercession becomes Wajib for him [Imam Ibn Qudama in al-Mughni, Volume No. 5, Page No. 381]
B) Imam al Bahuti al-Hanbli (rah) has also said this in his Al-Kashaf al-Qanna [Volume No. 2, Page No. 290]
C) Qadhi al-Iyaad (rah) the magnificent lover of Prophet (Peace be upon him) said in his world renowned and top most Seerah book ever i.e. Ash-Shifa
في حكم زيارة قبره صلى الله عليه وسلم، وفضيلة من زاره وسلم عليه
و زيارة قبره صلى الله عليه وسلم سنة من سنن المسلمين مجمع عليها، وفضيلة مرغب فيها: روى عن ابن عمر
Translation: Chapter: The order of visiting the grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him) and the Virtue of the one visiting it and sending Salam.
It should be known that visiting the grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him) is “Masnoon” for all Muslims and they have “IJMA” over it, It has such a virtue that It has been prescribed to us as it comes in the hadith of Ibn Umar (ra) [i.e. whosoever visits my grave then my intercession becomes Wajib for him] [Qadhi Iyaad in Ash-Shifa, Volume No.2, Page No. 53]
Hadith # 3
حدثنا عبدان بن احمد، قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن محمد العبادى البصري، قال: حدثنا مسلمة بن سالم الجهنى قال حدثنى عبيد الله بن عمر عن نافع عن سالم عن بن عمر قال
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من جاءني زائرا لا تعمله حاجة إلا زيارتى كان حقا على أن اكون له شفيعا يوم القيامة
Translation: Ibn Umar (ra) narrates that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Anyone who comes to visit me and he came solely for this purpose then It becomes Wajib upon me to do intercession for him on the Day of Judgment [Imam Tabrani in Mu’ajm al Kabir, Volume No. 12, Page No. 291 and as mentioned in Al-Talkhis al Habir by al-Asqalani 2:241]
Note: The chain of this hadith is totally different from the first two which were mentioned therefore due to overwhelming different Turaq (paths of transmission) the hadith definitely becomes Hassan if not Sahih
Hadith # 4
من حج البيت، ولم يزرني فقد جفاني رواه ابن عدي بسند حسن
Translation: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:Whosoever does Hajj of Bayt Ullah but does not visit me then He has been rude to me – Ibn Adi has narrated it with “Hassan” Chain [Hashiya Tahtawi, Volume No. 1, Page No. 403]
This hadith also has a different chain. It can be shown from 5 more hadiths with different chains plus the 2 outstanding Imams i.e. Sheikh ul Islam Taqi ud din as-Subki (rah) in his magnificent Shifa us Siqaam fi Ziyaratil Khayr al Anaam, and Imam al-Faqih Ibn Hajr al Haythami (rah) in Al-Jawhar al Munazzam who have written their whole works on these hadiths and established all rulings in regards to visiting the blessed grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him) including detailed verdict of Tawassul and Istighatha through him to be fair. Hence these ahadith combined together reach the status of Hassan at least if not Sahih and this is accepted Usool in hadith methodology that ahadith coming from different ways become Hassan even if their chains are weak.
View of Modern Day Scholars Vs Classical Scholars
Modern Day Scholar: The famous Wahabite modern day scholar i.e Nasiruddin Albani was known for his Bughz for the blessed grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him), but he went few steps ahead and even declared sahih ahadith about praying 40 prayers in Masjid an-Nabwi as Da'eef and the practise as Bidah (Audhobillah Min Dhalik), he said in his book Hujjat al-Nabi [Page: 185]: It is an innovation (bid’ah) to visit Madeenah and tell the visitors to Madeenah to stay there for a week so that they will be able to offer forty prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque so that they will be free from hypocrisy and saved from the Fire.”
Actually the hadith of 40 prayers in Masjid an-Nabwi is authentic and it is Dajl/lie of Albani to call it weak. None of the classical Muhaditheen called this report as weak rather they called it "SAHIH/HASAN"
Another Modern Day Wahabite Scholar i.e. Abd-al Aziz bin Baaz said: It is not obligatory for the pilgrims, men or women, to visit the grave of the Messenger(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or al-Baqee’, rather it is haraam to travel with the purpose of visiting graves in general..[Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas: Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaaq ‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan. Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Ifta (11/362)
Click here for Scanned Page (30)
Important Note: This passage has been deliberately forged by Salafis in the edition of Salafi scholar Abdul Qadir al Ar'anoot, they changed the wording "QABR" into "MASJID" and also removed the passage which proved Tawassul through the Dhaat of Prophet (Peace be upon him) ... Audhobillah Min Dhalik. This exposition of Salafis is more than enough to establish that they keep Bughz for the Prophet (Peace be upon him)
http://www.ahlus-sunna.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=151
“Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him.”
( Man zāra qabrī wajabat lahu shafā‘atī )
al-Daraqutni, al-Dulabi, al-Bayhaqi, Khatib al-Baghdadi, al-`Uqayli, Ibn `Adi, Tabarani, and Ibn Khuzayma in his Sahih, all through various chains going back to Musa ibn Hilal al-`Abdi from `Ubayd Allah Ibn `Umar, both from Nafi`, From Ibn`Umar:
"Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him."
Although declaring all the chains of this hadith imperfect (layyina), Dhahabi nevertheless said that they strengthened each other and declared the chain jayyid (good) as narrated, inMizan al-i`tidal, vol. 4, p. 226: "Huwa salih al-hadith" which means: "He (Musa ibn Hilal) is good in his narrations." That is: the hadith is hasan. Sakhawi confirmed him in the Maqasid al hasana, while al-Subki declared it sahih according to Samhudi in Sa`adat al darayn 1:77. Ibn`Adi said in al-Kamil fi al-Du`afa" (6:2350): "He (Musa ibn Hilal) is most likely acceptable; other people have called him "unknown" and this is not true... He is one of the shuyukhs of Imam Ahmad and most of them are trustworthy." Even Albani declared him thabit al-riwaya (of established reliability) in his Irwa' (4:338). About `Ubayd Allah ibn `Umar al-`Umari:
- Dhahabi calls him saduq hasan al hadith [truthful, of fair narrations] in al-Mughni 1:348;
- Sakhawi says of him salih al-hadith [of sound narrations]
in al-Tuhfa al latifa 3:366;
- Ibn Ma`in said to Darimi about him: salih thiqa [sound and reliable]
in al-Kamil 4:1459.
This is one of the proof-texts adduced by the ulama of Islam to derive the obligation or recommendation of visiting the Prophet's grave and seeking him as wasila (intermediary/means). See the chapter on visiting the Prophet's grave in Nawawi's book al-Adhkar and in Qadi Iyad's book al Shifa.
Sakhawi said in al-Qawl al-badi` (p. 160):
The emphasis and encouragement on visiting his noble grave is mentioned in numerous hadiths, and it would suffice to show this if there was only the hadith whereby the truthful and God-confirmed Prophet promises that his intercession among other things becomes obligatory for whoever visits him, and the Imams are in complete agreement from the time directly after his passing until our own time that this is among the best acts of drawing near to Allah.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami said in his commentary on Nawawi's Idah fi manasik al hajj:
Ibn Khuzayma narrated it in his Sahih but mentioned its weakness. Ibn al Kharrat and Taqi al-Subki declared it sound (sahih). Daraqutni and Tabarani also narrate it with the wording: "Whoever visits me with no other need than visiting me, it is my duty to be his intercessor on the Day of judgment" One version has: "It is Allah's duty that I be his intercessor on the Day of Judgment." Ibn al-Subki declared it sound.
The comment of the Saudi author Bin Baz whereby "The ahadith that concern the desirability of visiting the grave of the Prophet are all weak, indeed forged"
(kulluha da`ifa bal mawdu`a) in the 1993 edition of Fath al Bari (3:387) is insignificant.( This scholar ( Bin Baz) deviated from ahlus sunnah belief. )
Imām al-Dāraqutnī narrated in his Sunan from Ibn ‘Umar ∗# that the Prophet said:
“Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him.”
(Man zāra qabrī wajabat lahu shafā‘atī)
I. Sourcing (takhrīj)
Narrated from Ibn ‘Umar by al-Dāraqutnī.
in his Sunan (2:278 #194),
al-T. ayālisī (2:12),
al-Dūlābī in al-Kunā wal-Asmā’ (2:64),
al-Khat. īb in Talkhīs.al-Mutashābih fīl-Rasm (1:581),
Ibn al-Dubaythī in al-Dhayl ‘alā al-Tārīkh (2:170),
Ibn Abī al-Dunyā in Kitāb al-Qubūr, al-Bayhaqī in Shu‘ab al-Īmān (3:490),
al-H. akīm al-Tirmidhī in Nawādir al-Us. ūl (p. 148),
al-Haythamī (4:2),
al-Subkī in Shifā’ al-Siqām (p. 12-14),
Abū al-Shaykh, Ibn ‘Adī in al-Kāmil (6:235, 6:351),
al-‘Uqaylī in al-D.u‘afā’4:170),
al-Bazzār in his Musnad with a very weak chain containing ‘Abd Allāh ibn Ibrāhīm al-Ghifārī ([cf. Ibn H. ajar’s Mukhtas. ar Musnad al-Bazzār (1:481 #822)]
with the wording (1) “Whoever visits my grave, my intercession shall take place for him” (h. allat lahu shafā‘atī
and Ibn H.ajar who indicated its grade of hasan in Talkhīs.al-H.abīr (2:266)
as it is strengthened by other h. adīths which both he and al-Haythamī mention ),
such as:
(2) “Whoever visits me without any avowed purpose other than my visit, it is incumbent upon meto be his intercessor on the Day of Resurrection.
” Narrated by al- Tabarānī in al-Awsat and al-Kabīr with a chain containing Maslama ibn Sālim and by Ibn al-Sakan in his Sunan al-Sihah as stated by al-Shirbīnī in Mughnī al-Muhtāj (1:512).
(3)“Whoever makes pilgrimage then visits me after my death it is as if he visited me in my life.”
Narrated by al-T. abarānī in al-Kabīr (12:406), al-Dāraqut.nī (2:278), and al-Bayhaqī, Sunan, (5:246#10054-10055)all through H.afs. ibn Abī Dāwūd al-Qārī whom only Ahmad declared passable (sālih).
Mamdūh said (p. 337-340) it is more da‘īf than other weak h. adīths in this chapter
(4) “Whoever visits my grave after my death is as those who visited me in my life.”
Narrated by al-Tabarānī in al-Kabīr (12:406) and al-Awsat. (1:94) with a chain containing ‘Ā’isha bint Yūnus, whose status is uncertain, and from H. āt.
ib by al-Dāraqutnī (2:278) with another chain which al-Dhahabī said
was one of the best chains in that chapter. Mamdūh said (p. 330-334) it is da‘īf but not mawdu.
(5) “Whoever makes pilgrimage and does not visit me, has been rude to me.”
Narrated by al-Dāraqutnī in his Sunan. Abū Ghudda said: “It is not forged as Ibn al-Jawzī and Ibn Taymiyya said,rather, a number of scholars considered its chain fair, and a number considered it weak.” Mamdūh.(p.344-346) considers it forged.
Al-‘Uqaylī in al-Du‘afā’ (4:170) declared the chains of Ibn ‘Umar’s narration “soft” (layyina) as did al-Dhahabī, the latter adding as did al-Bayhaqī and al-Fattanī in
Tadhkirat al-Mawduat – that they strengthened each other as none contains any liar nor forger,as stated by al-Suyūti in al-Durar al-Muntathira, al-Munāwī, and al-‘Ajlūnī in Kashf al-Khafā (2:328-329).
The narration (6) “Whoever visits me in al-Madīna anticipating reward (muh. tasiban), I shall be for him a witness and an intercessor on the Day of Resurrection.
Narrated from Anas by al-Bayhaqī,Shu‘ab(3:489-490), al-Jurjānī in Tārīkh Jurjān (p. 220, 433), Ibn Abī al-Dunyā, Ibn ‘Asākir, al-Jundī,and others,through Abū al-Muthannā Sulaymān ibn Yazīd al-Madanī al-Ka‘bī who was declared weak by
al-Dāraqutni Abū Hātim, and Ibn Hibbān while al-Tirmidhī considered his narrations fair cf. Ibn HajarLisān (7:481) and Tahdhīb (12:242). It was declared fair by al-Suyūtiin al-Jāmi‘ al-Saghīr (#8716) and fair or rather sound through its corroborators” by al-Ghumārī in al-Mudāwī (6:290) in confirmation of
al-Subkī in Shifā’ al-Siqām.
II. Grade (martaba)
The h.adīth “Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him”
is a fair (h.asan) narration as concluded by Imām Abū al-H. asanāt al-Lacknawī1 and his editor ‘Abd al-Fattāh.Abū Ghuddain the latter’s notes on the Muwat.t.a’ in Muh.ammad ibn al-H. asan’s narration (chapter 49: On the Prophet’s grave) as well as Shaykh Mah.mūd Mamdūh
2 although some early scholars declared itsound (s.ah.īh.) such as Ibn al-Sakan in al-Sunan al-Sihāh.and ‘Abd al-H.aqq al-Ishbīlī in al-Ah.kām, followed by Shaykh al-Islām al-Taqī al-Subkī in Shifā’ al-Siqām in view of the totality of the chains.
3 Other h.adīth scholars who considered it authentic are Ibn H.ajar’s student the h.adīth Master al-Sakhāwī,
4 the h.adīth Master of Madīna al-Samhūdī5 and Imām Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī in al-Jawhar al-Munaz zam fī Ziyārat al-Qabr al-Mukarram. Al-Ghassāni (d. 682) did not include it in his recension of al-Dāraqut.nī’s weak narrations entitled Takhrīj al-Ahādīth al-D. i‘āf min Sunan al-Dāraqut.nī.6 Some late scholars, beginning with Ibn Taymiyya, are undecided whether to grade this h.adīth weak or forged.
[u]
Imām al-Lacknawī said about this h.adīth:
There are some who declared it weak [e.g. al-Bayhaqī, Ibn Khuzayma, and al-Suyūt.
ī], and others who asserted that all the h.adīths on visitation of the Prophet are forged, such as Ibn Taymiyya and his followers, but both positions are false for those who were given right understanding, for verification of the case dictates that the h.adīth ishasan, as Taqī al-Dīn al-Subkī has expounded in his book Shifā’al-Siqām.”
.................................................. .................................................. ..............................
Among those who fall into the category of “Ibn Taymiyya and his followers”:
Muhammad Ibn ‘Abd al-Hādī who wrote al-Sārim al-Munkī in violent refutation of al-Subkī’s book on visitation but contradicted his own position in another book of his: he makes much ado about the reliability of ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar al-‘Umarī in al-Sārim al-Munkī, but relies upon him in another book, al-Tanqīh.!
8 Shaykh Mah.mūd Mamdūh refuted his weakening of this h.adīth in great detail
9 and stated that al-S. ārim al-Munkī is at the root of all subsequent generalizations in weakening the h.adīths that concern the desirability of visitation.
10The late ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Baz who reiterated Ibn Taymiyya’s imprudent verdict: “The h.adīths that concern the visitation of the grave of the Prophet are all weak, indeed forged”;
11The late Nāsir al-Albānī,12 who claimed that the visit to the Prophet ranks among the innovations 13 although himself the Innovator of our time.
A Nās ir al-Jadya‘, who in 1993 obtained his Ph.D. with First Honors from the University of Muhammad ibn Sa‘ūd after writing a 600-page book entitled al-Tabarruk in which he perpetuates the same aberrant claim.14
14
Imām al-Sakhāwī said:
The emphasis and encouragement on visiting his noble grave is mentioned in numerous h.adīths, and it would suffice to show this if there was only the h.adīth whereby the truthful and God-confirmed Prophet promises that his intercession among other things becomes guaranteed for whoever visits him, and the Imāms are in complete agreement from the time directly after his passing until our own
time that this [i.e. visiting him] is among the best acts of drawing near to Allāh.
15
1 In Zafar al-Amānī (p. 422) and al-Ajwibat al-Fād.
ila (p. 155).
2 In his Raf‘ al-Mināra (p. 280 and p. 318).
3 As related by Ibn H. ajar in Talkhīs al-H. abīr (2:267). Cf. al-Shawkānī in Nayl al-Awtar (5:95) and al-Sindī in hisnotes on Ibn Mājah.
4 In al-Qawl al-Badī‘ (p. 160).
5 In Sa‘ādat al-Darayn (1:77).
6 Published at Ryad: Dār ‘Alam al-Kutub, 1991.
7 Al-Lacknawī, Zafar al-Amānī (p. 422).
8 Ibn ‘Abd al-Hādī, Tanqīh. (1:122) cf. Mamdūh Raf‘ al-Mināra (p. 12).
9 In Raf‘ al-Mināra (p 280-318)
10 In Raf‘ al-Mināra (p. 9).
11 In his annotations on Ibn H. ajar’s Fath. al-Bārī (1989 ed. 3:387), echoing the exact words used by Ibn Taymiyya in his Minhāj (1986 ed. 2:441) and Fatāwā (27:119).
12 In his Irwa’ al-Ghalīl (4:337-338) in which he imitated Ibn ‘Abd al-Hādī. 13In Talkhīs Ah kām al-Janā'iz (p. 110) and elsewhere in his writings. 14Nasir al-Jadya’, al-T. abarruk (p. 322). Note that all these books are presently available in print, but not Shifā’ al Siqām!
15 Al-Sakhāwī, al-Qawl al-Badī‘ (p. 160). He contradicts himself in al-Maqās.
id al-H. asana (p. 413) where he adopts al-Dhahabī’s opinion that “the chains of the h. adīth of visitation are all ‘soft’ (layyina) but strengthen each
other because none of them contains any liar.”
There is no contest among the jurists of the Four Schools as to the probative force of the narration of Ibn ‘Umar, as it is adduced time and again by the jurists to support the strong desirability of visiting the Prophet in Madīna, especially among H anbalī sources early and late: al-Mardāwī, Ibn Hubayra, and others stated that the entirety of the early and late authorities in the Hanbalī Madhhab stipulate the desirability (istih.bāb) of visiting the grave of the Prophet in Madīna, most especially after Hajj,and/or travelling to do so.16 Ibn Muflih., al-Mardāwī, and Mar‘ī ibn Yūsuf in Ghāyat al-Muntahā stated the Sunnī character of visiting the graves of the Muslims and the permissibility (ibāh.a) of travelling to do
so. Mar‘ī reiterates this ruling in his unpublished monograph on the ethics of graves and visitation, Shifā’ al-Sudūr fī Ziyārat al-Mashāhid wal-Qubūr.
17.There are many additional sound texts illustrating the visit to the Prophet , among them that of the Companion Bilāl ibn Rabāh al-Habashī all the way from Damascus with the expressed intention of visiting the Prophet to greet him and, upon arrival, his rubbing his face against the Prophetic grave in tears before proceeding to raise the adhān upon the request of the two grandsons of the Prophet upon them peace
18 See also the Companions’ practice of seeking the Prophet as a means for their needs by visiting his grave, such as Bilāl ibn al-H. ārith al-Muzanī, Abū Ayyūb al-Ans.āri, ‘Ā’isha, and Fātima
19 And Allāh knows best.16 Ibn Qudāma, al-Mughnī (3:117, 3:297, 5:465),
al-Muqni‘ (1:466), al-Kāfī (1:619);
Ibn Muflih. , al-Mubdi‘ fī Sharh al-Muqni‘ (3:259);
al-Buhūtī, Kashshāf al-Qinā‘ (2:514-515; 5:36),
al-Rawd. al-Murba‘ (1:522);
Ibn Dawyān Manār al-Sabīl (1:256);
Shams al-Dīn ibn Muflih. , Furū‘ (3:523);
al-H. ajjāwī, Iqnā‘ (1:395);
‘Abd al-Rah.mān al-Ba‘lī, Kashf al-Mukhaddarāt (p. 193);
Mar‘ī, Ghāyat al-Muntahā (1:418), Dalīl al-T. alīb (p. 88);
Ah.mad al-Ba‘lī,al-Rawd. al-Nadī (p. 190);
Bahā’ al-Dīn al-Maqdisī (p. 209);
Ibn al-Najjār, Muntahā al-Irādāt (1:286);
Ibn al-Jawzī, al-Madhhab al-Ah. mad (p. 68);
Shams al-Dīn Ibn Qudāma, al-Sharh. al-Kabīr (3:494);
al-Kawladhānī,Hidāya (p. 105);
Ibn Hubayra, Ifs. āh.(1:297),
al-Mardāwī, Ins. āf (4:53).
17 Z.āhiriyya ms. cf. Ibn Muflih. , Mubdi‘ (2:107),
Mar‘ī, Ghāya (1:258),
al-Mardāwī, Ins. āf (2:317).
18Narrated by Ibn ‘Asākir (7:137) with a good chain (sanad jayyid) as stated by al-Shawkānī in Nayl al-Awtar(5:180),
at the conclusion of Kitāb al-Manāsik.
19All as cited in the sections on Tawassul and Visitation in the Encyclopedia of Islamic Doctrine.
http://sunniforum.net/showthread.php?t=206
Analysis on visiting the Grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him)
Every believer has a desire to visit the Blessed Grave of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) during his life time. Some even spend their entire earning just to have a glimpse of it. But unfortunately some people from the minority sect have started corrupting the innocent minds of Muslim ummah and thereby misleading them with false information. These extremists declare the act of traveling to visit the Blessed Grave of Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as Biddah (Innovation) and Haram. This was propagated by Ibn Taymiyyah al-Zindeeq whose verdict Imam Ibn Hajr al Asqalani (rah) rightly refutes
ألزموا ابن تيمية بتحريم شد الرحل إلى زيارة قبر سيدنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلّم وأنكرنا صورة ذلك، وفي شرح ذلك من الطرفين طول، وهي من أبشع المسائل المنقولة عن ابن تيمية
[Fath ul Bari, Sharh Sahih ul Bukhari (3/386)]
In the end Imam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani (rah) destroys the viewpoint of Ibn Taymiyyah and his ilk by proving travel for graves of Awliya let alone Anbiya, Ibn Hajr says:
فيبطل بذلك قول من منع شد الرحال إلى زيارة القبر الشريف وغيره من قبور الصالحين والله أعلم
So the Qawl (saying) of him is proven Batil (فيبطل) who says its forbidden to make journey towards ‘’Qabr Shareef’’(of Rasul Ullah salallaho alaihi wasalam) and other graves of ‘’Saliheen’’ (قبور الصالحين), and Allah knows the best. [Fath ul Bari, ibid]
Hadith # 1
ثنا القاضي المحاملي نا عبيد الله ابن محمد الوراق نا موسى ابن هلال العبدي عن عبيد الله ابن عمر عن نافع ، عن ابن عمر قال
: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من زار قبري وجبت له شفاعتي
Translation: Narrated by Ibn Umar (ra) that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Whosoever visits my grave then my intercession becomes Wajib for him[Sunnan al-Daraqutni Volume No. 2, Page No. 244, Imam al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman (3/490) and others]
In this hadith Jarah [criticism] is done on 2 narrators
1) Musa bin Hilal
2) Ubayd Ullah ibn Umar
Although there is Tadil [authentication] on both these narrators too (remember there has been Jarh even upon Imam Bukhari and Imam Abu Hanifa, therefore had Jarh superseded Tadil then all Imams would become Liars), First of all we can prove the hadith to be Sahih but still If people with Bughz (hatred) for Prophet (Peace be upon him) do not believe then we can present ahadith in which these two narrators are not present (remember these narrators are not Fabricators, the maximum jarah upon them is of weakness, hence Ibn Taymiyyah made a blunder to call all these ahadith as Mawdo)
1) Regarding Musa bin Hilaal, Imam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani (rah) while doing Tadil on him said:
وقال ابن عدي: أرجو أنه لا بأس به. قلت: وهو (صالح) الحديث، روى عنه أحمد، والفَضْلُ بن سَهْلٍ
Translation:Ibn Adi (rah) said: There is no harm in him and he said he is “SALIH UL HADITH” i.e. his ahadith are passable. From him have narrated Imam Ahmed and Fudhayl bin Sahl [Lisan ul Mizan, Volume No. 8, Page No. 157]
2) Regarding Ubayd Ullah Ibn Umar (ra) Sheikh ul Islam Imam Taqi ud din Subki (rah) said:
Imam Abu Hatim said that he saw Imam Ahmed praising him a lot. And Yahya bin Ma’een said: There is no harm in him and his ahadith are written. Ibn Adi said: There is no harm in him and he “Truthful” [Shifa us Siqaam fi Ziyaratal Khayr al Anaam, Page No.9]
A) Qadhi Shawkani said:
وقد صحح هذا الحديث ابن السكن وعبد الحق وتقي الدين السبكي
Translation: This hadith is declared “Sahih” by Ibn al-Sakin (rah), Abdul Haq (rah) and Taqi ud din as-Subki (rah) [Nayl al Awtar 5:164]
B) Imam Ibn Hajr al Asqalani (rah) also showed this authentication in his Talkhis al Habir (2:265)
C) Imam Sakhawi (rah) also declared it Sahih in al-Qawl al-Badi‘ (p. 160)
He also said:
قال الذهبي طرقه كلها لينة لكن يتقوى بعضها ببعض لأن ما في روايتها متهم بالكذب
Translation: Imam al-Dhahabi said: The chains of the hadith of visitation are all ‘soft’ (layyina) but strengthen each other because none of them contains any liar [Imam Sakhawi in al-Maqasid al Hasana, Volume No.1, Page No. 472]
Hadith # 2
حدثنا عبد الله ابن محمد ابن عبد العزيز نا أبو الربيع الزهراني نا حفص ابن أبي داود ، عن ليث ابن أبي سليم عن مجاهد عن ابن عمر قال
: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من حج فزار قبري بعد وفاتي فكأنما زارني في حياتي
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar:
Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: Whoever visits my grave after my death it is same as him visiting me in my life [Imam Tabrani in his Al-Kabir Volume No. 12, Page No. 291. Imam Bayhaqi in Sha’yb ul Iman Volume No. 3: Hadith #489]
Note: This hadith is also narrated by Ibn Umar (ra) but the "chain of narrators in this case are totally different" hence the hadith becomes Hassan (Good and sound)
A) Imam Ibn Qudama (rah) said:
ويستحب زيارة قبر النبي لما روى الدارقطني بإسناده عن ابن عمر قال: قال رسول الله : «من حج فزار قبري بعد وفاتي فكأنما زارني في حياتي» وفي رواية، «من زار قبري وجبت له شفاعتي
It is recommended to do Ziyarah of Prophet’s grave as it is narrated by Daraqutni with his Isnaad from Ibn Umar (ra) that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:Whosoever performs the Hajj after my death then he should visit my grave because It is as If he has visited me during my life. And he also narrated (another hadith) that Whosoever visits my grave then my intercession becomes Wajib for him [Imam Ibn Qudama in al-Mughni, Volume No. 5, Page No. 381]
B) Imam al Bahuti al-Hanbli (rah) has also said this in his Al-Kashaf al-Qanna [Volume No. 2, Page No. 290]
في حكم زيارة قبره صلى الله عليه وسلم، وفضيلة من زاره وسلم عليه
و زيارة قبره صلى الله عليه وسلم سنة من سنن المسلمين مجمع عليها، وفضيلة مرغب فيها: روى عن ابن عمر
Translation: Chapter: The order of visiting the grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him) and the Virtue of the one visiting it and sending Salam.
It should be known that visiting the grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him) is “Masnoon” for all Muslims and they have “IJMA” over it, It has such a virtue that It has been prescribed to us as it comes in the hadith of Ibn Umar (ra) [i.e. whosoever visits my grave then my intercession becomes Wajib for him] [Qadhi Iyaad in Ash-Shifa, Volume No.2, Page No. 53]
Hadith # 3
حدثنا عبدان بن احمد، قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن محمد العبادى البصري، قال: حدثنا مسلمة بن سالم الجهنى قال حدثنى عبيد الله بن عمر عن نافع عن سالم عن بن عمر قال
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من جاءني زائرا لا تعمله حاجة إلا زيارتى كان حقا على أن اكون له شفيعا يوم القيامة
Translation: Ibn Umar (ra) narrates that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Anyone who comes to visit me and he came solely for this purpose then It becomes Wajib upon me to do intercession for him on the Day of Judgment [Imam Tabrani in Mu’ajm al Kabir, Volume No. 12, Page No. 291 and as mentioned in Al-Talkhis al Habir by al-Asqalani 2:241]
Note: The chain of this hadith is totally different from the first two which were mentioned therefore due to overwhelming different Turaq (paths of transmission) the hadith definitely becomes Hassan if not Sahih
Hadith # 4
من حج البيت، ولم يزرني فقد جفاني رواه ابن عدي بسند حسن
Translation: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:Whosoever does Hajj of Bayt Ullah but does not visit me then He has been rude to me – Ibn Adi has narrated it with “Hassan” Chain [Hashiya Tahtawi, Volume No. 1, Page No. 403]
This hadith also has a different chain. It can be shown from 5 more hadiths with different chains plus the 2 outstanding Imams i.e. Sheikh ul Islam Taqi ud din as-Subki (rah) in his magnificent Shifa us Siqaam fi Ziyaratil Khayr al Anaam, and Imam al-Faqih Ibn Hajr al Haythami (rah) in Al-Jawhar al Munazzam who have written their whole works on these hadiths and established all rulings in regards to visiting the blessed grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him) including detailed verdict of Tawassul and Istighatha through him to be fair. Hence these ahadith combined together reach the status of Hassan at least if not Sahih and this is accepted Usool in hadith methodology that ahadith coming from different ways become Hassan even if their chains are weak.
View of Modern Day Scholars Vs Classical Scholars
Modern Day Scholar: The famous Wahabite modern day scholar i.e Nasiruddin Albani was known for his Bughz for the blessed grave of Prophet (Peace be upon him), but he went few steps ahead and even declared sahih ahadith about praying 40 prayers in Masjid an-Nabwi as Da'eef and the practise as Bidah (Audhobillah Min Dhalik), he said in his book Hujjat al-Nabi [Page: 185]: It is an innovation (bid’ah) to visit Madeenah and tell the visitors to Madeenah to stay there for a week so that they will be able to offer forty prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque so that they will be free from hypocrisy and saved from the Fire.”
Actually the hadith of 40 prayers in Masjid an-Nabwi is authentic and it is Dajl/lie of Albani to call it weak. None of the classical Muhaditheen called this report as weak rather they called it "SAHIH/HASAN"
عن أنس بن مالك ، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلّم قال: «مَنْ صَلَّى في مَسْجِدِي أَرْبَعينَ صَلاةً لا تَفُوْتُهُ صَلاةٌ كَتَبَ له بَرَاءَةً مِنَ النَّارِ وَبَرَاءَةً مِنَ العَذَابِ، وَبَرِىءَ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ».
قلت: روى الترمذي بعضه.
رواه أحمد والطبراني في الأوسط ورجاله ثقات.
Translation: Narrated by Anas bin Malik (ra) that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Anyone who prays 40 prayers in my Mosquewithout missing a single one, then for him is freedom from hell fire, freedom from torment and freedom from Nifaaq
Imam al-Haythami said: Some part of it is narrated in Tirmidhi. This one is narrated by Imam Ahmed, Tabarani in his al-Awsat and the Rijaal of it are “(ALL) THIQA” [Majma az-Zawaid 3/667, Hadith # 5878]
Imam al-Mundhiri (rah) said in his Targheeb wa Tarheeb:
رواه أحمد، ورواته رواة الصحيح،
Translation: It is narrated by Ahmed and It is amongst Sahihnarrations [Targheeb wa Tarheeb 2/139]
So Ummah is told to beware of Salafi Dajl in this regard.
Another Modern Day Wahabite Scholar i.e. Abd-al Aziz bin Baaz said: It is not obligatory for the pilgrims, men or women, to visit the grave of the Messenger(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or al-Baqee’, rather it is haraam to travel with the purpose of visiting graves in general..[Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas: Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaaq ‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan. Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Ifta (11/362)
VS
Classical Scholar: Sheikh ul-Islam al-Hafidh wal Imam Yahya bin Sharaf an-Nawawi (Rahimuhullah) who wrote the best ever Sharh on Sahih Muslim.
He writes in his Kitab ul Adhkaar:
اعلم أنه ينبغي لكل من حجّ أن يتوجه إلى زيارة رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وسلم، سواءكان ذلك طريقه أو لم يكن، فإن زيارته صلى اللّه عليه وسلم من أهمّ القربات وأربح المساعي وأفضل الطلبات، فإذا توجَّه للزيارة أكثرَ من الصلاة عليه صلى اللّه عليه وسلم في طريقه، فإذا وقعَ بصرُه على أشجار المدينة وحَرمِها وما يَعرفُ بها زاد من الصلاة والتسليم عليه صلى اللّه عليه وسلم، وسألَ اللّه تعالى أن ينفعَه بزيارته صلى اللّه عليه وسلم، وأن يُسعدَه بها في الدارين، وليقلْ: اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ عَليَّ أبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ وَارْزُقْنِي في زِيارَةِ قَبْرِ نَبِيِّكَ صلى اللّه عليه وسلم ما رزقْتَهُ أوْلِياءَكَ وأهْلَ طَاعَتِكَ واغْفِرْ لي وارْحمنِي يا خَيْرَ مَسْؤُول
He writes in his Kitab ul Adhkaar:
اعلم أنه ينبغي لكل من حجّ أن يتوجه إلى زيارة رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وسلم، سواءكان ذلك طريقه أو لم يكن، فإن زيارته صلى اللّه عليه وسلم من أهمّ القربات وأربح المساعي وأفضل الطلبات، فإذا توجَّه للزيارة أكثرَ من الصلاة عليه صلى اللّه عليه وسلم في طريقه، فإذا وقعَ بصرُه على أشجار المدينة وحَرمِها وما يَعرفُ بها زاد من الصلاة والتسليم عليه صلى اللّه عليه وسلم، وسألَ اللّه تعالى أن ينفعَه بزيارته صلى اللّه عليه وسلم، وأن يُسعدَه بها في الدارين، وليقلْ: اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ عَليَّ أبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ وَارْزُقْنِي في زِيارَةِ قَبْرِ نَبِيِّكَ صلى اللّه عليه وسلم ما رزقْتَهُ أوْلِياءَكَ وأهْلَ طَاعَتِكَ واغْفِرْ لي وارْحمنِي يا خَيْرَ مَسْؤُول
Section: Chapter regarding Visit to the Tomb of the Messenger of Allah (Salallaho alaihi wasalam), and the Dhikr made there"
It should be known that “EVERYONE” who performs the hajj should set out to visit the Messenger of Allah (Salallaho alaihi wasalam), “WHETHER IT IS ON ONE’S WAY OR NOT” because visiting him (Salallaho alaihi wasalam) is one of the most important acts of worship, the most rewarded of efforts, and best of goals. When one sets out to perform the visit, one should do much of the blessings and peace upon him (salallaho alaihi wasalam) on the way. And when one’s eye falls on the trees of Medina, and its sanctum and landmarks, one should increase sending the blessings and peace upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), asking Allah Most High to benefit one by one’s “VISIT TO HIM” (Allah bless him and give him peace)...and grant one felicity in this world and the next through it. One should say,"O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy, and bestow upon me, through the visit to the Grave of Your prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), that which You have bestowed upon Your friends, those who obey You. Forgive me and show me mercy, O Best of Those Asked" (Imam an-Nawawi in Kitab ul Adhkaar, Page No. 178)
It should be known that “EVERYONE” who performs the hajj should set out to visit the Messenger of Allah (Salallaho alaihi wasalam), “WHETHER IT IS ON ONE’S WAY OR NOT” because visiting him (Salallaho alaihi wasalam) is one of the most important acts of worship, the most rewarded of efforts, and best of goals. When one sets out to perform the visit, one should do much of the blessings and peace upon him (salallaho alaihi wasalam) on the way. And when one’s eye falls on the trees of Medina, and its sanctum and landmarks, one should increase sending the blessings and peace upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), asking Allah Most High to benefit one by one’s “VISIT TO HIM” (Allah bless him and give him peace)...and grant one felicity in this world and the next through it. One should say,"O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy, and bestow upon me, through the visit to the Grave of Your prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), that which You have bestowed upon Your friends, those who obey You. Forgive me and show me mercy, O Best of Those Asked" (Imam an-Nawawi in Kitab ul Adhkaar, Page No. 178)
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Important Note: This passage has been deliberately forged by Salafis in the edition of Salafi scholar Abdul Qadir al Ar'anoot, they changed the wording "QABR" into "MASJID" and also removed the passage which proved Tawassul through the Dhaat of Prophet (Peace be upon him) ... Audhobillah Min Dhalik. This exposition of Salafis is more than enough to establish that they keep Bughz for the Prophet (Peace be upon him)
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