❖ Sharʿī Ruling on Burying Sacred Pages or Books in the Grave ❖
Question:
A certain Shaykh al-Ḥadīth reportedly said: “It is permissible to bury sacred pages, and I have a great love for the particular copy of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī from which I have taught 32 times. I wish for this copy to be buried with me in my grave.” What is the Sharʿī ruling on such a statement and action?
Answer by:
Fadhīlat al-Shaykh ʿAbdul Wakīl Nāṣir ḥafiẓahullāh
❀ General Principle:
🔸 May Allah ﷻ bless the Shaykh with good health and a long life.
🔸 His statement seems to stem from a sense of deep reverence and personal attachment, which is understood emotionally.
🔸 A person knows his own intention best, and it appears his sentiment was motivated by love and veneration for sacred knowledge.
❀ Permissible Acts:
✔ Preserving sacred books,
✔ Showing love or respect for them,
✔ Holding them close out of reverence—
—all these acts are permissible and carry reward, inshā’Allāh.
❌ Concern Regarding Burial with the Deceased:
However, formally requesting or insisting that a sacred text be buried with one’s body in the grave:
✘ Is not a practice established by the Sunnah.
✘ Is not supported by the actions of the Prophet ﷺ or the Ṣaḥābah.
✘ May be questionable, especially since the grave is meant to be solely for the body, not worldly possessions—even if they are religious.
📌 This idea requires careful consideration and should be avoided to prevent setting an unfounded precedent.
✅ Conclusion:
◈ Expressing love for religious books is a noble sentiment.
◈ However, desiring or arranging to bury a sacred book inside the grave with the deceased is not appropriate according to Sharʿī principles.
◈ It is better to honor the sacred text by preserving it for continued benefit or disposing of it respectfully (e.g., burying in clean soil separately, not inside the grave with a body).
