ZS13:AK1 Ummu Habsah rha


The first in the series of our plan was the shrine of Ummu Hafsah radiaallah hu anha (rha) – may Allah be pleased upon her. But before that, allow me to share my personal opinion about visiting shrines or tombs or graveyards.
Visiting the tombs or shrine or graveyards is in fact encouraged in Islam if it is done according to the purpose for which it was legislated. In Malaysia, it was a usual scene that people visiting and cleaning their families’ tombs a day before the month of Ramadhan and Syawal. That purpose is the exhortation, the recollection as well as the supplication for those who are dead. And, if all this is done according to the Sharia rules in this matter. Imam Muslim narrated from the Hadith of Buraidah that the Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) said: "I have told you before not to visit graves, now visit them indeed". Abu Dawood and Nasai added from the Hadith of Anas ra "They remind you of the Last Day". al-Hakem also added in his narration " They soften the heart (by bringing pity to it) and fill the eyes with tears. But do not say any bad words there". He also added from the Hadith of Ibn Massoud " They makes one renounces worldly pleasures". Muslim also narrated from the Hadith of Abu Hurairah: "They remind of death". So, whoever visits graves for the purposes mentioned in the Hadith and the like and does not say or do any bad things like becoming polytheist because of taking some one as a partner to Allah swt in words or deeds or appealing for help from any but Allah swt or weeping loudly or complain too much over Allah's destiny, their visit is lawful.
Having said all that, I would conclude that visiting shrines or tombs or graves is permissible and commendable act and even proved by the Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) who himself used to visit the martyrs of "Uhd" battle and pray for them. The Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) asked his followers to visit graves as it disenchant them with the world and remind them of the next. Allah hu a’lam – Allah knows best.
Sayeda Hafsah rha, (may Allah be pleased with her) was the daughter of Saidina Umar ibn al Khattab ra. She had been married to someone else, but was widowed when she was eighteen. Saidina Umar ra asked both Saidina Abu Bakr ra and Saidina Uthman ibn Affan ra, one after another, if they would like to marry her, but they both declined because they knew that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had expressed an interest in marrying her. When Saidina Umar ra (may Allah be pleased with him) went to Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) to complain about their behavior, the Prophet smiled, and said, “Hafsah will marry one better than Uthman and Uthman will marry one better than Hafsah.” Saidina Umar ra was startled and then realized that it was Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) was asking for her hand in marriage. He was overcome with delight. They were married just after the battle of Badr, when Sayeda Hafsah rha was about twenty years old and the Prophet (peace be upon him) was fifty-six.
Like Sayeda A’isha rha, Sayeda Hafsah rha memorized the entire Qur’an by heart. The written copy of the Qur’an which was recorded by Zayd ibn Thabit on Abu Bakr’s instructions, and which was then given to Umar for safekeeping, was then given by Umar to Hafsah to look after.
Sayeda Hafsah rha lived with the Prophet in Medina for eight years. She died in 47 AH at the age of sixty-three. May Allah be pleased with her.

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