Grave Pilgrimage Prayer: Procedures, Prayer Readings, Adab, Benefits
There are many hadiths that explain the prayer for the pilgrimage to the grave. Some scholars are against it and some others are allowing grave pilgrimages.
The Prophet himself once said:
إِنِّي كُنْتُ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ فَزُورُوهَا فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّرُكُمْ الْآخِرَةَ
Meaning:
"I used to forbid you to make a pilgrimage to the grave. But now, make a pilgrimage to the grave, because it will remind you of the hereafter." (HR. Muslim).
Grave pilgrimage is allowed as long as the activity does not invite shirk. Pray only to Allah SWT, not to people who have died.
Allah SWT says in QS. An Nisaa verse 116:
إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ
Meaning:
"Indeed, Allah will not forgive the sin of shirk against Him and He will give forgive other sins which are below the level for whomsoever wills -His."
Table of contents
Grave Pilgrimage Procedures
The following are the procedures or prayers at the time of the grave pilgrimage, including:
1. Reading Greetings
Every time Rasulullah SAW would leave the house at the end of the night, he always greeted the residents of the tomb by saying greetings. Likewise, when you enter the tomb, it is recommended to greet the residents of the tomb.
Recitation of greetings when going to the tomb according to the sunnah
السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ دَارَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنينَ وَأتاكُمْ ما تُوعَدُونَ غَداً مُؤَجَّلُونَ وَإنَّا إنْ شاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لاحقُونَ
"Assalamu'alaìkum dara qaumìn mu'mìnîn wa atakum ma tu'adun ghadan mu'ajjalun, wa nna nsya-Allahu bìkum lahìqun"
Meaning:
"Assalamuallaikum, O dwelling place of the believers. God's promise has come to you which was postponed tomorrow, and we, God willing, will soon follow you."
Reading this greeting you can practice when entering the tomb or when you are about to start doing dhikr.
2. Reading Istighfar
Reading:
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ اَلَّذِي لآ إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ اْلحَيُّ اْلقَيُّوْمُ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْهِ
"Astaghfirullah Hal Adzim Alladzi La ilaha Illa Huwal Hayyul Qoyyumu Wa atubu Ilaihi."
Meaning:
"I ask forgiveness of Allah, the Most Great, who has no god but He Who is Alive, Self-Sufficient, and I have repented of Him."
3. Reading Al Fatihah
Then is to send the Al Fatihah prayer to the families who have died, as well as to the other guardians. Because all good prayers will be accepted by Allah.
Reading:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ. الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيم. مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ. اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ. صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
"Alhamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin. Ar Rahmanirrahiim. Maaliki yaumiddin. Iyaaka na'budu wa iyyaaka nasta'iin. Ihdinash-shirraatal musthaqiim. Shiraathal ladziina an'amta 'alaihim ghairil maghduubi 'alaihim waladh-dhaalliin"
Meaning:
“Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Merciful, the Owner of the Day of vengeance. You alone do we worship and you alone do we ask for help."
"Show us to the straight path (ie) the path of those whom You have bestowed favors against it, not (the way) of those whom you have angered, nor (also the way) of those who perverted."
4. Read Surah Al Ikhlas, Al Falaq & An Naas
Surah Al Ikhlas:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ. اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ. لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ. وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
"Qul huwallahu ahad, allahu somad, lam yalid wa lam yụlad, wa lam yakul lahụ kufuwan ahad."
Meaning:
Say (Muhammad), "He is Allah, the One and Only, Allah is the place to ask for everything." something, (Allah) begets neither begotten nor begotten, And there is nothing equal to -His."
Surah Al Falaq:
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ. مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ. وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ. وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ. وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
“Qul auudzu birobbil falaq. Min syarri maa kholaq. Wa min syarri ghoosiqin idzaa waqob. Wa min syarrin naffaatsaati fil 'uqod. Wa min syarri haasidin idzaa hasad."
Meaning:
"I seek refuge in Allah Who is in control of the dawn, from the evil of His creatures, and from the evil of the night when it is dark. and from the evil of the sorcerer women who have blown in the knots, and from the evil of the envious if he spiteful."
Surah An Naas:
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ. مَلِكِ النَّاسِ. إِلَهِ النَّاسِ. مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ. الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ. مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ
“Qul auudzu birobbinnaas. Bad luck. God bad luck. Min syarril waswaasil khonnaas. Alladzii yuwaswisu fii shuduurin unlucky, minal jinnati wan unlucky."
Meaning:
"I take refuge in Allah (who maintains and controls) humans. Human king. Human worship. From the evil (whispering) of the devil who is used to hiding, and who whispers (evil) into the chests of humans, from (class of) jinn and humans."
5. Reading Tahlil
Then you continue by reading the tahlil prayer / tahlil sentence 33 times. Or you can also follow the imam who will lead the tahlil.
Reading:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهَ
"Laailaaha Illallah."
Meaning:
"There is no god but Allah."
6. Reading the Prayer of the Grave Pilgrimage
Reading:
اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مَدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ والْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ
الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّار, وَافْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ، ونَوِّرْ لَهُ فِيهِ
"Allahummaghfìrlahu war hamhu wa 'aafìhìì wa'fu anhu, wa akrìm nuzuulahu wawassì' madholahu, waghsìlhu bìl maa'ì watssaljì walbaradì, wa naqqìhì, mìnaddzzunubì wal khathaya kamaa yunaqqatssaubul abyadhu mìnad danasì."
“Wabdìlhu daaran khaìran mìn daarìhì wa zaujan khaìran mìn zaujìhì. Wa adkhìlhul jannata wa aìdzhu mìn adzabìl qabrì wa mìn adzabìnnaarì wafsah lahu fì qabrìhì wa nawwìr lahu fìhì.”
Meaning:
"O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him. Give him safety and forgive him. Give him honor, widen his entry. Bathe him with water, ice, and dew. Cleanse him from guilt as you clean a dirty white shirt."
"Change for him a better house than his, a better wife than his wife. Enter him to heaven, protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of hell. Expand for him in his grave and enlighten him in it." (HR. Muslim).
Grave Pilgrimage
The following are the etiquette of visiting the grave as a form of respect for the deceased, including:
1. Dress modestly and cover your genitals
Dressing modestly and covering aurat is a must for someone when visiting a tomb.
2. No kidding
It is expected to be calm and solemn in following and listening to the reading of the grave pilgrimage. And it is forbidden to joke when praying in the tomb area.
3. Do not bring food and drink
At the time of pilgrimage to the tomb, it is also highly recommended not to bring food and drink. This is so that when you read tahlil or pray, you will remain solemn.
4. Sincerely pray to Allah
Try to stay focused and solemn when reading the grave pilgrimage prayer or when the congregation is praying tahlil led by an imam.
5. Not sitting on someone else's grave
This is a form of our respect and being polite.
6. Cleaning the Graves of the Pilgrim
When you arrive at the tomb, try to help clean the grave first.
7. It is recommended to bring flowers and water
It is advisable to be able to bring water and flowers to water or sow over the grave.
8. Pray in a Low Voice
It is recommended when reading the prayer for the pilgrimage to the grave by using a soft and slow tone and voice.
9. Reflecting on Yourself When Visiting
It would be better if you also muhasabah when visiting the grave. Increase alms for the construction of the tomb and the cost of cleaning the tomb.
10. Don't Say Dirty
As long as we are in the tomb area, we must guard our speech. Never say dirty and rude words.
Benefits of the Grave Pilgrimage
The following are the benefits of visiting the graves, including:
- Reminds of death.
- A visit to the grave can soften a hard heart.
- Not only oriented to the world.
- Reminds us of the afterlife.
- Advise yourself and remind yourself of the coming death.
- A visit to the grave can soften the heart.
- More humble.
- Useful for people who make pilgrimages as well as those on pilgrimage.
Conclusion
It is recommended for pilgrims to say greetings and also pray for goodness, asking Allah to bless you The deceased always gets maghfirah (forgiveness), is free from the punishment of the grave and gets a proper place at his side -His.
This pilgrimage activity also has many benefits, one of which is as a reminder for all of us if death will come to us one day.
FAQs
The following are some questions about the Prayer for the Grave Pilgrimage, including:
Read Surah Al Ikhlas, Al Falaq & An Naas
One of them is as a reminder to all of us if death will come that befell us one day.
It is recommended for pilgrims to say greetings and also pray for goodness, asking Allah to bless you The deceased always gets maghfirah (forgiveness), is free from the punishment of the grave and gets a proper place at his side -His.