Short answer
Yes. Cremation is haram, and burying the dead in the earth is a communal obligation (fard kifayah). The four schools agree. A Muslim's request to be cremated is not carried out, and a family that could not stop a cremation done by others is not sinful.
Burial is fard kifayah and cremating a Muslim is haram, since it violates the dignity of the body. A will asking for cremation is invalid and must not be carried out.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
From the first death in human history, Allah taught burial. When Qabil killed his brother, Allah sent a crow scratching in the earth to show him how to cover the body. The Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims after him always buried their dead, and the four schools agree that burning a Muslim's body is haram.
Why it is forbidden. The body is honoured by Allah, alive and dead. The Prophet ﷺ said breaking a dead person's bone is like breaking it while alive, and burning is far worse. The Quran describes the earth as the place we came from and the place we return to.
Common situations:
- The person asked to be cremated. The request is not followed. Wishes that go against Allah's command are not binding, and the family should arrange a Muslim burial.
- Non-Muslim relatives want cremation. Explain kindly that burial is required for Muslims. A local mosque or Muslim funeral director can help talk to the family and to the authorities.
- It already happened. If a Muslim was cremated by others and you could not stop it, you are not sinful. The person is not punished for what others did to their body. Bury the ashes if you can, and keep making dua and giving charity for them.
- Cost. If money is the reason, ask the mosque. Many communities have funds that help with burial costs.
A Muslim living among non-Muslim family can avoid this hardship by writing an Islamic will that says clearly they want a Muslim burial. See the Islamic will builder.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:31
فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ غُرَابًۭا يَبْحَثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُرِيَهُۥ كَيْفَ يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَةَ أَخِيهِ ۚ قَالَ يَٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ أَعَجَزْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِثْلَ هَٰذَا ٱلْغُرَابِ فَأُوَٰرِىَ سَوْءَةَ أَخِى ۖ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ ٱلنَّٰدِمِينَ ﴿٣١﴾
Then Allah sent a crow searching in the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother. He said, "O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the body of my brother?" And he became of the regretful.
Burial was taught by Allah from the first death.
Quran, Surah Taa-Haa 20:55
۞ مِنْهَا خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمْ وَمِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ ﴿٥٥﴾
From the earth We created you, and into it We will return you, and from it We will extract you another time.
The earth is the resting place Allah chose for the human body.
Quran, Surah Abasa 80:21
ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقْبَرَهُۥ ﴿٢١﴾
Then He causes his death and provides a grave for him.
The grave is described as Allah's provision for the dead.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3207
Graded sahih... كسر عظم الميت ككسره حيا ...
"Breaking the bone of a dead person is like breaking it while alive."
Harming the dead body is forbidden, and burning it is worse.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Jana'iz. Burial as a communal obligation.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, Bab Salat al-Janazah. The sanctity of the dead body and that a will against the sharia is not carried out.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.