Burying Rawaafidh in a Muslim Cemetery

Q: Janaa'iz-51: What do the Ulema of Deen and the Muftis have to say about burying Shias or people belonging to other sects in a cemetery that the court has handed into the custody of the Sunni Muslim Waqf Committee? Will it be permissible if the said committee grants permission? Please reply with references.

Answer: Amongst the Shias and the Rawaafidh are several sects, all of whom hold different beliefs. There are those who believe that Hadhrat Ali RADI. ought to have been the first Khalifah, but they do not detach themselves completely from the other Sahabah RADI. These people are sinners and perpetrators of Bid'ah, but are not out of the fold of Islaam. The Janaazah salaah will be performed for them and they will be buried in a Muslim graveyard (though in a different section of the graveyard).
Then there are those who believe that Hadhrat Ali RADI. is a god. There are also those who believe that Hadhrat Jibra'eel ALY. made a mistake when bringing revelation and instead of brining it to Hadhrat Ali RADI. he delivered it to Rasulullaah SAW. (Allaah forbid!). They therefore believe that Hadhrat Ali RADI. ought to have been the Rasool SAW. and (Allaah forbid) not Rasulullaah SAW.

There are also those who believe that Hadhrat Aa'isha RADI. was guilty of adultery and others who believe that all the Sahabah RADI. had left the fold of Islaam The Janaazah salaah may not be performed for these groups and they may not be buried in a Muslim graveyard.

It is however difficult to distinguish between these various sects amongst them. It is therefore best not to bury in our cemeteries anyone who professes to be a Shia or a Raafidh. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.3