It is a great honour for a group of
Muslims in the city of Brussels in Belgium to ask you for a fatwa (Islamic ruling) on the
question of burying Muslims in a Christian graveyard or elsewhere. We have decided to
establish an Islamic graveyard in this city, and the Belgian government has asked us to
show them a fatwa (ruling) on this matter. We are asking you because of your great efforts
on behalf of this religion. We await your response with expressions of our deepest
respect.
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Burying Muslims in a non-Muslim country
Question: 7866
Answer
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.
The deceased Muslims must be buried in a graveyard that is exclusively for them. It is not permissible to bury them in non-Muslim graveyards. Imaam al-Sheeraazi said in al-Muhadhdhab: “A non-Muslim should not be buried in the Muslim graveyard and a Muslim should not be buried in a non-Muslim graveyard.” Imaam al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’: “Our companions (may Allaah have mercy on them) agreed that a Muslim should not be buried in a non-Muslim graveyard and a non-Muslim should not be buried in a Muslim graveyard.” From this it is clear that there has to be a place that is exclusively for the burial of Muslims in a graveyard of their own.
And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.
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Source:
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 9/6
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