Back to search

Is it permissible to move the remaining graves, exhume them, and rebury them in a place befitting the sanctity of the deceased? And how should the structures built upon them be dealt with? And is it permissible to build public projects on the land from which the graves were removed?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If a graveyard is endowed solely for burial, then its use for purposes other than burial contravenes the endower's condition. However, there is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding the permissibility of changing the endower's condition for a preponderant benefit. The correct view is that it is permissible to change the endower's condition to something better, unless the endowment is for a specific individual. As for disinterring graves after the deceased has decayed and turned to dust, it is permissible. At that point, it becomes permissible to bury others in it, cultivate the land, build upon it, and utilize it in all other beneficial ways. The companions (of the Prophet) have unanimously agreed on this. This varies according to different countries and lands, and the opinion of experts should be relied upon in this regard.

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

Read the full answer on Ftawy