Fathwa - Islamic guidelines concerning visiting the graves

Question
What is the ruling concerning visiting the grave of a certain person?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad,
is His Slave and Messenger.
Generally speaking it is permissible to visit the graveyards. Rather,
it is recommended as it reminds the visitor with the Hereafter. There
is nodifference in this regard between one grave and another or
whether it is amale or a female according to the preponderant opinion
of scholars.
Please note that there is another important matter; that it is
incumbent upon the visitor to adhere to the Islamic guidelines
including: to not travel for the sole purpose of visiting a grave as
it is a banned form of travelling. Also the visit must be confined to
the aspect of admonishment, reminding, supplicating Allaah to Have
Mercy on the deceased and to Forgive him.
However, if the visit involves a prohibited matter; like those who
seek the help of the deador ask them to fulfill theirneeds, and so on,
in such a case, visiting the gravesis prohibited.
Allaah Knows best.