The rulings of cemeteries in Islamic Sharia

Abdullah Omar Al-Suhaibani [Judgments of Cemeteries in Islamic Sharia] Author/ Supervisor: Abdullah bin Omar bin Muhammad Al-Suhaibani Researcher/ Translator: None Publisher: Dar Ibn Al-Jawzi - Dammam First Edition Year of Printing: 1426 AH Main Classification: Jurisprudence Subcategory: Cemeteries - Visiting Them Praise be to Allah, by whose praise good deeds are completed, I praise Him, exalted and mighty, and thank Him, and praise Him and seek His forgiveness, and ask Him for more of His grace and mercy. He is Generous and Noble. I send blessings and peace upon the Messenger, a mercy to the worlds, and upon his family and companions altogether. To proceed: In this conclusion, I would like to stand with the dear reader on the most important points I have reached during this research, from benefits and results that are the outcome of many issues. Among them: 1 - That the grave and burying a person after his death is a continuous Sunnah in creation since the first deceased on the face of the earth, and it is something Allah honored the children of Adam with. 2 - That preparing the grave before death by purchasing it is permissible, but digging it before death for a specific person is forbidden if it is in a prepared cemetery, and if it is in his ownership, it is disliked and not recommended. 3 - The consensus of scholars on the permissibility of Luhd (a type of grave trench) and Shiq (a grave opening), although Luhd is better, and Shiq is preferable when needed. 4 - That deepening the grave is recommended; there is no fixed limit according to the most correct opinion, and the moderate depth is approximately up to the chest. It is also recommended to widen and beautify the grave. 5 - The scholars agree on the permissibility of throwing the deceased into the sea if access to the coast is impossible, and the most likely opinion is to weigh him down so he sinks in the sea, and they also agree on the dislike of the coffin, except in cases of necessity. 6 - Permissibility of burying a deceased person if he has decayed and become dust, and the prohibition if he has not decayed or if there are bones from the first deceased, unless it is a small amount according to the correct opinion. 7 - The most likely opinion is that it is permissible to take wages for digging graves, and it is also permissible to take sustenance from the state treasury for that. 8 - That the most deserving to bury a man are men from the guardians, and similarly women; the most likely is that the most suitable person for a woman is her husband, and that foreign men are more deserving than women for burying a woman. It is not permissible for anyone entering the grave to have a specific role of interceder or mediator. 9 - Permissibility of burial at all times except during disliked times; it is not permissible to bury during those times. Burial at night is permissible if it does not cause the rights of the deceased to be missed. 10 - That inserting wood into the grave is disliked unless out of necessity, and also inserting something that has been touched by fire, and it is also disliked to spread mats or place a pillow under the head of the deceased or similar. 11 - The matter of placing the deceased in the grave is broad; the best is the easiest. It is obligatory, according to the most correct opinion, to direct the deceased toward the Qibla in the grave. Placing the deceased on his right side in the grave is Sunnah by consensus. 12 - Most scholars recommend supporting the deceased in his grave, placing something under his head, loosening his shroud knots, erecting a brick on his grave, and supplicating for him in that state. 13 - Scholars agree on the desirability of covering the woman's grave when lowering her, and they differ regarding men; the most likely is that it is disliked for men. Throwing dirt into the grave is most likely recommended, and mentioning it along with is disliked. 14 - It is recommended to raise the grave about a handspan or so, and not to increase beyond the amount of dirt that comes out of it. Scholars agree on this, and they differ on whether Tasmim (building up the grave) or Tashtih (flattening it) is better; the most likely is that Tasmim is better. 15 - Sprinkling the grave after finishing the burial and placing pebbles on it is recommended according to the most correct opinion. Placing palm fronds and flowers on the grave, writing on it, plastering it, building on it, or similar acts are all forbidden and not permissible according to the correct view. 16 - Scholars agree on the superiority of burying in a cemetery, but they differ on the ruling of burial in houses and similar places; the most likely is that it is disliked. It is better to choose the best cemetery in the town for burial. Burying the deceased in mosques or similar places like schools is forbidden because it glorifies the deceased buried there. 17 - The Sunnah is that the martyr be buried at his place of death and not moved to another location.