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Is it permissible in Islam to exhume graves and remove remains from them?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The basic principle is that it is impermissible to exhume graves, in order to preserve the sanctity of the deceased. However, if there is a need that necessitates it, such as people becoming infatuated with the occupant of a grave and believing they can cause benefit or harm, then this is a necessity that permits the exhumation, relocation, and concealment of graves from the public. The interest here is a legitimate one, pertaining to the very foundation of religion, which is creed (Aqidah), because attachment to the graves of the righteous is a means to polytheism (shirk). The Companions concealed the grave of Prophet Daniel for this very purpose, as mentioned by Abu Al-Aliyah. This is contingent on the condition that this action does not result in a greater harm.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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