Is it permissible to bury in red bricks fired in fire due to the abundance of water in the cemetery?
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The questioner : The second question says: In our country, we bury our dead in a structure made of red bricks that are first fired in fire. It is a rectangular area built with red bricks and covered on top. Some people raise the structure above the ground, contrary to the Shari'ah, and some do not raise it. Due to the narrowness of the space on one hand, and the high water table underground on the other, they resorted to this aforementioned method. We were among those who did this. Is it permissible to bury in these, which are called *fasaqi*, such that we do not raise them above the ground except by a *shibr*, as Islamic Shari'ah commands?
The Shaykh : The Sunnah regarding graves is to dig for the deceased in the ground, then to make a niche for him by digging a hole in the side of the grave facing the qiblah, and then placing the deceased in it. The bricks you mentioned should be fired in fire.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Some jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned that it is disliked to place in the grave anything that has been touched by fire. Based on this, you should strive to find a cemetery that is not affected by water so that you can bury your dead in the prescribed manner that is required. If you are unable to do so except in this land, you can place some stones to separate the deceased from the water, and then place stones on top of him and bury him. This would be the closest thing to the prescribed method.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The Sunnah regarding graves is to dig for the deceased in the ground, then to make a niche for him by digging a hole in the side of the grave facing the qiblah, and then placing the deceased in it. The bricks you mentioned should be fired in fire.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Some jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned that it is disliked to place in the grave anything that has been touched by fire. Based on this, you should strive to find a cemetery that is not affected by water so that you can bury your dead in the prescribed manner that is required. If you are unable to do so except in this land, you can place some stones to separate the deceased from the water, and then place stones on top of him and bury him. This would be the closest thing to the prescribed method.
The questioner : Yes.