Is it permissible to exhume the grave of a disbeliever, a heretic, an atheist, or a hypocrite?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The hypocrite is treated as a Muslim in this world, buried in Muslim cemeteries, and it is not permissible to exhume his grave except for a prevailing benefit or an urgent necessity. As for the disbeliever, he is divided into two categories: the peaceful disbeliever who has sanctity, and the belligerent disbeliever who has no sanctity. It is not permissible to exhume the grave of a peaceful disbeliever, whereas it is permissible to exhume the grave of a belligerent disbeliever for a legitimate benefit, otherwise not. Burying the disbeliever is obligatory, and exhuming his grave without a benefit may lead to a greater harm.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/15765
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 15765
- 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