The Proposition of Burying 2 People in 1 All Hole

The law of memorizing Mayyit (people who died) is fardu kifayah, which includes 4 (four) points, namely: bathing, shrouding, praying, and burying. The fourth point of the mulasara mayyit is to bury it according to the rules that have been set by the ulama' based on studies by the madhhab scholars. The Prophet's suggestion regarding the criteria for digging an edial grave is described in one of the hadiths as follows:

احْفِرُوا، وَأَوْسِعُوا، وَأَحْسِنُوا

Meaning: "Dig (grave), widen, and deepen" (Narrated by Ibn Majah).

Scholars in interpreting the redaction of the hadith order above is as an order that is an encouragement, not a mandatory law. The depth of a grave pit is estimated as the height of a man in general by stretching his arms upwards. The width of the grave is if it fits to accommodate the corpse as well as those who lower the corpse in the process of lowering the corpse to the grave pit. While the minimum standard in digging a grave is a mineral that can prevent the smell of the corpse when it has been buried and can prevent wild animals to dig and prey on the corpse.

The above provisions as mentioned by Imam Jalaluddin al-Mahalli in the book Syarh al-Mahalli ala al-Minhaj as follows:

ـ(أَقَلُّ الْقَبْرِ حُفْرَةٌ تَمْنَعُ الرَّائِحَةَ وَالسَّبُعَ) أَنْ يَنْبُشَ لِيَأْكُلَ الْمَيِّتَ فَتُنْتَهَكَ حُرْمَتُهُ، (وَيُنْدَبُ أَنْ يُوَسَّعَ وَيُعَمَّقَ قَامَةً وَبَسْطَةً) بِأَنْ يَقُومَ رَجُلٌ مُعْتَدِلٌ وَيَبْسُطُ يَدَيْهِ مَرْفُوعَةً، «قَالَ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فِي قَتْلَى أُحُدٍ احْفِرُوا وَأَوْسِعُوا وَأَعْمِقُوا» رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَغَيْرُهُ، وَقَالَ: حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَأَوْصَى عُمَرُ - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ - أَنْ يُعَمَّقَ قَبْرُهُ قَامَةً وَبَسْطَةً

Meaning: “The minimum limit of a grave pit is a mineral that can prevent the smell of corpses and prevent wild animals from digging and preying on corpses, which causes the loss of honor of the corpse. It is Sunnah to widen and deepen the grave by simply standing and stretching out one's hands. If a standard man stands up and stretches his arms upwards. Prophet Muhammad said about the people who died in the battle of Uhud: "Dig (graves), widen and deepen!" Hadith narrated by Imam Tirmidhi and other Imams. According to Imam Tirmidhi, this hadith is a hasan and authentic hadith. Umar's companions once bequeathed that his grave should be deepened just for someone to stand up and stretch out his hands " (Jalaluddin al-Mahalli, Syarh al-Mahalli ala al-Minhaj, juz 2, p. 5)

Two Models of Graves in Islam

The model of the excavated tomb has two forms that are allowed by the syara 'as explained by the scholars of jurisprudence. The first is the lahad model minerals. While the second is the syaq model minerals. The form of the two mineral models has been clearly explained in the book Raudhah ath-Thalibien by Imam an-Nawawi as follows:

فَرْعٌ يَجُوزُ الدَّفْنُ فِي الشَّقِّ وَاللَّحْدِ فَاللَّحْدُ: أَنْ يُحْفَرَ حَائِطُ الْقَبْرِ مَائِلًا عَنِ اسْتِوَائِهِ مِنْ أَسْفَلِهِ قَدْرَ مَا يُوضَعُ فِيهِ الْمَيِّتُ، وَلْيَكُنْ مِنْ جِهَةِ الْقِبْلَةِ. وَالشَّقُّ: أَنْ يُحْفَرَ وَسْطَهُ كَالنَّهْرِ، وَيُبْنَى جَانِبَاهُ بِاللَّبِنِ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ، وَيُجْعَلُ بَيْنَهُمَا شَقٌّ يُوضَعُ فِيهِ الْمَيِّتُ وَيُسَقَّفُ.

Meaning: “Can bury with syaq and lahad models. The meaning of the lahad model grave is to dig the bottom wall of the grave if the corpse can be placed in the minerals, and the minerals should be inclined towards the Qibla. While the syaq model is to dig the middle part of the grave like a river, and the two sides are given bricks or other. From the two sides are given a hole that if the corpse can be placed in the hole and given a roof " (Sheikh Yahya bin Syaraf an-Nawawi, Raudhah ath-Thalibin, juz 2, p. 133).

Prohibition of Burying 2 People in 1 Hole

The law that applies in Islam in burying a corpse is basically to bury one corpse in one hole all. Burying two or more corpses in one hole is not permitted, except in certain circumstances. This is as explained by Imam Rafi'i in his book asy-Syarhul Kabir as follows:

المستحب في حال الاختيار أن يدفن كل ميت في قبر كذلك (فعل النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم وأمر به) فإن كثر الموتي بقتل وغيره وعسر إفراد كل ميت بقبر دفن الاثنان والثلاثة في قبر واحد

Meaning: “Sunnah in a state of non -urgency (ikhtiyar) to bury each corpse in a grave. That is what the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam did and ordered. If there are a large number of corpses due to war or other reasons (such as tsunamis or landslides, pen.), And it is difficult to bury each corpse in one grave individually, then two or three corpses can be buried in one grave. ”

لما روى (أنه صلي الله عليه وسلم قال للانصار يوم أحد احفروا واوسعوا وعمقوا واجعلوا الا ثنين والثلاثة في القبر الواحد وقدموا اكثرهم قرآنا) وليقدم الأفضل إلي جدار للحد مما يلي القبلة

Meaning: "This is based on the hadith that the Prophet SAW once said to the companions of Anshor during the battle of Uhud,' Dig a grave, expand, and deepen, then put two or three corpses in one grave, and place in front of those who memorize Al -The Qur'an is the most numerous, and position the most important corpses close to the grave wall facing the Qibla. " (Abdul Karim ar-Rafi’i, as-Syarhul Kabir, juz V, p. 245)

In the editorial of another turats book, Imam Nawawi also conveyed the law of burying corpses and the reasons behind it. In the book Majmu 'Syarah Muhadzzab, Imam Malik explained that burying a corpse is legally obligatory kifayah, because leaving it on earth will damage the honor of the corpse itself, and the surrounding community will be harmed because of the smell of the corpse. Found in the book of Iqna 'a clear statement like this:

ـ (ولا يدفن اثنان) ابتداء (في قبر واحد) بل يفرد كل ميت بقبر حالة الاختيار للاتباع، فلو جمع اثنان في قبر واتحد الجنس كرجلين أو امرأتين كره عند الماوردي وحرم عند السرخسي، ونقله عنه النووي في مجموعه مقتصرا عليه

Meaning: “It is not allowed to bury two corpses in one grave. On the other hand, each corpse must be left alone in their respective graves except in a state of urgency, in order to follow the Prophet. If there are two corpses buried in one grave, then the law is detailed: if the same (male and male or female and female) then the law is makruh according to Imam Mawardi and haram according to Imam Syarkhasi. And this illegal opinion is the opinion quoted by Imam Nawawi in his book Majmu 'briefly. "

وعقبه بقوله: وعبارة الأكثرين ولا يدفن اثنان في قبر، ونازع في التحريم السبكي، (إلا لحاجة) أي الضرورة كما في كلام الشيخين كأن كثر الموتى وعسر إفراد كل ميت بقبر فيجمع بين الاثنين والثلاثة والاكثر في قبر بحسب الضرورة

Meaning: "Imam Nawawi continued his comment on the expression 'the majority of scholars think that it is not allowed to bury two bodies in one grave'. This ban was rejected by Imam Subki, because there were exceptions for emergencies, as stated by Imam Rafi'i and Imam Nawawi when there were many corpses, and it was difficult to bury the corpses one by one in different graves-so there should be two, or three or more corpses can be collected in one grave considering the magnitude of the emergency. (Imam Musa al-Hajawi, Iqna ’fi Halli Alfadzi Abi Syuja’, juz I, p. 194)

Proposition of the Ability to Bury 2 People in 1 Hole

The opinion of the scholars of Mazhab Syafi’i has stated the prohibition of the practice of burying two corpses in one grave without an emergency reason as an explanation in the previous chapter. While there are different opinions such as As-Sarakhsi from the Hanafi School who states the ability to bury 2 people in 1 all even without an emergency reason.

In another explanation, Sheikh Zainuddin Al-Malibari in the book Fathul Mu'in explained that the burial of two corpses in one tomb is possible if the two corpses have a relationship of mahraman and husband-wife relationship.

يحرم دفن اثنين من جنسين بقبر إن لم يكن بينهما محرمية أو زوجية

That is, "It is haram to bury two corpses of different sexes in one tomb unless both have a mahram relationship and a marital relationship," (See Sheikh Zainuddin Al-Malibari, Fathul Mu'in).

Furthermore, Sayid M Syatha Ad-Dimyathi in I‘anatut Thalibin explains that the prohibition of burying two corpses in one tomb is not based on lust, but more on the possibility of pain. Therefore, this practice should only be done in emergency situations.

وذلك لأن العلة في منع الجمع التأذى لا الشهوة فإنها قد انقطعت بالموت

That is, "Illat or reason for the prohibition of burying two corpses in one tomb is 'hurt', not because of lust because lust has been cut off due to death," (See Sayid M Syatha Ad-Dimyathi, I'anatut Thalibin).

From the various opinions of the scholars above, it can be concluded that burying 2 corpses in 1 hole is all allowed unconditionally by following the opinion of As-Sarakhsi from the Hanafi School.