Purity: Burial when Ground Burial is Impossible
Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Ayatullah Sistani
Ruling 603:
If it is not possible to bury a corpse in the ground, it can be placed in a building or a coffin instead.
-Ayatullah Sistani, Practical Laws of Islam, Purification (Taharah)
The flexibility here acknowledges practical realities without compromising the core principle of dignified remains disposal. Historically this would've applied to situations like permafrost regions or rocky terrain, but now it's relevant for urban density issues too. When I lived in New Orleans, above-ground tombs were standard because the water table made traditional burial imposible. Interesting how different faith traditions converged on similar solutionswhen facing the same physical constraints.