Is the statement that prayer is absolutely prohibited in mosques containing graves a matter of blocking the means to harm?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless you, I read in the statement of some scholars that it is forbidden to pray in a mosque that contains a grave, absolutely. As for the first one, it is clear that it was built on a grave, and as for the last one, it is because people's hearts become attached to the dead, especially in these days. We are in the land of Najd, and we do not have this except that we find among our brothers those who go outside the country and mix with people who, I mean, become attached to the persons more than they are attached to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This leads to their exalting them. This statement, O Shaykh, the Shari'ah came with blocking the means to harm regarding this statement?
The Shaykh : By Allah, we do not see this. I see that the original rule is that the entire earth is a mosque, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, and he said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 760Sahih (Darussalam) So if the grave is in front of the worshippers, then yes, they do not pray facing it. But if it is behind them, or to their right, or to their left, there is no prohibition in it. It is not necessary to dig up the grave and place it in another location.
The questioner : Shaykh, now people, for example, in this town, they fear the graveyards.
The Shaykh : What do they fear?
The questioner : They fear the graves, to the extent that some of them do not visit the graves. They have a dread, they have a fear of the grave, just from the mere grave. This is a tested matter.
The Shaykh : No, it is not just that. Now, the fear, the matter was correct at first; if they passed by the graveyard, a person would fear, and panic and terror would overtake him. But now, no. And in any case, the important thing is to return to the Shari'ah. Since the Messenger said:, the original rule is the validity of prayer in every mosque. And since this grave is the one that was wrongfully buried in the mosque, how can we say, "Do not pray in the mosque"? We would invalidate the reward of the mosque's people and empty the congregation. This is problematic.
The questioner : O Shaykh, digging up the grave.
The Shaykh : There is no harm. We say that digging up the grave is obligatory. It is necessary, even if it is behind the people, it must be dug up, because this place was endowed for prayer.
The questioner : The time is up, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : By Allah, we do not see this. I see that the original rule is that the entire earth is a mosque, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, and he said:
Do not pray toward graves
لا تصلوا إلى القبورThe questioner : Shaykh, now people, for example, in this town, they fear the graveyards.
The Shaykh : What do they fear?
The questioner : They fear the graves, to the extent that some of them do not visit the graves. They have a dread, they have a fear of the grave, just from the mere grave. This is a tested matter.
The Shaykh : No, it is not just that. Now, the fear, the matter was correct at first; if they passed by the graveyard, a person would fear, and panic and terror would overtake him. But now, no. And in any case, the important thing is to return to the Shari'ah. Since the Messenger said:
The entire earth is a mosque
الأرض كلها مسجدThe questioner : O Shaykh, digging up the grave.
The Shaykh : There is no harm. We say that digging up the grave is obligatory. It is necessary, even if it is behind the people, it must be dug up, because this place was endowed for prayer.
The questioner : The time is up, O Shaykh.