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Burying Muslims in a non-Muslim country

14-01-2000

Question 7866

It is a great honour for a group of Muslims in the city of Brussels in Belgium to ask you for a fatwa (Islamic ruling) on the question of burying Muslims in a Christian graveyard or elsewhere. We have decided to establish an Islamic graveyard in this city, and the Belgian government has asked us to show them a fatwa (ruling) on this matter. We are asking you because of your great efforts on behalf of this religion. We await your response with expressions of our deepest respect.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

The deceased Muslims must be buried in a graveyard that is exclusively for them. It is not permissible to bury them in non-Muslim graveyards. Imaam al-Sheeraazi said in al-Muhadhdhab: “A non-Muslim should not be buried in the Muslim graveyard and a Muslim should not be buried in a non-Muslim graveyard.” Imaam al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’: “Our companions (may Allaah have mercy on them) agreed that a Muslim should not be buried in a non-Muslim graveyard and a non-Muslim should not be buried in a Muslim graveyard.” From this it is clear that there has to be a place that is exclusively for the burial of Muslims in a graveyard of their own.

And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

Funerals and rulings on graves
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