What is the ruling on transporting the body of a deceased Muslim from an infidel land to his home country versus burying him where he died, given the presence of some drawbacks in both cases?
It is unanimously forbidden to bury a Muslim in the graveyards of disbelievers. The majority permits transporting the deceased from one country to another, and the Shafi'is hold that it is recommended to transport the deceased to a virtuous land. Narrations have indicated the permissibility of transportation. It is also disliked to bury the deceased in a coffin unless there is a benefit, such as soft or wet ground, and a will to be buried in a coffin is not to be executed except for such a benefit. If a Muslim is buried in a graveyard of disbelievers, they should be transferred to Muslim graveyards, because burial in the graveyards of disbelievers entails a greater harm, and to avoid the harms resulting from it.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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