Stepping over grave forbidden in Islam, even if it is not real - Kelantan Mufti

SHAH ALAM - The act of mocking and dishonouring Muslim graves is against the Islamic law as it violates the proper manners and ethics that should be observed at a cemetery.

This, Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad said included actions intended to confuse others, leading to negative assumptions, as seen in the case of a female influencer showing the action which was currently going viral on social media.

He said the act of stepping over a grave, even if it was not a real grave was still considered wrong, especially when it was done by a Muslim.

"The wrongdoing is not because of stepping over the fake grave, but because it misleads people, particularly when the action is meant to depict the disrespect of stepping over a grave. It is still considered disrespectful.

"In Islam, we have manners or code of ethics that must be adhered to.

"For example, if you are drinking cold water but publicly claim it is alcohol, even though cold water is permissible (halal), you violate proper manners by boasting about alcohol (a beverage forbidden in Islam. Therefore, such actions are prohibited," he told Sinar.

Shukri said visiting graves should instill a sense of reflection and remind Muslims of death, not for jokes or other similar purposes.

He said graves deserved respect from everyone to prevent actions that violate the Islamic law.

"Respect for the dead should be the same as respect for the living, especially by not doing inappropriate things like stepping or walking over graves," he said.

He reminded Muslims, especially the youth, not to engage in actions that were considered insulting to religion just to gain attention on social media.

He said mocking religion was considered a major sin.