Back to search
The question

What is the ruling on praying in a mosque built on cemetery land after the graves were exhumed, with the possibility of unremoved remains still existing?

Share this answer

Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

Muslims must respect the graves of their deceased and it is not permissible to exhume them unless there is a necessity. If the graves of disbelievers are exhumed, or if the graves of Muslims are encroached upon and then exhumed, it is permissible to build a mosque in their place. However, if any part of the graves remains, it is not permissible to build a mosque over them.

If a mosque is built over Muslim graves, prayer in it is not permissible and it must be demolished because the graves predate it. However, if the graves are in a corner of the mosque and a separating wall is built between the mosque and those graves, then this is permissible and prayer is valid.

If there is a grave within a mosque, it must be exhumed and the bones transferred to the town's cemetery. If the mosque was built after the grave existed, then the mosque must be demolished and removed, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) warned against building mosques over graves.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported

Read the full answer on Ftawy
Source platform
Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
3445
Imported
Translation status
Source text, unreviewed
Read the full ruling
Read the full answer on Ftawy