Is it prescribed to talk to the dead when visiting graves?

What is prescribed when visiting graves is to greet the occupants with salaam and offer supplication for them, not to talk to them.

Muslim (975) narrated that Buraydah said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to teach them, when they went out to the graves, to say: Peace be upon you, O people of these abodes, believers and Muslims, and we will, if Allah wills, join you soon. I ask Allah for wellbeing for us and for you.”

According to a report narrated by an-Nasa’i, when the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came to the graveyard, he would say: “Peace be upon you, O people of these abodes, believers and Muslims. Indeed we, if Allah wills, will join you soon. You have gone ahead of us and we will join you. I ask Allah for wellbeing for us and for you.”

Regardless of whether it is said that the dead can hear or not hear, talking to them as one talks to those who are living is not mentioned in the reports. Moreover, it is a door that leads to a number of bad things, such as becoming attached to them and addressing one’s worries and concerns to them, and perhaps that would lead to believing that they know the unseen, or it would lead to calling upon them and asking of them.

If speaking to the dead was a good thing, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and his companions would have done that before us. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

{This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion} [Al-Ma’idah 5:3].

Ibn al-Majishun said: I heard Malik say: Whoever introduces an innovation into Islam, thinking that it is good, is claiming that Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) betrayed the trust, because Allah says: {This day I have perfected for you your religion} [al-Ma’idah 5:3]. So whatever was not part of the religion on that day cannot be part of the religion today."(Al-I‘tisam by ash-Shatibi 1/64).

Based on that, the one who visits graves should adhere to what is mentioned in the religious texts, so he should greet the occupants with salaam and offer supplication for them, then leave.

If it so happens that someone does speak to the deceased, it cannot be said that it is shirk or that it is prohibited; rather it may be said that it is not prescribed and it may lead to that which is prohibited, so the best is to refrain from doing that.

And Allah knows best.