FatwaSelangorFunerals & Death
Fatwa Tentang Hukum Mengguna Semula Tanah Perkuburan Islam
Is it permissible to re-dig and reuse Islamic burial grounds to bury new bodies?
Short answer
This Selangor fatwa permits re-digging a burial ground when there is an urgent need or emergency for reasons allowed by Islamic law.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Selangor State Mufti Department
- Status
- Gazetted
- Series
- Keputusan Fatwa Diwartakan
- Topic
- Funerals & Death
Gazette evidence in the source: Sel. P.U. 14
Summary
This Selangor fatwa permits re-digging a burial ground when there is an urgent need or emergency for reasons allowed by Islamic law. It also permits digging once the authorities have confirmed that the bodies have decayed, so the land can be used to bury new bodies. For cemeteries that are full with no open land for expansion, the fatwa recommends piling soil 4 feet high over old graves, a method it says suits low-lying cemeteries.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Harus menggali semula tanah perkuburan sekiranya terdapat keperluan yang mendesak atau darurat dengan sebab-sebab tertentu yang diharuskan oleh syara".
Read the full fatwa on the Selangor website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Selangor State Mufti Department. “Fatwa Tentang Hukum Mengguna Semula Tanah Perkuburan Islam”, date not stated. https://www.muftiselangor.gov.my/2023/10/28/fatwa-tentang-hukum-mengguna-semula-tanah-perkuburan-islam/. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-reusing-islamic-burial-grounds/