Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(126): "Ruling of Sharia on Building Graves over each other"

Date Added : 18-12-2017

Resolution No.(126): "Ruling of Sharia on Building Graves over each other"

Date: 27/4/1430 AH, corresponding to 23/4/2009.

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
On the above date, the Board reviewed the letter of the Chairman of Abu Nussair Local Committee, No. 6/9/139, 27/1/2009, which includes the intention to build graves over each other.
After deliberating and researching, the Board decided what follows:
In principle, it is imperative that each deceased person is buried in one grave, and it isn`t permissible to bury more than one person in one grave if that wasn`t necessary. However, in case of necessity, such as when there are many deceased persons and it is difficult to bury each in a separate grave, burying them in one grave is permissible.
If the deceased person was buried in a grave, it isn`t permissible to build any structure over it, except that which preserves their corpse and keeps it in its place. Moreover, it isn`t permissible to bury a deceased person over another as indicated by the Hadith of Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him), who said: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) forbade that the graves should be plastered (made into permanent structures), used as sitting places (for the people) or building over them." {Muslim}.
In addition, the grave should be in an underground hole, because the Prophet (PBUH) said about those killed in the Battle of Uhud: "Dig graves and make them good and deep…" {Sunn An-Nassa`i}.
In conclusion, it is impermissible to build graves over each other because they are actually like the big drawers of hospitals` mortuary fridges, and not graves in the sense that suits the dignity of the Muslim person. Moreover, there is no need for burying more than one person in one grave since the desert is very vast, a human being is only buried once, and wherever there is a cemetery people can reach it. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, The Grand Mufti of Jordan, Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

Vice-Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi/ Member

              Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Eesa/ Member

                                                            Judge Sari Attieh/ Member

    Dr. Abdulrahman Ibdah/ Member

            Dr. Mohammad Al-Ibraheem/ Member

            Dr. Abdulnaser Abu Al-Basal/ Member

                        Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Executive Secretary of the Iftaa` Board

Decision Number [ Previous | Next ]


Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on following the actions of the imam in prayer and how this following is achieved?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
The follower (ma'mum) is required to follow his imam in the actions of the prayer. This "following" (mutaba'ah) means that the follower performs each action of the prayer after the imam has begun it but before he has finished it. For example, the follower bows (in ruku') after the imam has reached the position of bowing, then rises after the imam has risen. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The imam is only appointed to be followed, so when he says the takbir, say the takbir; and when he bows, then bow; and when he prostrates, then prostrate" (agreed upon, i.e., reported by both al-Bukhari and Muslim).
It is stated in Mughni al-Muhtaj (1/505): "Among the conditions of valid congregational prayer (iqtida') is following the imam in the actions of the prayer... meaning that following the imam is obligatory in the physical actions of the prayer, not in its verbal utterances... Complete following (kamal al-mutaba'ah) is achieved when the follower's beginning of an action comes after the imam's beginning of that same action, while the follower's beginning of the action precedes the imam's completion of it" — end of quote, with slight paraphrasing.
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

When is Istikharah (guidance prayer) Du`a offered, before Tasleem (saying asalamu alikum warahmatu allah wa barakatuh to end the prayer), or after it?

It is offered after Tasleem.

If someone fasts on the White Days with the intention of making up for missed fasts (qada), will they receive the reward for both voluntary and obligatory fasting?

Making up missed obligatory fasts (qada) is mandatory, and the intention for qada must be specified.
If a person makes up their missed Ramadan fasts on the White Days, they must intend qada, but they may also intend to fast the White Days, and Allah willing, they will receive the reward for both.
This is similar to entering a mosque and praying an obligatory prayer, where the person also earns the reward of Tahiyyat al-Masjid (greeting the mosque) if they intend both.
● If the person missed their fasts due to a valid excuse, they may wait and fast on the White Days.
● However, if they missed the fasts without a valid excuse, they must make up the fasts immediately and should not delay them until the White Days.

What is the meaning of the word aqiqah?

 

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The 'aqīqah in its linguistic sense refers to the hair upon the head of a newborn at the time of birth.
In its Sharī'ah sense, it refers to the livestock that is slaughtered on behalf of a newborn child.
And Allah Almighty knows best.