New Delhi

To address the possibility of burial grounds falling short of space for the dead due to fear of increasing deaths from Covid-19, the Ulema and the Muftis have issued a fatwa to bury at least two bodies in a single grave.

According to the Ulema and the Muftis, as per the Shariah, more than one dead body can be buried in a single grave in extraordinary times like epidemics and war.  During Prophet Mohammad’s time, there have been instances of two dead bodies being buried in one grave.

The fatwa says Muslims should bury more than one corpse of those who have died of corona virusepidemic in one grave.

Allama Ulema Board General Secretary Allama Bunai Hasani says that the Shariah has allowed this and the Prophet of Islam has also practised it during his lifetime. It is mentioned in the hadith as well.

He said Muslims should not have any hesitation in burying at least two or more bodies in the same grave, given the shortage of space in the cemetery.

He says even more than two bodies can be given the same resting place to address the shortage of space in the cemeteries.

Mufti Abdul Wahid Kasami Darul Ifta of Delhi has issued an online fatwa in this regard.

He has cited the hadiths that speak of the custom of burying those dying of epidemic in the same grave. The same is written about those martyred during the war.

He said once while Prophet Mohammed was burying two bodies in a single grave and it came to their placement, he took a consensus from the assembled people about between the two who was more well versed in Quran. That person was buried first and the other on its top.

 He says that when Islam is explicitly allowed this Muslims must follow it and bury at least two bodies in one grave.