(i) The first type is permissible and required in order to make Du'a' (supplication) for the dead, ask Allah to bestow mercy on them, and recall death and the Hereafter. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: "Visit the graves, for they remind you of the Hereafter." The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to visit graveyards and so did his Sahabah (Companions, may Allah be pleased with them). This applies only to men, and not women. Women are not permitted to visit graveyards and they must be prevented from doing so.

It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed women who visit graveyards. Their visit may be a trial to them or to others, needless to mention, their impatience and quick display of sorrow. Therefore, it is not permissible for them to follow funeral processions to graveyards, because it is authentically reported from Um 'Atiyyah in the Sahih (Authentic Hadith Book) that she said: "We were forbidden to follow the funeral procession, but it was not strictly stressed on us." The Hadith indicates that women are prohibited from following the funeral processions to graveyards for fear of becoming a source of trial to themselves and to others and showing a loss of patience. The prohibitive mood basically implies a prohibition. Allah (Exalted be He) states: And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).

Offering Funeral Prayer for the dead is permissible for men and women, because of the authentic Hadiths reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and from the Sahabah. As for the statement of Um 'Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her): "it was not strictly stressed on us", it does not indicate the permissibility of following funeral processions for women because the prohibition made by the Prophet (peace be upon him) is enough as a proof of forbiddance. Her saying: "it was not strictly stressed on us," is based on her own reasoning and what she thought to be true which cannot be used as a proof against the Hadith.

(ii) The second type falls under Ibtida' (heresy), which is the act of visiting graveyards to call upon the dead, seek their help, slaughter sacrifices to them, or vow to them. This is an act disapproved of by Islamic law and constitutes major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) ­ we ask Allah for protection and safety. The same applies to visiting graveyards for making Du'a' (supplication) there, or offering Salah (Prayer) and reciting Qur'an there. This is also a Bid'ah (innovation in religion). It is Islamically impermissible and is a means to Shirk. Based on this visiting graves is categorized into three types:

The first type is Mashru' (Islamically permissible), which is visiting to supplicate to Allah for the deceased, or to remind oneself of the Hereafter.

The second is to visit them for reciting the Qur'an, offering Salah, or slaughtering sacrifices there which is Bid'ah and one of the means of Shirk.

The third is to visit them to slaughter sacrifices to the dead, draw oneself close to them, to supplicate the dead beside or instead of Allah, or seek help, support or victory from them which is a major form of Shirk. We ask Allah for protection and safety. We must avoid these innovated visits. There is no difference whether the deceased who is called upon is a prophet, a pious person, or otherwise. The same applies to what some ignorant people do at the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him) such as supplicating and seeking help from him, or at the grave of Al­Husain, A l­Badawi, A l­Shaykh ' Abdul­Qadir Al­Jilani or others. May Allah grant us help and success!