when the Messenger of Allah came to the graveyard he would say: "As-salamu 'alaykum ahli ad-diyari min al-mu'minin wal-muslimin wa inna I sha' Allahu bikum lana faratun wa nahnu lakum taba'un, as'alullahal-'afiyata lana wa lakum. (Peace by upon the inhabitants of this place among the believers and Muslims. Soon we will join you, if Allah willing. You have gone on ahead of us and we will follow you. I ask Allah to keep us and you safe and sound.)"
Hadith Commentary: The Etiquette of Visiting Graves
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i (2040) demonstrates the proper manner of visiting graveyards as taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The scholars explain that this supplication contains profound wisdom and multiple benefits for both the living and the deceased.
Scholarly Analysis of the Supplication
The opening phrase "As-salamu 'alaykum" (Peace be upon you) establishes that Muslims maintain a living relationship with their deceased brethren, offering them greetings as one would to the living. This reinforces the Islamic understanding that the soul continues to exist after death.
By specifying "ahli ad-diyari min al-mu'minin wal-muslimin" (inhabitants of this place among the believers and Muslims), the Prophet ﷺ taught us to direct our salutations specifically to the believers, distinguishing them from others who might be buried in the same cemetery.
The phrase "inna I sha' Allahu bikum lana faratun" (Soon we will join you, if Allah wills) serves as a powerful reminder of mortality and the inevitable nature of death, encouraging the visitor to prepare for the hereafter.
When saying "wa nahnu lakum taba'un" (we will follow you), the visitor acknowledges the universal truth that every soul must taste death, fostering humility and detachment from worldly attachments.
The concluding supplication "as'alullahal-'afiyata lana wa lakum" (I ask Allah to keep us and you safe and sound) encompasses comprehensive well-being - seeking protection from the punishment of the grave for the deceased and from sins and trials for the living.
Legal and Spiritual Benefits
Classical scholars note that this visitation serves multiple purposes: it reminds visitors of the afterlife, encourages them to make supplication for the deceased, strengthens the bond between Muslims across the barrier of life and death, and provides comfort to the deceased through the greetings and prayers offered on their behalf.
Imam an-Nawawi and other scholars emphasized that such visits were initially prohibited but later permitted by the Prophet ﷺ specifically for the purpose of remembrance and supplication, not for excessive mourning or wailing.