What is the ruling of the religion on building graves with bricks and cement, above the surface of the earth? A – First of all, I dislike for a person to be addressed by questions as: “What is the ruling of the religion,” or “What is the ruling of Islam,” etc, because one person cannot speak for Islam, because he may be mistaken or he may be right. So if we say that a person speaks for Islam, it amounts to saying that he is never wrong, since there are no mistakes in Islam. It is therefore better to say, in such cases: “What do you consider is the ruling on one who does such and such,” or “What is your opinion regarding one who does such and such,” or “What is your view in Islam for such and such?” The important thing is that the question be worded in a way that reflects the real worth of the one being questioned. As for my view regarding this question, then it is not allowed to build over graves. This is because it is confirmed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade building over graves, plastering the grave, or that something be erected over it. So the structure over the grave is prohibited, as it is a means toward using it for worship and committing Shirk with Allah, the Almighty, the Majestic. – Sheikh Bin Uthaymeen; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 1, p. 231 Relinquishing ties Q- What is the ruling concerning someone who has forsaken relations with his brother for a long time, and whose father orders him not to make any contact with him? A – It is unlawful for the Muslim to relinquish ties with another Muslim without a valid religious reason. He shouldn't obey his father or anybody else in this matter. – Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 8, no. 330 Inheritance Q- The question is regarding a Christian family of a father, mother and eight children – four males and four females. Three sons and one daughter embraced Islam. The father died later on and left behind large inheritance amounting to approximately SR18 million. Do the children who accepted Islam have a right to inherit from their father who died as a disbeliever? A – If the matter is such, then the Muslim children whose father died as a disbeliever do not inherit. This is based upon the narration of Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Usamah Bin Zaid, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The Muslim does not inherit the disbeliever, neither does the disbeliever inherit the Muslim.” – Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 5, p. 80 __
