Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Is it permissible to say: “He has been buried in his final place” or “He has been buried in his final resting place”?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd:
Saying that “he has been buried in his final resting place” is Islamically prohibited and impermissible, because:
◈ The phrase “final resting place” implies that the grave is the ultimate destination or permanent abode of a person.
◈ Such an expression amounts to denial of baʿth baʿd al-mawt (resurrection after death), whereas every ordinary Muslim knows that the grave is neither a place of comfort nor the final abode.
◈ Those without faith believe that the grave is indeed man’s last home.
◈ Muslims, however, believe that:
❀ The grave is only a temporary station.
❀ The true and final destination is either Paradise or Hell on the Day of Judgment.
A Bedouin once heard someone reciting the following verses from Sūrah al-Takāthur:
﴿ أَلهىكُمُ التَّكاثُرُ ﴿١﴾ حَتّى زُرتُمُ المَقابِرَ ﴿٢﴾… سورة التكاثر ﴾
“(O people!) Your rivalry in worldly increase has distracted you, until you visited the graves.”
Upon hearing this, the Bedouin immediately remarked:
“By Allah! The visitor is not one who stays, for indeed a visitor departs.”
Meaning:
◈ Graves are described as places of visitation, not permanent residence.
◈ This proves that a day will come when people will be raised from their graves.
◈ Therefore, it is incorrect to say that the grave is the final abode.
◈ Any words or expressions that portray the grave as the ultimate destination must be strictly avoided.
◈ The true final resting place will be only Paradise or Hell, which each person will attain on the Day of Judgment.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
Question
Is it permissible to say: “He has been buried in his final place” or “He has been buried in his final resting place”?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd:
Saying that “he has been buried in his final resting place” is Islamically prohibited and impermissible, because:
◈ The phrase “final resting place” implies that the grave is the ultimate destination or permanent abode of a person.
◈ Such an expression amounts to denial of baʿth baʿd al-mawt (resurrection after death), whereas every ordinary Muslim knows that the grave is neither a place of comfort nor the final abode.
Belief of Disbelievers Regarding the Grave
◈ Those without faith believe that the grave is indeed man’s last home.
◈ Muslims, however, believe that:
❀ The grave is only a temporary station.
❀ The true and final destination is either Paradise or Hell on the Day of Judgment.
Incident of a Bedouin and Qur’ānic Interpretation
A Bedouin once heard someone reciting the following verses from Sūrah al-Takāthur:
﴿ أَلهىكُمُ التَّكاثُرُ ﴿١﴾ حَتّى زُرتُمُ المَقابِرَ ﴿٢﴾… سورة التكاثر ﴾
“(O people!) Your rivalry in worldly increase has distracted you, until you visited the graves.”
Upon hearing this, the Bedouin immediately remarked:
“By Allah! The visitor is not one who stays, for indeed a visitor departs.”
Meaning:
◈ Graves are described as places of visitation, not permanent residence.
◈ This proves that a day will come when people will be raised from their graves.
◈ Therefore, it is incorrect to say that the grave is the final abode.
Conclusion
◈ Any words or expressions that portray the grave as the ultimate destination must be strictly avoided.
◈ The true final resting place will be only Paradise or Hell, which each person will attain on the Day of Judgment.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
