What is the ruling on praying in mosques that contain graves, given that there is no barrier separating the graves from the mosque, and if there is a barrier, what is the ruling?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on praying in mosques that contain graves, given that there is no barrier separating the graves from the mosque, and if there is a barrier, what is the ruling on praying in them as well? May you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : The ruling on the validity of prayer in a mosque that contains a grave is detailed as follows:
If the mosque was built over the grave, then the prayer in it is invalid because it is a mosque that must be demolished, for building over graves is forbidden. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 703Sahih (Darussalam) He said this at the end of his life to warn his community against doing what the Jews and Christians did.
As for if the mosque existed before the grave and the grave was buried in it, then it is obligatory to exhume the grave and bury it with the people. If that is not done, we look at the following:
If the grave is in the qiblah of the mosque, then the prayer facing the grave is not valid, because it is established in Sahih Muslim from the hadith of Abu Mirdad al-Ghunawi that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1050Sahih (Darussalam).
And if it is behind the worshippers or to their right and left, then the prayer in the mosque is valid.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The ruling on the validity of prayer in a mosque that contains a grave is detailed as follows:
If the mosque was built over the grave, then the prayer in it is invalid because it is a mosque that must be demolished, for building over graves is forbidden. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
May Allah curse the Jews and Christians, for they took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.
لعنة الله على اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبورا أنبيائهم مساجدAs for if the mosque existed before the grave and the grave was buried in it, then it is obligatory to exhume the grave and bury it with the people. If that is not done, we look at the following:
If the grave is in the qiblah of the mosque, then the prayer facing the grave is not valid, because it is established in Sahih Muslim from the hadith of Abu Mirdad al-Ghunawi that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
Do not sit on the graves nor perform Salat towards them.
لا تجلسوا على القبور ولا تصلوا إليهاAnd if it is behind the worshippers or to their right and left, then the prayer in the mosque is valid.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.