What is the ruling for visiting the graves of the members of the Prophet’s household?

Visiting the graves of members of the Prophet’s household is one of the best deeds and an act of obedience whose acceptance by God Almighty, the Lord of all creation, is most hoped for.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advised his community concerning the rights of his household. Zayd Ibn Arqam (may God be pleased with him) said, "One day the Messenger of God (peace and blessing be upon him) delivered a sermon by a well situated between Mecca and Medina known as Khumm. He praised and extolled God, and enjoined the people to obey God and to remember Him. He then said, 'O people, I am but a man about to receive a messenger [the angel of death] from my Lord, and I will answer. I leave you with two matters of great weight: the first is the Book of God which contains guidance and light, so hold on fast to it.' He emphasized the importance of the Quran and made it enticing to us. He then said, 'The second is my descendants. I remind you to be mindful of God concerning my descendants. I remind you to be mindful of God concerning my descendants. I remind you to be mindful of God concerning my descendants."

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also encouraged us to visit graves. Abu Huraira (may God be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Visit graves, for they remind one of death.” In another phrasing of the hadith, he said, “… for they remind you of the hereafter.”

The graves that are most worthy of visiting — after that of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) — are the graves of the members of his noble household because visiting them demonstrates devotion and forging a connection with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). God Most High says, "Say [Prophet], I ask no reward from you for this, only the affection due to kin." Indeed, visiting the graves of the members of the Prophet’s household is better than visiting the graves of one’s deceased relatives. In this regard, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may God be pleased with him) said, “By God in whose Hands is my life: it is more beloved to me to do good to the household of the Messenger of God than it is to do good to my own relatives.” He (may God be pleased with him) also said, “Be dutiful to Muhammad through his descendants.”

And God Almighty knows best.