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Fatwa CenterThe Prophet’s visit to Al-Baqee (graveyard) at night secretly
Question
Is this Hadith authentic? If so, please give the background and tashreeh.
He (Muhammad b. Qais) then reported that it was 'Aisha who had narrated this: Should I not narrate to you about myself and about the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)? We said: Yes. She said: When it was my turn for Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) to spend the night with me, he turned his side, put on his mantle and took off his shoes and placed them near his feet, and spread the corner of his shawl on his bed and then lay down till he thought that I had gone to sleep. He took hold of his mantle slowly and put on the shoes slowly, and opened the door and went out and then closed it lightly. I covered my head, put on my veil and tightened my waist wrapper, and then went out following his steps till he reached Baqi'. He stood there and he stood for a long time. He then lifted his hands three times, and then returned and I also returned. He hastened his steps and I also hastened my steps. He ran and I too ran. He came (to the house) and I also came (to the house). I, however, preceded him and I entered (the house), and as I lay down in the bed, he (the Holy Prophet) entered the (house), and said: Why is it, O 'Aisha, that you are out of breath? I said: There is nothing. He said: Tell me or the Subtle and the Aware would inform me. I said: Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be ransom for you, and then I told him (the whole story). He said: Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said: Yes. He struck me on the chest which caused me pain, and then said: Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly? ... (Sahih Muslim, book 4, Hadith 2127)
Thank you.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
This Hadith is authentic as it is reported by Muslim in his Sahih. We are not aware of anybody who says that it is a weak Hadith. Al-Albani classified it as a Sahih in "Tahqeeq sunan al-Nasa'i".
Anyway the summary of the Hadith is that Aisha reported that once it was the Prophet's turn (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) to stay with her he prepared himself to sleep but in fact he did not sleep, but he stayed for a while thinking that Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, slept, then he went out in hiding (secretly). However, Aisha knew that and put on her clothes and she followed him thinking that he had gone out to one of his other wives. But, indeed he went to the graveyard and made supplication for the people of the grave. Then he came back home and she came back home too. He hastened his steps and she also hastened her steps and entered home before him. So when the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) entered, he found her very tired and inquired about the reason. She tried to conceal the matter but he insisted and informed her that if she did not inform him, Allah would inform him about what had happened. So she informed him, and he asked her: "Was it you who was walking in front of me?" She replied: "Yes".
So the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) asked her: "Did you think that I will be unjust towards you (i.e. leaving her and going to other wives?). She replied: "Yes".
So the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) informed her that Jibreel came and informed him that Allah ordered him to go to Al-Baqee (graveyard) and supplicate for them. That’s why he went out in hiding (secretly) as he did not want her to notice that because she would be scared by staying alone in the night.
She asked him about the Dua that he said when he was in the graveyard, and he taught it to her.
The people of knowledge deduced many benefits from this Hadith:
It is desirable to supplicate for a long time, and to repeat the supplication.
· To raise the hands while supplicating.
· To be in the standing position while supplicating for the people of the graves.
· To say Salaam to the people of the grave
· To be kind to one's wife/wives
· To consider the feelings of wife/wives.
· To visit the graves by night.
· The permissibility for women to visit the graves on the condition that they should observe Islamic requirements.
· The permissibility to a husband and wife to sleep naked (if they are isolated from other people).
Allah knows best.
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