The Shar‘i Ruling on Expanding a Mosque onto Graveyard Land
Source: Fatāwā Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mubārakpūrī, Vol. 1, Pg. 184
❖ Clarification of the Question
An old, dilapidated mosque cannot accommodate all worshippers for Jumu‘ah prayers. Therefore, a new construction or expansion is being considered. Surrounding the mosque are graves of Muslims, both children and adults, some old and some recent, with some graves adjoining the mosque structure.
To expand the mosque sufficiently for the needs of worshippers, it has been proposed to include these graves into the mosque’s extension. This would require digging up some older graves, whose relatives are no longer present.
Another proposal is to build a commercial structure in the open space within the mosque compound (excluding the graves) to generate income for the mosque.
With the heirs’ consent, there is an intention to incorporate the graves into the mosque. If Sharī‘ah does not permit this, then the alternative is to construct a two-storey building, though some oppose this due to concerns over heavy rainfall and possible damage.
Thus, the main inquiries are:
✿ Is it Sharī‘ah-compliant to expand the mosque by incorporating the surrounding graves?
✿ Would Salah in such a mosque count as prostration towards the graves?
✿ Since praying in graveyards or stepping over graves is a grave sin, would such construction be considered desecration of the dead?
❖ Shar‘i Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
According to Islamic teachings, in a place where Muslims are buried:
❀ It is not permissible to build a mosque.
❀ It is not permissible to construct any other type of building.
❀ It is not permissible to dig up graves.
All such actions fall under disrespect of believing deceased.
❀ Offering Salah over a grave, and
❀ Offering Salah while facing a grave, are both impermissible.
❖ Evidences from Aḥādīth
➊ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَا تَجْلِسُوا عَلَى الْقُبُورِ، وَلَا تُصَلُّوا إِلَيْهَا أَوْ عَلَيْهَا»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Janā’iz, Bāb al-Nahy ‘an al-Julūs ‘ala al-Qabr wa al-Ṣalāh ‘alayh, 972/2:668)
➋ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«إِنَّ أُولَئِكَ، إِذَا كَانَ فِيهِمُ الرَّجُلُ الصَّالِحُ، فَمَاتَ، بَنَوْا عَلَى قَبْرِهِ مَسْجِدًا، وَصَوَّرُوا فِيهِ تِلْكَ الصُّوَرَ، أُولَئِكِ شِرَارُ الْخَلْقِ عِنْدَ اللهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, 1/110)
➌ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَعَنَ اللهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى، اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, 1/110)
❖ Additional Evidences
- Constructing any building over a grave, whether for reverence, religious, or worldly purposes, is impermissible.
- Imām al-Bukhārī (رحمه الله) established the chapter: “Bāb Hal Yunbashu Qubūr Mushrikī al-Jāhiliyyah” (regarding digging up graves of disbelievers).
- Ibn Ḥajar (رحمه الله) explained in Fatḥ al-Bārī (1/524):
"أَيْ دُونَ غَيْرِهَا مِنْ قُبُورِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَأَتْبَاعِهِمْ لِمَا فِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْإِهَانَةِ لَهُمْ، بِخِلَافِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا حُرْمَةَ لَهُمْ"
Meaning: The graves of prophets and their followers are especially sacred; hence, disrespecting them is impermissible.
❖ Conclusion
❖ It is not permissible in Sharī‘ah to expand the mosque by incorporating graves.
❖ Performing Salah in such a mosque carries the danger of prostrating towards graves, which is severely prohibited.
❖ Such construction would constitute desecration of the deceased, which is a major sin.
فقط والله أعلم وعلمه أتم
