Taking Earth from the Graveyard to Build an Embankment Around It

Question

We want to build an earthen embankment around the graveyard, but for the embankment, in some places, earth has to be taken up from the graves. If the embankment is not built on all four sides, livestock urinate and defecate, because of which the graveyard is dishonoured. In this situation, is it permissible to build the embankment or not?

Answer

By all means build the embankment and protect the graveyard, but take the earth from around the graves or from some other place; do not remove the earth of the graves, lest the graves become exposed. Yes, if there is more earth on the graves than the measure set by the Shari‘a, that may be removed.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.