FatwaPenangEndowment (Waqf) & Religious Property
KEDUDUKAN TANAH WAKAF YANG TELAH DIJADIKAN KUBUR KINI DIDIRIKAN RUMAH DIATASNYA
What is the ruling on building houses on waqf land that has been used as a graveyard?
Short answer
Land where Muslim dead have been buried is regarded as general waqf land for a cemetery unless there is evidence to the contrary.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Penang State Mufti Department
- Date
- Status
- Fatwa committee decision
- Series
- Keputusan Fatwa Negeri Pulau Pinang (e-Fatwa)
- Topic
- Endowment (Waqf) & Religious Property
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Land where Muslim dead have been buried is regarded as general waqf land for a cemetery unless there is evidence to the contrary. Building houses over graves on such land is forbidden, so the houses must be demolished and the site cleared for burials only. The area must be fenced and marked with a signboard, and it may not be encroached upon, sold, publicised or inherited. The fatwa also states that a donor cannot appoint himself as trustee or take benefits from the waqf land for himself, and any benefits taken must be returned to the intended mosque.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
BERKENAAN DENGAN RUMAH-RUMAH YANG DIBINA DI ATAS KUBUR-KUBUR ITU MAKA ERBUATAN ITU ADALAH HARAM MAKA HENDAKLAH DIRUNTUHKAN RUMAH ITU DARIPADA TAPAKNYA DAN HENDAKLAH DIKOSONGKAN TAPAK ITU
Read the full fatwa on the Penang website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Penang State Mufti Department. “KEDUDUKAN TANAH WAKAF YANG TELAH DIJADIKAN KUBUR KINI DIDIRIKAN RUMAH DIATASNYA”, 21 March 1994. http://efatwa.penang.gov.my/fatwa_details.php?fatwaid=1240. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-houses-built-on-waqf-graveyard-land/