What is the ruling on praying in a mosque where there are graves in front of its qiblah, at a distance from the mosque not exceeding four meters, and there is no barrier between them and the mosque?
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The questioner : We would like to inquire about the ruling on praying in a mosque where there is a cemetery in front of its qiblah, where the graves are at a distance from the mosque not exceeding four meters, and there is no barrier between the mosque and the graves, and we cannot erase those graves or build a barrier between the mosque and the graves? We also request that your eminence clarify the meaning of the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he says: Sunan an-Nasa'i 760Sahih (Darussalam) Is the intended meaning of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan an-Nasa'i 760Sahih (Darussalam) Is it praying in the direction of the grave, or is the intended meaning venerating them and seeking blessing from them? And I sent, O Shaykh Muhammad, an explanatory drawing of the mosque and the cemetery?
The Shaykh : After looking at the drawing, it became clear that the cemetery is exactly in front of the mosque's qiblah, and that there is no barrier between it and the mosque, because the cemetery's gate is open in the wall of the mosque in a wing outside the mosque, but this wall extends to the mosque's qiblah wall. Therefore, a wall must be placed to separate the mosque from the cemetery, and this is not difficult.
And the statementThe questioner : It is not difficult. We do not see a basis for this, and it is not acceptable. Rather, the wall should be placed and raised, and there is no harm if the top of the wall is open for light and air, and thereby the problem is resolved.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. May Allah bless you.
Do not pray toward graves and do not sit on them.
لا تصلوا إلى القبور ولا تجلسوا عليهاDo not pray toward graves
لا تصلوا إلى القبورThe Shaykh : After looking at the drawing, it became clear that the cemetery is exactly in front of the mosque's qiblah, and that there is no barrier between it and the mosque, because the cemetery's gate is open in the wall of the mosque in a wing outside the mosque, but this wall extends to the mosque's qiblah wall. Therefore, a wall must be placed to separate the mosque from the cemetery, and this is not difficult.
And the statementThe questioner : It is not difficult. We do not see a basis for this, and it is not acceptable. Rather, the wall should be placed and raised, and there is no harm if the top of the wall is open for light and air, and thereby the problem is resolved.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. May Allah bless you.