The Islamic ruling regarding burying any part of a deceased person’s body (janazah) when only that part is found.
FATWA # ACJU/FTW/2019/26-377
Question
Is it obligatory to bury the remains of a body of a Muslim that has been dismembered or burnt to ashes? Is there any other ruling pertaining to it? I kindly seek a clear answer in writing, backed with authentic proof.
Fatwa
ACJU/FTW/2025/07-589/ORG – 02
2025.03.20 (1446.09.19)
All praises be to Allah the Almighty. May peace and salutations descend upon His final Messenger Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaihi wa Sallam, his family and companions!
Just as a human being is treated with dignity while he is living, he must also be dignified after his death.
Allah Ta’ala says in the Quran “And We have certainly honoured the children of Adam” (Al Isra: 70)
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Breaking one’s bone after his death is like breaking it while he is alive.” (Sunan Abu Dawud: 3207)
When a Muslim passes away, it is Fardh Kifayah to bathe his body, shroud him in Kafan, pray upon him, and grant him a dignified burial. Even if a few Muslims perform these rituals, it would be sufficient. However, if any of the above rituals are left out, all Muslims will be held sinful in the court of Allah, except in unavoidable circumstances.
It is amongst the fundamentals that a deceased is buried. Consider the following Verses of the Quran:
مِنْهَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمْ وَمِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً (سورة طه: 55 )
“We have created you from this earth, and We will return you into it and then will bring you forth out of it once again.” (Surah Taha: 55)
In the above verse, the words “We will return you into it”, emphasizes that man has to be returned back to the earth after his demise.
فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ غُرَابًا يَبْحَثُ فِي الْأرْضِ لِيُرِيَهُ كَيْفَ يُوَارِي سَوْأَةَ أَخِيهِ (سورة المائدة: 31 )
“Then Allah sent a crow digging ˹a grave˺ in the ground ˹for a dead crow˺, in order to show him how to bury the corpse of his brother.” (Surah Maidah: 31)
In this Verse, Allah Ta’ala taught one of the sons of Adam Alaihi al-Salam the manner of burying his brother through the medium of a crow.
The likes of Imam Ibn al-Mundir and Imam al-Navavi Rahimahullah have reported that the scholars unanimously agree that it is obligatory to bury a deceased person.
Similarly, if any part of the body, bones, or remains of the deceased are recovered, it would be mandatory to bury them.
Consider the following incidents:
When some bones of Muslims were retrieved from Sham, Umar Raliyallahu Anhu performed prayers upon them and buried them. Similarly, when only the heads of those who were martyred were retrieved, Abu Ubaidha Raliyallaahu Anhu buried them. Furthermore, when only a hand of Abdur Rahman Ibn Akhthab Raliyallaahu Anhu was retrieved, a few of the Sahabah buried it. All these incidents are recorded in historical compilations.
Therefore, if any of the limbs of those killed by accident or fire are retrieved; likewise, if any remains of a burnt Janaza are recovered, it will be mandatory to bury them.
Allah is the All Knowledgable!
As Sheikh MM Ilyas
Secretary – Fatwa Division
All Ceylon Jammiyyathul Ulama
As Sheikh M Arkam Nooramith
General Secretary
All Ceylon Jammiyyathul Ulama
Mufti MIM Rizwe
President
All Ceylon Jammiyyathul Ulama
