Placing the deceased in a grave that protects and preserves him from desecration
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 16649 )
Q 1: We live in an agricultural area where the soil, if dug ten centimeters deep, becomes wet clay, and if the depth is increased, water springs up. So we built graves above ground, placing the deceased inside and sealing the grave. More than one person is buried in the same grave, and we do not place anything on top of the buried person. What is the ruling? When building these graves, we prayed in a direction based on our own ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) toward the qiblah. After correcting the qiblah with a compass and building the mosque, we found that the alignment of the graves matches the qiblah in one direction, such that if we place the deceased on his right side, his face does not face the qiblah, but rather the east. We know that if we place him in the second position, i.e., on his back with his head raised slightly, his face will face the qiblah. What should we do? Note that the deceased will enter the grave from the feet side instead of the head. What is the ruling on those who were buried in the first position?
A 1 : It is obligatory to place the deceased in a grave that protects and preserves him from desecration and covers him from view, in the manner that is possible. It is prescribed to direct him toward the qiblah, and a slight deviation from it does not harm. There is no exposure of the deceased who were buried
with their faces deviated from the qiblah. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q 1: We live in an agricultural area where the soil, if dug ten centimeters deep, becomes wet clay, and if the depth is increased, water springs up. So we built graves above ground, placing the deceased inside and sealing the grave. More than one person is buried in the same grave, and we do not place anything on top of the buried person. What is the ruling? When building these graves, we prayed in a direction based on our own ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) toward the qiblah. After correcting the qiblah with a compass and building the mosque, we found that the alignment of the graves matches the qiblah in one direction, such that if we place the deceased on his right side, his face does not face the qiblah, but rather the east. We know that if we place him in the second position, i.e., on his back with his head raised slightly, his face will face the qiblah. What should we do? Note that the deceased will enter the grave from the feet side instead of the head. What is the ruling on those who were buried in the first position?
A 1 : It is obligatory to place the deceased in a grave that protects and preserves him from desecration and covers him from view, in the manner that is possible. It is prescribed to direct him toward the qiblah, and a slight deviation from it does not harm. There is no exposure of the deceased who were buried
with their faces deviated from the qiblah. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.