He says in his letter: If a grave is more than forty years old or more, is it permissible to bury a second corpse with it, or not, given that we have narrow cemeteries?
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The questioner : This letter is from Muhammad 'Abd Allah Sulayman al-Shahri from the village of Rabu' al-Sarw. He says in his letter: If a grave is more than forty years old or more, is it permissible to bury a second corpse with it in the same grave, or not, given that we have narrow cemeteries? And peace be upon you and Allah's mercy.
The Shaykh : The period in which a deceased person decomposes in his grave has no fixed limit, neither forty years nor a hundred years, nor more nor less, because this varies according to the soil. Some soil is hot and consumes the flesh and bone quickly, while some is cold and the flesh and bone remain in it for a long time. Also, some people are honored such that the earth does not consume them, and this is established for the Prophets (peace be upon them), where he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1637Da’if (Darussalam).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for other than the Prophets, it is not confirmed, neither for the martyrs nor for others, but a person may be honored such that his body remains and the earth does not consume it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In any case, if you are compelled to bury in the old cemetery due to the lack of space, it is possible to test this by digging the grave. If a corpse is found in it, it is buried, and another place is dug so that the next deceased person is alone and no one is with him.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O gentlemen. We have reached the end of this meeting, which...
The Shaykh : The period in which a deceased person decomposes in his grave has no fixed limit, neither forty years nor a hundred years, nor more nor less, because this varies according to the soil. Some soil is hot and consumes the flesh and bone quickly, while some is cold and the flesh and bone remain in it for a long time. Also, some people are honored such that the earth does not consume them, and this is established for the Prophets (peace be upon them), where he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
for Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets
إن الله حرّم على الأرض أن تأكل أجساد الأنبياءThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for other than the Prophets, it is not confirmed, neither for the martyrs nor for others, but a person may be honored such that his body remains and the earth does not consume it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In any case, if you are compelled to bury in the old cemetery due to the lack of space, it is possible to test this by digging the grave. If a corpse is found in it, it is buried, and another place is dug so that the next deceased person is alone and no one is with him.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O gentlemen. We have reached the end of this meeting, which...