Muslims in Indonesia have a tradition of visiting graves or nyekar before the arrival of Ramadan. According to Rasulullah SAW, carrying out grave pilgrimages has wisdom so that people remember death and the afterlife.
When making a pilgrimage, saying the grave pilgrimage prayer is one of the good practices in Islam. The following is a series of prayers when visiting the grave:
1. Say hello when entering the cemetery area.
God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing, God ونَ غَداً مُؤَجَّلُونَ وَإنَّا إنْ شاءَ اللَّه بِكُمْ لاحقُونَ
(Assalamu'alaìkum dara qaumìn mu'minnîn wa atakum ma tu'adun ghadan mu'ajjalun, wa ìnna insya-Allahu bìkum lahìqun)
Meaning: "Assalamualaikum, O dwelling place of the believers. "Allah's promise has come to you which was postponed for tomorrow, and we, God willing, will follow you."
2. Read Istighfar
God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing. َيُّ اْلقَيُّوْمُ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْه
(Astaghfirullah hal adzim alladzi la ilaha illa huwal hayyul qoyyumu wa atubu ilaihi)
Meaning: "I ask forgiveness from Allah, the Most Great, who has no god but Him, the Alive, the Almighty, and I repent to Him."
3. Read Surah Al-Fatihah (3x).
4. Read Surah Al-Ikhlas (3x).
5. Read surah Al-Falaq (3x).
6. Surah An-Nas (3x).
7. Reading the Chair Verse.
8. Read Surah Yasin.
9. Read the zikr tahlil (100x) and pray to the Prophet SAW.
10. Read the following grave pilgrimage prayer:
(Allahummaghfirlahu war hamhu wa'aafihii wa'fu anhu, wa akrim nuzuulahu wawassi'madholahu, waghsilhu bil maa'i watssalji walbaradi, wa naqqihi, minaddzzunubi wal khathaya kamaa yunaqqatssaubul abyadhu minad danasi. Wabdilhu daaran khairan min daarihi wa zaujan khairan min zaujihi. Wa adkhilhul jannata wa aidzu min adzabil qabri wa min adzabinnaari wafsah lahu fi qabrihi wa nawwir lahu fihi.
Meaning: “O Allah, grant forgiveness and mercy to him. Give him safety and forgive him. Give honor to it, widen the place of entry. Bathe him with water, ice and dew. Cleanse him from mistakes as You cleanse white clothes from dirt. Substitute for him a house better than his house, a wife better than his wife. Enter him into heaven, protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of hell. Make room for him in his grave and enlighten him therein.”
Pray for Parents and Muslims
Then, what about Indonesian migrant workers who are working abroad and cannot visit their graves? Migrant Friends can still pray for parents who have passed away and Muslims.
Prayer for parents is one way for children to be filial to them. Of course, this method of filial piety can still be done even if both parents are gone.
The following is one prayer that can be said:
Forgive me, my parents and the believers on the account
"O Allah, our Rabb, forgive me and my parents and all the believers on the day of reckoning (doomsday)." [Source: CNN Indonesia]
