Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH – Imam of the Quba Mosque, Sheikh Saleh Bin Awad Al-Maghamisi, has supported the fatwa (Islamic ruling) that allows Muslim women to visit graves of their close relatives, like their parents.

Previously Eissa Al-Gaith, a member of the Shoura Council and a former judge, triggered a controversy among scholars of Islamic jurisprudence by issuing the fatwa to that effect.

Sheikh Al-Maghamisi confirmed his support for the fatwa through Twitter on Sunday supporting a similar edict issued by Sheikh Mohammed Mukhtar Al-Shanqiti, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars. Maghamisi’s office said the fatwa would benefit many people, a local

Arabic newspaper said.

Maghamisi’s office also pointed out a previous edict issued by Al-Maghamisi, saying there is nothing wrong in visiting graves by women. He made this comment while answering a question at a talkshow conducted by Dubai channel during Ramadan a few years ago.

Al-Maghamisi’s fatwa pointed out that women are allowed to visit graves, especially those of parents and other close relatives. However, he advised women not to increase such visits.

He referred to the conflict among scholars on the permissibility of women visiting graves. Some of them support the idea while some others oppose it based on evidences.

“There is nothing wrong in a woman visiting her mother’s grave,” he stated.

Sheikh Al-Maghamisi referred to an incident to back his fatwa as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon hi) taught his wife Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) when he went to Baqie graveyard the following prayer: May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon you the believers; You have gone before us and in sha Allah we’ll follow you shortly. May Allah forgive us and you.”

He added: “If visit of grave was not permissible for women, the Prophet (pbuh) would not have taught Ayesha this prayer. At the same time, he did not tell her that grave visit is not permissible for women.”

Al-Maghamisi pointed out that the Prophet (pbuh) only prohibited women from crying and wailing near graves. He also referred to the evidence of opponents who quote another Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) that Allah curses those women who visit graves.