The third question asks: Is there a specific time for the funeral prayer, such as after the obligatory prayers, or is it permissible at any time? And does it require a specific number of worshippers, or is it performed even with just one worshipper? And is it permissible to pray over the graves, or not? And what is its form?
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The questioner : The third question asks: Is there a specific time for the funeral prayer, such as after the obligatory prayers, or is it permissible at any time? And does it require a specific number of worshippers, or is it performed even with just one worshipper? And is it permissible to pray over the graves, or not? And what is its form?
The Shaykh : The funeral prayer does not have a specific time, because death does not have a specific time.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So whenever a person dies, he is washed, shrouded, and prayed over at any time of night or day, and buried at any time of night or day, except for three times when burial is not permissible. These are from the rising of the sun until it has risen the height of a spear, and when it is at its zenith until it declines, meaning about ten minutes before the zenith.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And when it approaches sunset until it sets. Approaching sunset means that the distance between it and sunset is the length of a spear. These are the three times in which burial is not lawful, even if we reach the cemetery, we wait until these times end.
The questioner : Does this prohibition mean it is forbidden?
The Shaykh : Yes, the prohibition is for prohibition, based on the hadith of 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir, who said:Sahih Ibn Hibban 9:106.
The questioner : Yes, is there a reason for this?
The Shaykh : Allah knows best, we do not know what the reason is for the prohibition of burial in these times. As for the prohibition of prayer in these times, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that the sun rises between the horns of Shaytan and sets between the horns of Shaytan, and that the disbelievers prostrate to it, and that prayer would involve a type of imitation of the disbelievers who prostrate to the sun.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And the question, give me the second paragraph?
The questioner : A specific number.
The Shaykh : And the funeral prayer does not have a specific number.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Rather, if one person prays over him, that suffices. Yes.
The Shaykh : The funeral prayer does not have a specific time, because death does not have a specific time.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So whenever a person dies, he is washed, shrouded, and prayed over at any time of night or day, and buried at any time of night or day, except for three times when burial is not permissible. These are from the rising of the sun until it has risen the height of a spear, and when it is at its zenith until it declines, meaning about ten minutes before the zenith.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And when it approaches sunset until it sets. Approaching sunset means that the distance between it and sunset is the length of a spear. These are the three times in which burial is not lawful, even if we reach the cemetery, we wait until these times end.
The questioner : Does this prohibition mean it is forbidden?
The Shaykh : Yes, the prohibition is for prohibition, based on the hadith of 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir, who said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade us from praying in three times and from burying our dead in them
ثلاث ساعات نهانا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن نصلي فيهن وأن نقبر فيهن موتاناThe questioner : Yes, is there a reason for this?
The Shaykh : Allah knows best, we do not know what the reason is for the prohibition of burial in these times. As for the prohibition of prayer in these times, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that the sun rises between the horns of Shaytan and sets between the horns of Shaytan, and that the disbelievers prostrate to it, and that prayer would involve a type of imitation of the disbelievers who prostrate to the sun.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And the question, give me the second paragraph?
The questioner : A specific number.
The Shaykh : And the funeral prayer does not have a specific number.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Rather, if one person prays over him, that suffices. Yes.