Jurisprudential Review of Lawfulness of Women's Visitation of Graves Focusing on the Principles of Quran and Sunna

Visitation of graves has roots in the Sunna of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), his companions and followers. According to the great Islamic scholars and jurisprudents there is an equal rule for both men and women’s visitation of the graves of their dear ones and the holy shrines in Islam considering the Sunna of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and his numerous traditions; because Islam has equal rules for both men and woman except in a case where there is a reason for its specification. The Quran, which is generally accepted by all Muslims, has no clear rule about lawfulness or unlawfulness of visitation of the graves, but it generally refers to the lawfulness of women’s visitation of graves. There are several reports on the women’s visitation of graves at the time of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and after that which may be considered as evidences for its lawfulness; including a report on the method of its performance attributed to Ayesha, one of the Prophet Mohammad’s wives. There is still another report on Hazrat Zahra’s visitation of the graves of hazrat Hamza and other martyrs of Uhud. This article aims to explain and review the jurisprudential principles of women’s visitation of graves in the Quran and Islamic traditions from the viewpoints of the Islamic jurisprudents who not only consider it lawful but also recommended. The innovative aspect of the matter is detailed analysis of the views of four Islamic religions in this regard which can present a clear and exact image of this matter and remove doubts from the people’s minds.