When `Abd Allah ibn Mulayka saw `A'isha visiting the grave of her brother `Abd al-Rahman he said to her: "Did not the Prophet - Allah bless and greet him - forbid this [visitation of graves]?" She replied: "Yes, he had forbidden it. Then he ordered to visit them."9 Ibn `Abd al-Barr mentions that Imam Ahmad adduces this report as proof that women are permitted to visit the graves. The Prophet - Allah bless and greet him - passed by a woman who was weeping next to a grave and said: "Fear Allah and be steadfast!" She replied: "Leave me alone! You were not afflicted with my affliction" - without recognizing him. Then she was told that this was the Prophet - Allah bless and greet him -. She came to see him and did not find anyone at the door [so entered directly] and said: "I did not recognize you!" He replied: "Steadfastness is only at the first shock." Al-Bayhaqi, Ibn Hajar and al-Nawawi said that the above narrations show that it is permitted for women to visit the graves in confirmation of `A'isha's visitation of her brother, as the Prophet - Allah bless and greet him - only admonished the mourning woman to be steadfast without forbidding her from visiting the grave, and he gave instructions to `A'isha on what to say when visiting the graves. Al-Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra (4:78), Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari (1959 ed. 3:184); al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim (7:41-42). (source Sunnah.org) The difference of opinion is on whether the below narration is restricted or general without exception The Holy Prophet - Allah Bless and Greet him - said: "I forbade you to visit the graves but [now] do visit them! (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud) I posted this to show there is a strong difference of opinion on this but one should follow the verdict of their school. Where a mother has lost her child one is reminded of the Mercy that is Incumbant for us to show whereby we should allow her to visit her child due to the bond that a parent has for a child.
My master A’lā Ḥaḍrat رحمة الله عليه mentioned the prohibition of women visiting graves in many of his writings. In one place he said: Imām Qāḍī ‘Iyāḍ رحمة الله عليه was asked if it was permissible for women to visit graveyards. He replied, ‘You should not be asking whether or not this is permissible, rather you should be asking how much a woman is cursed for this. When she intends to exit her house to visit the cemetery, Allah and angels curse her; when she exits her house, devils surround her from all directions; when she reaches the grave, the deceased’s soul curses her; she remains in the curse of Allah until she returns.’ (Fatāwā Razawiyyaĥ, vol. 5, pp. 557)
My master Ala Hazrat Rahmatullahi Ta'ala Alayh said: Visiting the graves of relatives, especially if the death is recent, will definitely revive grief in women, and when they visit the tombs of saints then there is a chance of one of the two evils occurring; either lack of respect or an unlawful exaggeration of respect. Therefore it is totally prohibited. This is why the author of 'Ghunyah' declared this to be Makruh. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol.9, pp. 538)
Are women allowed to visit Mazar Shareefs? What have our pious predecessors said about this topic? Is there difference of opinion?
