What is the ruling on exhuming bones from graves and placing them in a cemetery to make use of the land?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is not permissible to remove bones or build on land that contains graves, because it is the property of the deceased and is considered part of the cemetery. If there are graves, the land must be left untouched and not excavated. However, if there is an extreme necessity to widen a public road that serves Muslims, it is permissible to transfer the remains after consulting the ruler. But taking a part of the cemetery to expand houses is not permissible.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/18308
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 18308
- 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