Etiquette of visiting a Mazaar or Kramat

This Quraan is over 300 years old and was handwritten by the great-great-grandfather of Hazrath Sufi Saib (r.a), who founded numerous Islamic institutions and mosques in South Africa.

"When I make someone my beloved then I become his ears by which he hears, his eyes by which he sees, his hands by which he holds and his feet by which he walks." (Hadith Qudsi).

When a person reaches the stage of Wilaayet, then he becomes the Beloved of Allah and everything he does is done through the power of Allah. A person with such a great status is called a Wali-Allah.

When the Auliyah physically depart from this earth, then their status is still upheld. The grave of a Wali is unlike that of an ordinary person. Their bodies do not decay or perish, but remain intact and fresh. The Holy Prophet (SAW) has said:

"The bodies of the Ambiyah and Auliyah remain intact in their graves. Furthermore, the mercy and blessing of Allah continuously descends on them." In order to distinguish the grave of a Wali-Allah from the ordinary person's grave, and also as a sign of recognition, a Chaadar or Ghilaaf is placed on their graves.

It is spiritually beneficial to visit the Mazaars of the Auliyah and partake in their remembrance. In a hadith of the Prophet (SAW) it has been reported that, "When the beloved of Allah are discussed, abundant and intense mercy of Allah descends on all those present." This is because Allah loves His Auliyah, thus He loves the discussion of the Auliyah. This discussion can be upheld in various ways; which include; reading a book on their life histories, struggles, striving in the path of Allah, emulating their examples and patterns of thinking, learning to uphold the Sunnah as practised by Auliyah, lecturing to an audience and informing them about the life history of a particular Wali or other Auliyah.

As the mercy and blessings of Allah descend with the remembrance of the Auliyah, like - wise the blessings of Allah descend at the graves of the Auliyah. One should maintain utmost respect when visiting the tomb of a Wali. Shoes should be removed. One should be in a state of tahaarah and wudhu. It is prohibited to sit on, lean against or put your feet on a grave. No other intention must exist in one's mind beside intending to derive spiritual benefit from the Wali. One should stand or sit respectfully at the graveside facing the Wali. One should avoid loud and unnecessary conversations and worldly indulgence. One should recite the Holy Quran; even the smallest surah, Durood Shareef, and indulge in Zikr-ul-laah etc. One should make dua to Allah with the Waseela of the Auliyah after Esaale-e-Sawaab.