If the grave is on the road, is it permissible to change its location, and the Shaykh’s advice to those who desecrate it

The questioner : A man buried his mother in one of the cemeteries in his country. In this cemetery, there is a road through which people and animals pass, and his mother’s grave is located on the main road. He was unable to divert people from this road due to the narrowness of the space, and because of the custom in his country where people place roads over cemeteries, whether pedestrian paths, car roads, or parking spaces for cars. They graze their livestock there and tie them on top of the graves, such as camels, cows, and donkeys. They also place firewood on top of the graves and throw waste, carrion, and filth, and the like, onto the cemeteries. Is it permissible for him to move his mother’s grave to another cemetery, given that his mother’s grave is on the road where people walk? And what is the ruling of the Shari'ah in your view, O Shaykh, in this situation as you have heard? We ask you to kindly provide a detailed answer. May Allah reward you with good and preserve you.

The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. Before answering your question, I would like to offer advice to the people of this town. They should fear Allah the Exalted and respect their brothers. It is not permissible to desecrate the graves of Muslims in any way. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited sitting on graves.

The presenter : (peace and blessings be upon him).

The Shaykh : He said that it is better for one of you to sit on a burning coal that tears his clothes and burns his skin than to sit on a grave. How much more so when the graves are littered with garbage, dirt, and stench? This is a greater insult than sitting on them. Therefore, I advise my brothers, the people of this town, to fear Allah the Exalted and respect the graves of their brothers. This cemetery contains only their fathers, mothers, brothers, uncles, and relatives. Let them fear Allah if they are believers.

The presenter : Allah is the Greatest.

The Shaykh : As for the answer to your question, if your mother’s grave is among these graves that are being desecrated, there is no harm in you moving it to another place where it will be respected. Because this is a valid purpose.

The presenter : The voice is clear, O Shaykh.