Dua for visiting the grave, the greeting of the graveyard

When you enter a graveyard, greet the people buried there: As-salamu alaykum ahlad-diyari minal-mu'minina wal-muslimin, wa inna in sha Allahu lalahiqun, as'alullaha lana wa lakumul-afiyah. The Prophet ﷺ taught this to the Companions for when they went out to the graves.¹

Dua 1: On entering the graveyard

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَلَاحِقُونَ، أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ

As-salāmu ʿalaykum ahlad-diyāri minal-muʾminīna wal-muslimīn, wa innā in shāʾ Allāhu la-lāḥiqūn, asʾalullāha lanā wa lakumul-ʿāfiyah

Peace be upon you, people of these dwellings, believers and Muslims. We will join you, if Allah wills. I ask Allah for well-being for us and for you.

Sahih Muslim 975

Dua 2: The wording taught to Aishah

السَّلَامُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَيَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَلَاحِقُونَ

As-salāmu ʿalā ahlid-diyāri minal-muʾminīna wal-muslimīn, wa yarḥamullāhul-mustaqdimīna minnā wal-mustaʾkhirīn, wa innā in shāʾ Allāhu bikum la-lāḥiqūn

Peace be upon the believers and Muslims of these dwellings. May Allah have mercy on those of us who went ahead and those who come later. We will join you, if Allah wills.

Sahih Muslim 974

Our teachers will check the Arabic and transliteration on this page before launch.

Guide

When and how to say it

Why visit graves

The Prophet ﷺ first forbade visiting graves, then said: "I had forbidden you from visiting graves, so now visit them," and in another narration, "for they remind you of death".² A visit is for two things: remembering the Hereafter, and praying for the dead.

The sunnah way to visit

Greet them with one of the duas above as you enter.
Stand by the grave of the person you came to visit and make dua for them by name. The funeral duas, such as Allahummaghfir lahu warhamhu, are on the page dua for the deceased.
Do not sit on graves, walk on them, or pray towards them.³
Do not wail, rub the grave, take its soil, or ask the dead for help. Dua is made to Allah, for them.

Hanafi position

Visiting graves is recommended for men. For women it is permitted when there is no wailing or impropriety, and many Hanafi scholars say it is better for young women to visit less often. Reciting the Quran at a grave and gifting its reward to the deceased is permitted.

Other madhhabs

Shafi'i, Hanbali: Visiting is sunnah for men and disliked (makruh) for women, except visiting the grave of the Prophet ﷺ.
Maliki: Permitted for older women, and disliked for young women who would go out often.

Sahih Muslim 975.
Sahih Muslim 977, 976.
Sahih Muslim 972.
Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, on visiting graves. The other madhhabs' positions are summarised from their standard manuals.
Sahih Muslim 975
Sahih Muslim 974

The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.

Questions

Good to know

What do you say when entering a graveyard?

As-salamu alaykum ahlad-diyari minal-mu'minina wal-muslimin, wa inna in sha Allahu lalahiqun, as'alullaha lana wa lakumul-afiyah (Muslim 975).

Can women visit graves?

In the Hanafi school, yes, if there is no wailing or impropriety. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say it is disliked for women, and the Maliki school allows it for older women.

What should I recite at a grave?

Greet them, then ask Allah to forgive them and have mercy on them. In the Hanafi school, reciting Al-Fatiha, Al-Ikhlas or other surahs and gifting the reward is permitted.

Can I visit a grave on any day?

Yes. The authentic Sunnah does not fix a day for visiting graves.