Is it permissible to dig up a grave to see the deceased, and is that considered desecration?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is not permissible to dig up or open a grave merely to see the deceased, except out of dire necessity. The sanctity of a Muslim in death is like their sanctity in life, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Breaking the bone of a deceased person is like breaking it while they are alive." As for the narration mentioned concerning Aisha, it is not to be understood as exhuming graves, but rather as removing a curtain that covered the graves in her house.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/143670
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 143670
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy