Question
Is there any narration that states that women who go to the cemetery will not even smell the fragrance of Jannah?
Answer
I have not come across this exact wording. Imam Nasai (rahimahullah) has recorded a similar narration and has declared it weak:
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reported: “Once we were travelling with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) when he saw a woman not realizing that he knows her. When she was halfway, he stopped until she reached him and it was Fatimah, the daughter or Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked her, “What brought you out of your house, O Fatimah?” She replied, “I came to the people of this funeral to pray for mercy for them and to offer my condolences to them.” Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Perhaps you went with them to [the graveyard]?” She replied: “Allah forbid that I should go there when I have heard what you said regarding that.” He said, “If you went there with them, you would never have seen Jannah until your father’s grandfather saw it.”
(Sunan Nasai; Al Mujtaba, Hadith: 1880)
Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has recorded the following narration:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) cursed those women who visit the graves.”
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1056. Declared authentic –hasanun sahih– by Imam Tirmidhi)
Note: This issue has broad discussion. Some Scholars were of the opinion that these narrations are abrogated. Hence, one should refer to a reputable Mufti/Darul Ifta for a fiqhi ruling on the matter.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar