Building over graves
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Fatwa number ( 13922 )
Q: I have a neighbor, and his father passed away about ten years ago. At that time, the call to the truth had not reached him regarding the fact that building over graves is not permissible. This man built a dome over his father’s grave, and people visit this grave and slaughter animals at it. However, this bad custom and defective belief have ceased at this time. But this man—meaning his son—I advised him to demolish this dome over his father, and he said: “This is my father, and I fear that doing so would be undutifulness to my father.” So what do you advise us to do? Considering that there are people whose faith is weak, and they are illiterate, unable to read or write, and if this building is left on the grave, it will lead to defective belief. Please guide us to the ruling on this, and how to demolish it, and whether there are any dhikr or Qur’an recitation before the demolition, due to the fear of a shaytan in the cemetery? May Allah reward you with good.
A : It is obligatory to remove the building that is on your neighbor’s father’s grave, and there is no undutifulness to his father in doing so; because building over graves is forbidden, and it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1049Sahih (Darussalam) And your neighbor should seek help from Allah and remove the building from the grave, and he should not fear
a shaytan or anything else; because that is illusions that Iblis casts into some hearts; to discourage them from forbidding what is wrong. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I have a neighbor, and his father passed away about ten years ago. At that time, the call to the truth had not reached him regarding the fact that building over graves is not permissible. This man built a dome over his father’s grave, and people visit this grave and slaughter animals at it. However, this bad custom and defective belief have ceased at this time. But this man—meaning his son—I advised him to demolish this dome over his father, and he said: “This is my father, and I fear that doing so would be undutifulness to my father.” So what do you advise us to do? Considering that there are people whose faith is weak, and they are illiterate, unable to read or write, and if this building is left on the grave, it will lead to defective belief. Please guide us to the ruling on this, and how to demolish it, and whether there are any dhikr or Qur’an recitation before the demolition, due to the fear of a shaytan in the cemetery? May Allah reward you with good.
A : It is obligatory to remove the building that is on your neighbor’s father’s grave, and there is no undutifulness to his father in doing so; because building over graves is forbidden, and it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
That you not leave an elevated grave without leveling it
ولا تدع قبرًا مشرفًا إلا سويتهa shaytan or anything else; because that is illusions that Iblis casts into some hearts; to discourage them from forbidding what is wrong. 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.