Offering Janazah Prayer in Masjid

Q: We have a cemetery in Al-`Uyun, the governorate of Al-Ahsa', in which we established an awning attached to the cemetery's wall providing it with a Mihrab (a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the Qiblah). The awning was surrounded by a 30-cm-high block that was covered by sand. In addition, a place for Wudu' (ablution) was also established. We decided to submit this inquiry to Your Eminence to guard against any violation of pure monotheism; actually, we fear that the situation might get so aggravated in the future that it may be taken as a place of worship with the passage of time. To avoid this, we hope that Your Eminence take the necessary procedure in this regard, bearing in mind that responsible for this awning is the municipality of Al-`Uyun and it is funded by donations of Al-`Uyun charitable society with a charitable purpose In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills).

A: There is nothing wrong with offering Janazah (Funeral) Prayer anywhere in the cemetery before burial in case it is not offered at the Masjid (mosque). After burial, Janazah Prayer may be offered over the grave. However, it is not permissible to specify a place in the cemetery for Janazah, for a place that is to be specified and provided with a Mihrab is only a Masjid in which the Five Obligatory Daily Prayers are performed. Moreover, it is a means to Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) because laymen and ignorant people might take it as a place for offering obligatory and supererogatory Prayers, which is not permissible. Therefore, the municipality responsible for this cemetery should demolish the awning in order to avoid this.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.