I am a revert to Islam. Can i attend my Non Muslim fathers Janaza?
Question
I am a revert to Islam since the age of 17. I am now 54 yrs old algamdulilah. My extended family are christian. My father passed on and i need to know if i am allowed to attend the funeral proceedings at homa and in church and am i allowed to carry the coffin.
Answer
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
There are two aspects to your query:
Attending funerals
Character
According to Shariah, it is not permissible for a Muslim to attend the funeral of a non Muslim. Allah states:
“And do not perform the funeral prayer upon them (non Muslim) and do not stand at their grave side”.
These verses were revealed on the occasion when Nabi (salallahu alayhi wasallam) ِintended to perform the funeral prayer of the hypocrite, Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salool. Thereafter Allah stopped Nabi (salallahu alayhi wasallam) from leading the funeral of the non believers.
However, it is important that you seize the opportunity to show the beauty and tolerance of Islam. There is no harm in you going to the funeral house and expressing your condolences. Furthermore, you state that your father has passed away. If your mother is living it is necessary that you offer moral support to her in her time of distress and grief. Apart from offering moral support, your kind gesture will serve as an invitation to Islam.
You should therefore avoid the actual funeral ceremony by diplomatically excusing yourself and continue offering moral support to your mother and family.
And Allah knows best
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ مَاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ
روح المعاني - (ج 10 / ص 154)
والمراد من الصلاة المنهي عنها صلاة الميت المعروفة وهي متضمنة للدعاء والإستغفار والإستشفاع له
روح المعاني - (ج 10 / ص 155)
والمراد لا تقف عند قبره للدفن أو للزيادة والقبر في المشهور مدفن الميت ويكون بمعنى الدفن وجوزوا ارادته هنا أيضا
أحكام القرآن للجصاص - (ج 7 / ص123)
وَأَيْضًا رَوَى الزُّهْرِيُّ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ : سَمِعْت عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ يَقُولُ : { لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَيٍّ جَاءَ ابْنُهُ إلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّىلَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ : هَذَا أَبِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ وَضَعْنَاهُ عَلَى شَفِيرِ قَبْرِهِ فَقُمْ فَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ فَوَثَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَوَثَبْت مَعَهُ ، فَلَمَّا قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَامَ النَّاسُ خَلْفَهُ تَحَوَّلْت وَقُمْت فِي صَدْرِهِ وَقُلْت : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَيٍّ عَدُوِّ اللَّهِ الْقَائِلِ يَوْمَ كَذَا كَذَا وَكَذَا أَعُدُّ أَيَّامَهُ الْخَبِيثَةَ ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : لِتَدَعْنِي يَا عُمَرُ إنَّ اللَّهَ خَيَّرَنِي فَاخْتَرْت ، فَقَالَ : { اسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ ، أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ } الْآيَةَ ، فَوَاَللَّهِ لَوْ أَعْلَمُ يَا عُمَرُ أَنِّي لَوْ زِدْت عَلَى سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً أَنْ يُغْفَرَ لَهُ لَزِدْت ، ثُمَّ مَشَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَعَهُ وَقَامَ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ حَتَّى دُفِنَ ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَلْبَثْ إلَّا قَلِيلًا حَتَّى أَنْزبَلَ اللَّهُ : { وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ مَاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ } فَوَاَللَّهِ مَا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَلَا قَامَ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ بَعْدَهُ } فَذَكَرَ عُمَرُ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ الصَّلَاةَ ،
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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