Burial

Burial or interment is the ritual act of placing a dead person or animal, sometimes with objects, into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and objects in it, and covering it over. Most would agree that humans have been burying their dead since shortly after the origin of the species.

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Grave . Burial

Can you dig up an existing grave in order to bury another dead person or do you need to take permission of the heirs of the existing dead person's grave?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 3 months ago

Even if the heirs allow, it is not permissible to dig an existing grave to bury another dead body if the previous dead body still exists in the grave. If the previous dead body has completely decayed and became soil, then it will be permissible to bury another dead body in the grave which has no remaining. In such case, if the land of the grave was purchased by the heirs, their permission is must to bury another dead body in that empty grave.

'Wassalam.

Wassalam.

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Earth . Karbala . Burial

Do we get buried in the same dust or earth from which we are created from? So if I am born in Australia, lived in Oman and was buried in Karbala, does this mean I was created from the dust taken from the land of Karbala?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 6 months ago

There are some narrations indicating that the believer (mu'min) and/or those who have allegiance (wilayah) to Ahl al-Bayt (A) are created from a specific sort of clay, which is sometimes associated with the Euphrates. The faithless (kafir) and/or enemies of Ahl al-Bayt (A) are created from another sort of clay. And most people are of a sort of mix between the two which is why we have diverse temperaments.

Anyway, if these narrations are correctly transmitted, they seem to be more metaphorical about our natures and not literally relating to what kind of components we are physically constructed from. In fact, given that we human beings primarily gain our physical material from eating, and food is imported and shipped worldwide today, we are often built from the "clay" of many different regions!

So with that in mind, it is reasonable to say that someone with a strong affinity for Ahl al-Bayt (A) might have some creational link to Karbala metaphorically or metaphysically.

That being said, I am not aware of any text that indicates that we are buried in the same place whose clay we are created from, or which really assigns any significance to the region where we are physically buried.

In fact that Qur'an tells us that we don't know what land we will be buried in; life is full of surprises and we never know where we will go, nor when we will go.

Similarly the Qur'an does not assign any particular ethical significance to where we live and just says that Allah's earth is vast and if we are unable to live freely in one area, we should move.

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Burial . Imam Husayn

Is it true that Imam Hussain (as) was buried without a Kaffan?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 7 months ago

Bismihi ta'ala

The Islamic ruling is if someone who has participated in an Islamically authorised and legitimate Jihad and dies in battle while fighting the enemy, they are not washed or shrouded with the kafan.

This was the case of Imam Husain (a.s.), his family members who were martyred and his noble companions, peace be upon them all.

And Allah knows best.

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Burial . Ghusl . Coronaviruses . Forgiveness

My father passed away due to COVID-19. The burial process did not involve performing Ghusl or using a wood chamber, instead he was buried with a white dress and mud. Please advise if this was wrong and whether Allah will forgive my father?

Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb, Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb has a BA in Law from Guilan University, Iran and has also undertaken Hawzah studies in Qom. He is a Cultural Affairs director of Ethics Group of Al-Mustafa Open... Answered 1 year ago

Salaamun alaikum
May Allah (swt) bless his soul and raise him with Muhammad and his Ahlulbait (a.s).
It is recorded in Fiqhi books like Urwatul Wuthqa that if one is buried without Ghusl, it is obligatory that he/she must be exhumed and the Ghusl is performed on their bodies and then get buried again GIVEN that 1) the corpse is not decayed and 2) the act of exhumation is possible and also 3) the fact that the whole process is not considered a disrespectful act to the buried person.

There's no need for a wood chamber if you mean a coffin by that.

If the circumstances above are not possible at all then do not worry, Allah (swt) judges us according to our actions and let's hope that your father's actions be sufficient for getting Allah's Mercy. And you as his children can give charity and recite Quran and do Mustahab acts and gift the reward to his soul and it is very much recommended as the duty of children towards their parents!

These rituals are the duties of the alive people around the dead!!!

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Burial . Miscarriage

Is it allowed to bury a dead fetus of less than 2 months in the home garden or does it need to be buried in a graveyard?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 1 year ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It is fine to bury them in your home garden, but they should be buried in such a way that animals cannot dig them up to eat them.

May you always be successful

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Islam . Body . Burial

Why does Islam require the body of a deceased to be buried quickly?

Bismihi ta'ala

One of the primary mustahab things for a deceased body is that it is quickly washed, shrouded and buried. There are numerous ahadith from Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) that point to the hastening in the process of laying the mayyit to rest in his/her grave.

As for burying the body quickly, besides the health reasons, the family of the deceased also need to vent their emotions and have a fixed place where they are able to mourn and then regularly visit.

However, if there are valid reasons for postponing the burial, then there would be no problem in that.

And Allah knows best.

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Man . Wife . Burial

Is it permissible for a man to perform the final rites of his wife such as bathing, shrouding and burial?

Mateen Charbonneau, Sheikh Mateen Joshua Charbonneau achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies. He undertook Howza classes under esteemed scholars since 2013 and has been teaching at Imam Mahdi... Answered 1 year ago

Yes it is permissible.

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Burial . Lady Zaynab bt. 'Ali . Syria

Where is Sayyeda Zainab (AS) buried? Is it true that according to most scholars she is buried in Syria?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answered 1 year ago

as salam alaikum

there are three major opinions as far as the place of burial of Sayyidah Zaynab, peace be upon her: Madinah, Damascus and Cairo. Different scholars tried to bring evidences in favor and against each one of them. It is very difficult to bring a definitive proof for any of them. The scholars have also differed as to the "strongest probability" may be, it is therefore appropriate to be cautious in judgment even after having analyzed the various sources.

With prayers for your success.

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Husband . Wife . Burial

Can a husband and wife be buried in the same grave plot?

According to Ayatullah Sistani, there is no problem in burying husband and wife in the same plot of grave. It is better to bury every one in a separate grave.

Wassalam.

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Family . Mother . Ring . Burial . Cremation

I am the only Muslim in my family and my deceased mother was cremated according to her wishes. Her ashes will be buried, but is it permissible for some of her ashes to be used in making memorial jewellery, such as a ring, to be kept by the family?

Cremating any human body is absolutely forbidden in Islam, and the will to be cremated is invalid , because human being is honoured in Quran ( We have honoured the children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and granted them from good things, and preferred them above many of our creatures a marked preferment.( Sura 17, Verse 70).

It is also not allowed to use the ashes in making memorial jewelleries or any thing else. It must be buried only.

Wassalam.

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Burial . Imam Ali . Mazar-e-Sharif . Afghanistan

What is the significance of Mazar-e-Sharif (Blue Mosque) of Afghanistan? Is there any truth to the claim that Imam Ali (as) is buried there?

Imam Ali (AS) was buried in Najaf , in Iraq, and his grave in Najaf was visited by infallible Imams, so there is no question of any other place. Nevertheless, history says that a Sayyed pious person by similar name, Sayyed Ali son of Sayyed Abu Talib (Ali Ibn Abi Talib), was buried in Afghanistan before about five hundred years from now which means 8 to 9 centuries after the martyrdom of Imam Ali (AS) . Muslims of the area saw many blessings from visiting his grave and built on his grave a big Masjid and the whole city then was called Mazar Shareef.

Wassalam.

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Imam al-Hasan . Burial . A'ishah

Is it true that Aisha did not allow Imam Hassan (as) to be buried next to the Prophet's (pbuh) grave?

Bismihi ta'ala

It is mentioned in history books of both Shi'a and Sunni sides that at the time of the martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (a.s.), 'Aishah gathered some people, mounted a mule, and prevented the Imam from being buried next to his grandfather's grave.

In order to avoid any further bloodshed, Imam Husain (a.s.) buried his elder brother in Jannatul-Baqi' Cemetary.

With prayers for your success.