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Fatwa CenterRuling on exhuming graves for autopsies
Question
Is it permissible to exhume the bones of the deceased for science and research?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.
The wise legislation of the Sharee‘ah The Almighty has prohibited the exhumation and misuse of graves out of respect for the deceased and has made the breaking of the bones of the deceased like breaking the bones of the living. ‘Aa’ishah 
narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Breaking a bone of the dead is like breaking it while he is alive.” [Ahmad, Abu Daawood and Ibn Maajah] He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said: “Do not sit on graves nor pray on them.” [Muslim]
Furthermore, the foundations of the Sharee‘ah require taking and maximizing benefits while deflecting and minimizing evils. As such, if an autopsy will result in benefit or aversion of evil, and there is no other way to achieve this, then it is allowed. If an autopsy is necessary in this case, then it is most appropriate to perform it on a body that has not yet been buried in order to avoid exhuming the grave. But, in the case that the autopsy requires someone who has already been buried, then there is no restriction in exhuming the bones of the deceased at that time.
Allaah Knows best.
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