Is it permissible to pray in a mosque that contains five graves, given that it is the only mosque in the village?
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The questioner : We have a mosque that contains five graves, and it is the only mosque in the village. Is it permissible to pray in it?
The Shaykh : This mosque that the questioner referred to, mentioning that it contains five graves, i.e., burial sites, requires examination. If the graves predate the mosque and the mosque was built over them, then this mosque is forbidden, and it is not permissible to pray in it. Praying in it is one of the means of shirk (associating partners with Allah). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the Jews and the Christians for taking the graves of their prophets as mosques.
If the mosque predates these graves, but the graves were buried in it, then it is obligatory to dig up these graves and move them to the Muslim cemetery. It is not permissible for them to remain in the mosque, because their presence in the mosque while people pray in it is one of the greatest means of shirk (associating partners with Allah). It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 760Sahih (Darussalam). My advice to this brother questioner is to contact the ministry responsible for such matters in his country to clarify the situation and to take the measures necessary to prevent this.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : This mosque that the questioner referred to, mentioning that it contains five graves, i.e., burial sites, requires examination. If the graves predate the mosque and the mosque was built over them, then this mosque is forbidden, and it is not permissible to pray in it. Praying in it is one of the means of shirk (associating partners with Allah). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the Jews and the Christians for taking the graves of their prophets as mosques.
If the mosque predates these graves, but the graves were buried in it, then it is obligatory to dig up these graves and move them to the Muslim cemetery. It is not permissible for them to remain in the mosque, because their presence in the mosque while people pray in it is one of the greatest means of shirk (associating partners with Allah). It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Do not pray toward graves and do not sit on them.
لا تصلوا إلى القبور ولا تجلسوا عليهاThe questioner : May Allah bless you.