Placing minarets in mosques and building graves in them
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The first and third questions of Fatwa No. ( 2909 )
Q1: Some benefactors build mosques at their own expense and designate a place in part of the mosque’s courtyard or in front of it to bury the benefactor or some members of his family; they believe that this is a means of drawing near to Allah. They seek the opinion of some scholars, who permit burial around the mosque or in front of it, on the condition that there is a separating wall between the mosque and the cemetery. Q3: Some people object to the construction of minarets altogether, considering it contrary to the Sunnah and a waste of money. Another group responds that minarets have become a landmark that publicizes the mosque and indicates it among crowded, tall buildings, and they block the view from a distance. A mosque with its tall minaret makes many people feel
that Muslims are still in good standing in the face of the many challenges they face.
A1: It is not permissible to designate a place in the mosque for the burial of the one who built the mosque or anyone else; this is because evidence has come indicating that it is not permissible to build mosques over graves. The basis for this is what is in the two Sahihs from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that Umm Salama mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) a church she had seen in the land of Abyssinia and the images in it, and he said:Sahih al-Bukhari 434 , and what the people of the four Sunans narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 320Da'if (Darussalam) , and other
authentic hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on this subject. A3: There is no harm in erecting minarets in mosques; in fact, it is recommended; because it facilitates the transmission of the mu’adhdhin’s voice to those being called to prayer. This is indicated by Bilal’s adhan in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from the roofs of some houses adjacent to his mosque, along with the consensus of the scholars of the Muslims on this. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: Some benefactors build mosques at their own expense and designate a place in part of the mosque’s courtyard or in front of it to bury the benefactor or some members of his family; they believe that this is a means of drawing near to Allah. They seek the opinion of some scholars, who permit burial around the mosque or in front of it, on the condition that there is a separating wall between the mosque and the cemetery. Q3: Some people object to the construction of minarets altogether, considering it contrary to the Sunnah and a waste of money. Another group responds that minarets have become a landmark that publicizes the mosque and indicates it among crowded, tall buildings, and they block the view from a distance. A mosque with its tall minaret makes many people feel
that Muslims are still in good standing in the face of the many challenges they face.
A1: It is not permissible to designate a place in the mosque for the burial of the one who built the mosque or anyone else; this is because evidence has come indicating that it is not permissible to build mosques over graves. The basis for this is what is in the two Sahihs from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that Umm Salama mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) a church she had seen in the land of Abyssinia and the images in it, and he said:
If any righteous pious man dies amongst them, they would build a place of worship at his grave and make these pictures in it; they are the worst creatures in the sight of Allah.
أولئك إذا مات فيهم الرجل الصالح أو العبد الصالح بنوا على قبره مسجدًا وصوروا فيه تلك الصور، أولئك شرار الخلق عند اللهAllah's Messenger cursed the women who visit the graves, and those who use them as Masajid and put torches on them.
لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم زائرات القبور والمتخذين عليها المساجد والسرجauthentic hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on this subject. A3: There is no harm in erecting minarets in mosques; in fact, it is recommended; because it facilitates the transmission of the mu’adhdhin’s voice to those being called to prayer. This is indicated by Bilal’s adhan in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from the roofs of some houses adjacent to his mosque, along with the consensus of the scholars of the Muslims on this. 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.