Is it forbidden to visit a Kever of a Tzadik on Shabbos?

There is no explicit prohibition recorded against visiting the Kever of a Tzadik on Shabbos, however, it would be prohibited for one to pray for his bodily needs on Shabbos while by the Kever.[1] Likewise, if visiting the Kever brings one to sadness, such as when visiting a relative, then it should be prohibited due to causing oneself unnecessary pain on Shabbos.[2] Furthermore, despite the lack of explicit prohibition, there is no point of visiting a grave on Shabbos, being that according to Kabbalah[3] the soul of the tzadik is not there, and hence the custom is to avoid visiting, and so is explicitly written in some Sefarim[4] to avoid visiting on Shabbos. Nonetheless, this is not an intrinsic prohibition, and hence seemingly those whom are accustomed to Daven on Shabbos by the Kever of Rashbi in Meron, and inside the Rebbe’s Ohel [however, outside is forbidden being that it has status of a regular cemetery in which prayer is forbidden[5]], may continue to do so and so is indeed the custom in many places in Israel, to have set Minyanim on Shabbos in the Tziyon of various Tzadikkim, as the Tziyon has been turned into a Shul.

_________________________________________________

[1] Admur 287:1; 288:8-9; 294:1; 299:15; 619:11

[2] See regarding reading sad things on Shabbos: Mur Uketzia 307; M”B 307:3, 58; Piskeiy Teshuvos 307:24; See regarding crying on Shabbos: Rama 288:2; Iggur in name of Shibulei Haleket; Taz 288:2; Elya Raba 288:3; Tosefes Shabbos 288:3; Mateh Yehuda 288:10; P”M 288 M”Z 2; Aruch Hashulchan 288:6; M”B 288:4; Kaf Hachaim 288:9; Piskeiy Teshuvos 288:2 See regarding playing games on Shabbos: Igros Moshe Yoreh Deah 3:15-2; Piskeiy Teshuvos 338:13 footnote 109;

[3] Shaar Hayichudim of Arizal p. 5 [the souls are not by the graves]

The reason: As on these days the souls of the Tzaddik are not found in their graves. [Arizal in Shaar Hayichudim p. 5]

[4] Alef Hamagen 581:110; Mishmeres Shalom 5:129; Nitei Gavriel 83:1; So rule regarding last day of Shiva: Kol Bo brought in Beir Hagoleh Yoreh Deah 344/20 [regarding Rosh Chodesh even if falls on seventh of Shiva]; So rules regarding a Shabbos Yartzite of Rebbe Rayatz: Conclusion of Rebbe in Igros Kodesh 8:125; 14:324; Likkutei Sichos 19:132 regarding Tzedaka; Toras Menachem 19:31 [brought in Shulchan Menachem 5:323-324]

[5] Michaber Y.D. 367:3 “One may not walk into a cemetery , or within four Amos of a corpse or Kever with a Sefer Torah in his hand and to read from it, or Daven”; Michaber 282:4 “One may not read from the Sefer Torah until he distances himself four Amos from the corpse or cemetery”; Rama 368:1 regarding “Viein Korin Viein Shonin” as learns Gr”a that it is due to Loeg Larash; So rule regarding Shema: Admur 71:6; Bach 71; Taz 71:5; Michaber 71:7; Brachos 18a; So rule regarding Davening: Michaber Y.D. 367:3 and 6;