What is the ruling on removing palm trees and building commercial shops on neglected land where various graves were found, some with remains in jars, some not facing the Qibla, and some facing it, and what is the ruling on transferring some of the remains to Muslim cemeteries, and is it obligatory to complete the transfer of the remaining remains?
It is not permissible to exhume the graves of Muslims or to build in their place as long as the bodies of the deceased are present, due to the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Breaking the bone of a dead person is like breaking it when he is alive," and his prohibition of sitting on graves. A grave is reserved for its occupant; one should not walk on it nor exhume it as long as the body is within it.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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