Source:
Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Page 560
Question:
A man who regularly performs prayers and maintains a beard purchased about one marla (small plot) of land. Adjacent to this land lies an old Muslim graveyard, abandoned for around thirty years. Due to rain and lack of maintenance, the soil of the graves eroded, and the traces of the graves disappeared.
After purchasing his one marla, the man knowingly and intentionally extended his property by encroaching upon approximately three marlas of the graveyard land and later built a structure over it, installing machinery such as a flour mill and a rice sheller.
He also purchased four marlas elsewhere for residence but combined another four marlas of the graveyard to build a residential house in which he now lives.
The question is:
Is it permissible for him to live there and operate business machinery on that land according to the Qur’an and Sunnah?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
It is absolutely impermissible (ḥarām) to build a house, conduct business, or use for personal benefit any land belonging to a Muslim graveyard or any Muslim’s grave.
Such acts constitute disrespect to the deceased Muslims, whereas the Sharīʿah commands honoring and respecting the graves.
This ruling is supported by several authentic ḥadīths:
① Ḥadīth of Jābir رضي الله عنه
عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ: «نَهَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُجَصَّصَ الْقَبْرُ، وَأَنْ يُقْعَدَ عَلَيْهِ، وَأَنْ يُبْنَى عَلَيْهِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 312; Mishkāt, Kitāb al-Janā’iz, Bāb Dafn al-Sabti, p. 147)
Translation:
Jābir رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade plastering graves, sitting upon them, and building over them.
② Ḥadīth of Abū Marthad al-Ghanawī رضي الله عنه
عَنْ أَبِي مَرْثَدٍ الْغَنَوِيِّ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَجْلِسُوا عَلَى الْقُبُورِ، وَلَا تُصَلُّوا إِلَيْهَا»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 312)
Translation:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Do not sit upon graves, and do not pray facing toward them.
③ Ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَأَنْ يَجْلِسَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَلَى جَمْرَةٍ فَتُحْرِقَ ثِيَابَهُ، فَتَخْلُصَ إِلَى جِلْدِهِ، خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ عَلَى قَبْرٍ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Bāb al-Nahy ʿan al-Julūs ʿalā al-Qubūr, Vol. 1, p. 312)
Translation:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: For one of you to sit on a burning coal that scorches his clothes and burns his skin is better for him than sitting on a grave.
④ Ḥadīth of Jābir رضي الله عنه (Tirmidhī)
وَعَن جابر قال نَھٰی رسول اللہ اَنْ تُجَصَّصَ القبور وان یکتب علیھا وَاَن يبنی علیھا وانہ توطاء
(Tuhfat al-Aḥwadhī, Vol. 2, p. 154)
Translation:
Jābir رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade plastering graves, writing on them, building over them, and walking upon them.
Imām al-Tirmidhī رحمه الله said: This ḥadīth is ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ (good and authentic).
Summary and Ruling
From these clear and authentic narrations, it is evident that:
◈ Building houses, shops, or structures over Muslim graves is strictly forbidden.
◈ Installing tents, roofs, or markers for worldly or devotional purposes is prohibited.
◈ Facing graves in prayer or using them as a qiblah is impermissible.
◈ Sitting or walking upon graves is a grave sin and an act of disrespect to the deceased.
Therefore, the mentioned individual must immediately repent (tawbah) and vacate the graveyard land.
Otherwise, in the sight of Sharīʿah, he is guilty of a major sin (kabīrah) and liable for disciplinary punishment (taʿzīr).
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best what is right.
