My opinion about this topic is read SURAH FATHIA and
exit.
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*Originally posted by PakistaniAbroad: *
well there's certainly something to the effect of dead being different from live people and the Prophet's teaching having no effect on them.
[35:22] Neither are the living and the dead alike. Surely Allah makes whom He pleases hear, and you cannot make those hear who are in the graves
PakistaniAbroad: Appears to me superstitions of the person still being able to hear and understand what goes around their own grave are just borrowed from cultures in which Islam flourished.
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so going by "your interpretation" should we stop offering namaz-e-Janaza as well?
I didn't know that it addresses the deceased.. i thought that particular assembly is conducted in the rememberance of Allah.
VISITING THE GRAVES
It is permitted to visit the graves with the intention of supplicating and asking forgiveness for the deceased and to remind oneself of death and the Hereafter. Preoccupation with life's day to day activities makes a person forget that the stay in the grave is a reality and that one day, he will have to leave everything behind and come here. Visiting graves serves as an admonition and a person starts to seriously rethink his life and focus on reforming himself and his way of life.
The Prophet (SAW) once visited a cemetery, sat beside a grave and cried a lot. Then he addressed the Companions and said: {{ "Brothers, prepare for this day." (Sunan Ibn Majah)}}
On another occasion, he (SAW)said:
{{"Visiting the graves, softens the hearts, brings tears to the eyes and reminds you of the Hereafter."(Mustadarak Al -Hakim)}}
It is not permitted to travel long distances to visit cemeteries, because the Prophet (SAW) has said:
"Do not prepare yourself for a journey except to three mosques i.e Al-Masjid -Al-Haram, the Mosque of Aqsa (Jerusalem) and my Mosque." (Sahih Bukhari
If other than for these three mosques, permission has not been granted to travel to visit any other mosques, then to come from far and wide to attend the fairs at various shrines is a total violation of this command. It is sad to see that it has become a regular pastime and these annual fairs and celebrations have not only become a custom, but a national holiday may even be declared for such occasions. Beating of drums, songs and music, making offerings at graves, and other un-Islamic practices which should make us feel ashamed to call ourselves Muslims, are part of this 'celebration', while shop keepers do a brisk trade throughout the event.