Burying Muslims in a non-Muslim country
Question: 7866
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.
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.
Source:
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 9/6
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