What is the ruling on praying in a mosque from which graves have been dug up and removed to outside the mosque?
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The questioner : I wanted to ask about these people who removed the old bones of Muslims and placed them outside the mosque. Is this excuse sufficient for us to pray without feeling any hesitation about praying inside the mosque?
The Shaykh : You mean the graves were dug up and their bones were taken out to the outside of the mosque, is that right?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Of course, there is no longer any concern. The issue from the perspective of Islamic law, as you all know, is based on what is apparent. If it were assumed that the land of a mosque was originally graves, but they are covered and not visible, then there is nothing wrong with praying on this land or in this mosque.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : And the opposite is exactly the opposite. If it were assumed that there is one grave or more in the land of a mosque, and the reality is that there is only this visible grave, while there is nothing below, then it is not permissible. The criterion is what is apparent.
The questioner : Good.
The Shaykh : Yes, so if the graves in the mosque have been covered, especially if they were dug up and there are still bones as you say, and they were buried in another place, then the concern has certainly disappeared. The criterion is always what is apparent. I am pleased to mention on this occasion what is narrated about al-Ma'arri when he said in his poetry:
"Behold, these are our graves that fill the space, *** So where are the graves of those who have returned?" He replied:
"Lighten your step, for I do not think the skin of the earth *** Is anything but these bodies." And the matter is natural.
[Al-Mursalat 77:25-26] So the criterion is the apparent thing. The Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) mosque, perhaps you know!
The questioner : (Peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : It used to be graves of the polytheists, so they were dug up, the palm trees were removed, and the mosque was built.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : You mean the graves were dug up and their bones were taken out to the outside of the mosque, is that right?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Of course, there is no longer any concern. The issue from the perspective of Islamic law, as you all know, is based on what is apparent. If it were assumed that the land of a mosque was originally graves, but they are covered and not visible, then there is nothing wrong with praying on this land or in this mosque.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : And the opposite is exactly the opposite. If it were assumed that there is one grave or more in the land of a mosque, and the reality is that there is only this visible grave, while there is nothing below, then it is not permissible. The criterion is what is apparent.
The questioner : Good.
The Shaykh : Yes, so if the graves in the mosque have been covered, especially if they were dug up and there are still bones as you say, and they were buried in another place, then the concern has certainly disappeared. The criterion is always what is apparent. I am pleased to mention on this occasion what is narrated about al-Ma'arri when he said in his poetry:
"Behold, these are our graves that fill the space, *** So where are the graves of those who have returned?" He replied:
"Lighten your step, for I do not think the skin of the earth *** Is anything but these bodies." And the matter is natural.
the earth a container (26) Of the living and the dead?
الأرض كفاتا أحياء وأمواتاThe questioner : (Peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : It used to be graves of the polytheists, so they were dug up, the palm trees were removed, and the mosque was built.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
Source
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