Prayer in a mosque that contains a grave
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Question: There is a mosque in our village, and inside it is the grave of a shaykh known as al-Bastani. Is it permissible to remove this grave that is built inside the mosque and incorporate its space into the area of the mosque?Some people say: This is a mistake.And some people say: The shaykh neither harms nor benefits, so there is no need to remove it. However, there is a room in it where sacrificial animals are slaughtered for vows and other purposes. What should we do about it? Please guide us, and may Allah guide you.
Answer: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against building mosques over graves and making them places of worship, and he was extremely strict in this regard, with severe warnings.The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Muwatta Malik 9:93 ،And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Mishkat al-Masabih 713
As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 65:145, and other hadiths regarding the prohibition of this ugly practice, which leads to graves becoming idols worshipped besides Allah, with sacrifices offered to them and vows brought to them, as the questioner mentioned. This is among the actions of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, and of the Jews and Christians with their prophets and righteous people. This is what led to the associating partners with Allah among the people of Noah (peace be upon him) when they exaggerated in their reverence for the righteous and the dead and worshipped them besides Allah. We ask Allah for safety and well-being.
And what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned about has occurred in this Ummah; graves were made into mosques in many cities, domes were built over them, many types of worship were directed to them, and needs were sought from them besides Allah (Mighty and Majestic). There is no power or strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Magnificent.
As for what was asked: Should the grave be removed from the mosque or not?
It is obligatory for Muslims to look into this matter. If the grave predates the mosque and the mosque was built over it afterwards, it is obligatory to demolish the mosque and leave the grave as it is; because the grave has the right of precedence, and this mosque was founded on associating partners with Allah and on disobedience to Allah and His Messenger. Therefore, it must be demolished.
As for the opposite case, where the mosque was built first on a sound legal basis and correct creed, and then a grave was buried in it afterwards, it is obligatory to dig up the grave and remove it from the mosque, restoring the mosque to its legality and getting rid of this great sin.
This is what is obligatory for Muslims. If you have the authority and ability, carry this out.
May Allah guide everyone to what He loves and is pleased with, and may He guide this Ummah to apply the rulings of its religion and what its Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) advised.
Question: Suppose, as you have mentioned, that the mosque predates the grave. What is the ruling on praying in it before the grave is dug up?
Answer: As long as there is a grave in the mosque, and it is intended for worship and prayer, and for the slaughter of vows, prayer is not permissible in it; because it has become a site of associating partners with Allah and a pre-Islamic place of worship, in which prayer is not permissible.
Answer: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against building mosques over graves and making them places of worship, and he was extremely strict in this regard, with severe warnings.The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The anger on those who took the graves of their Prophets as places of prostration was terrible.
اشتد غضب الله على قوم اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم وصالحيهم مساجدThose who preceded you used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as mosques, but you must not take graves as mosques
إن من كان قبلكم كانوا يتخذون قبور أنبيائهم مساجد، ألا فلا تتخذوا القبور مساجد،For I forbid you from doing so.
فإني أنهاكم عن ذلكAnd what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned about has occurred in this Ummah; graves were made into mosques in many cities, domes were built over them, many types of worship were directed to them, and needs were sought from them besides Allah (Mighty and Majestic). There is no power or strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Magnificent.
As for what was asked: Should the grave be removed from the mosque or not?
It is obligatory for Muslims to look into this matter. If the grave predates the mosque and the mosque was built over it afterwards, it is obligatory to demolish the mosque and leave the grave as it is; because the grave has the right of precedence, and this mosque was founded on associating partners with Allah and on disobedience to Allah and His Messenger. Therefore, it must be demolished.
As for the opposite case, where the mosque was built first on a sound legal basis and correct creed, and then a grave was buried in it afterwards, it is obligatory to dig up the grave and remove it from the mosque, restoring the mosque to its legality and getting rid of this great sin.
This is what is obligatory for Muslims. If you have the authority and ability, carry this out.
May Allah guide everyone to what He loves and is pleased with, and may He guide this Ummah to apply the rulings of its religion and what its Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) advised.
Question: Suppose, as you have mentioned, that the mosque predates the grave. What is the ruling on praying in it before the grave is dug up?
Answer: As long as there is a grave in the mosque, and it is intended for worship and prayer, and for the slaughter of vows, prayer is not permissible in it; because it has become a site of associating partners with Allah and a pre-Islamic place of worship, in which prayer is not permissible.