In the Name of Allaah, the Most Compassionate, the Ever-Merciful…
Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (d.1420 – may Allaah have Mercy on him) was asked the following question about Janaazah (Funeral) Prayer in absentia:
If someone learns of a relative who passed away in another land, should he perform Janaazah Prayer for that person (in absentia)?
No, rather he should ask Allaah for Forgiveness (for the deceased), since the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) did not use to pray (Janaazah) over the deceased from other lands, except for special cases. An example of this was when the Prophet prayed over An-Najaashee (the King of Abyssinia), because of his special status connected to the invitation to (the Religion of) Allaah. He used to receive and honor the Muslim emigrants who came to him kindly.
So if the deceased was of a special status, like a righteous leader or scholar, or someone similar, then there is no harm in praying Salaat Al-Ghaa’ib (Janaazah Prayer in absentia) for him.
We should not pray Salaat al-Ghaa’ib over everyday people, since a large number of people (Companions) died in Makkah and elsewhere, while the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him and his family peace) did not perform Salaat al-Ghaa’ib for them.
Source: One of the shaykh’s live answers on a radio program, Noorun ‘alad-Darb, as found at his website: http://www.ibnbaz.org.sa/mat/14067 (Arabic quoted below)
Translation: Moosaa Richardson
Salam Alaykum, I notice in the arabic it says قريبة (female relative) but when translated it is left general, is there a specific reason for this?
May Allah bless you
wa ‘alaykumus-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. May Allaah bless you for the question. The word ‘relative’ in English includes the meaning of a female relative, and since the shaykh did not make any distinction between males and females in the ruling, I wanted to keep the translation faithful to the overall meaning and not allow words to mislead anyone into thinking the answer may have been specific to females. And Allaah knows best.
Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
Assalaamu ‘alaikum,
JazaakAllaahu khaira for the beneficial article.
I wanted to know if there is a split in opinions amongst the shaikhs about such a prayer? I say this because I thought at first it was bid’ah to do a such a prayer and that the reason why the prophet sallaahu alaihi wa sallaam prayed the absentia prayer for An-Najaashee was because he died amongst the non-muslims and no funeral prayer was prayed for him. I thought only then it’s allowed? I cannot fully remember where I read it.
So I was surprised to read that it’s allowed for righteous leaders, etc. Does this mean even if they have died in land of Muslims and have had the funeral prayer done, then you can still do another prayer for him? Because based on that other opinion, when I was in Makkah in 2004 and ######### had passed away, at the haram, they had done a funeral prayer for him. So I wasn’t sure if this was classed as bid’ah, or if this was totally allowed. I don’t want to go into the matter more than it needs to, I just want to clarify some confusion that I have and wondered if it was a split opinion amongst the scholars and if both are okay.
BaarakAllaahu feek
Wassalaamu ‘alaikum
wa ‘alaykumus-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. Yes, the scholars have differed in this issue.
: Assalaam alaikum,
My half (Senior) brother (same father) was generally perceived by most of us as a person of unstable mentality (not insane; probably a fool or characterised by unwise or senseless behaviour/actions). He was poor but did not neglect his Salaats. He passed away last night at home but I am far away from home and could not attend his Jannazah prayers.
In about the last two weeks before his death, I was dominated by thoughts to the effect that he was most probably a hidden Waliyyillah (I informed our most senior brother about this two days to his death. Now, I am overwhelmed by a strong inclination to offer him Salaatul Gha’ib but discover a lot of divergent opinions among the Scholars on Funeral prayer in absentia. Could you please advise me and people in my situation on what is the best way out?
Ma’assalaam
Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. The scholars differ over the permissibility of praying Janazah in absentia. Some of them allowed it, stipulating that it should be for a person of noteworthy contributions to Islam. Others added the stipulation that he must have died in another land and was not prayed over (like an-Najaashee). In brief, if your brother died in another city, and you were unable to attend his janaazah, then we would only pray over him in absentia if he was a person known for exceptional support of Islam. Otherwise, it is sufficient that the Muslims in his area prayed over him. May Allaah have Mercy on him. And Allaah knows best.
Assalam Alaykum Shaykh, I know that you only make one salam at the end of janaza prayer. But at my local masjid the imam does two salams, so when I pray janaza behind him do I suffice with one salam or should I do both salams in order to follow the imam?