Praying over a deceased person known for being mentally impaired
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Fatwa number ( 20505 )
Q: What is your esteemed opinion regarding praying over a deceased person who was known for being mentally impaired , and who handled the affairs of his life in a nearly normal manner, but could not be relied upon in many matters of life? He did not know how to count, specifically counting money. He practiced some of the tasks he and those with him performed, such as herding sheep, going out and returning home in a normal way. He did not understand meanings or how to deal with people. He defended himself but did not harm anyone. It was easy for him to be deceived and cheated. He did not think about marriage or work until he died at the age of approximately 40 years. Upon his death, the imam of the neighborhood where he lived issued a ruling not to pray over him and not to bury him in the Muslim cemeteries, on the grounds that he did not pray, did not fast, and no one prayed over him before he was buried by his relatives. What is the ruling in this case, what is the ruling on praying over him, and what is the ruling on offering condolences for him? It is known that the one who issued the ruling not to pray over him did offer condolences for him, and there are others like him who number more than the fingers of one hand. What is your esteemed opinion on praying over them when they die, are they buried in Muslim cemeteries, what is the ruling on offering condolences for one of them who dies in this state, and do we seek mercy for them? Please issue a ruling, may Allah reward you.
A : The mentally impaired person who lives among Muslims is one of the Muslims. Therefore, when he dies, he is washed, shrouded, prayed over, and buried in the Muslim cemeteries.
His family is offered condolences for him, and mercy is sought for him, just as for any other Muslim who dies. The fact that he did not perform the prayer or observe fasting is excused for him, and he is not held accountable for leaving them, because he is not among those subject to religious obligation. He is not addressed with the rulings of religious obligation in this state. What the mosque imam said about not praying over him and not burying him in the Muslim cemeteries was an exercise of independent legal reasoning on his part in which he erred, may Allah forgive him. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: What is your esteemed opinion regarding praying over a deceased person who was known for being mentally impaired , and who handled the affairs of his life in a nearly normal manner, but could not be relied upon in many matters of life? He did not know how to count, specifically counting money. He practiced some of the tasks he and those with him performed, such as herding sheep, going out and returning home in a normal way. He did not understand meanings or how to deal with people. He defended himself but did not harm anyone. It was easy for him to be deceived and cheated. He did not think about marriage or work until he died at the age of approximately 40 years. Upon his death, the imam of the neighborhood where he lived issued a ruling not to pray over him and not to bury him in the Muslim cemeteries, on the grounds that he did not pray, did not fast, and no one prayed over him before he was buried by his relatives. What is the ruling in this case, what is the ruling on praying over him, and what is the ruling on offering condolences for him? It is known that the one who issued the ruling not to pray over him did offer condolences for him, and there are others like him who number more than the fingers of one hand. What is your esteemed opinion on praying over them when they die, are they buried in Muslim cemeteries, what is the ruling on offering condolences for one of them who dies in this state, and do we seek mercy for them? Please issue a ruling, may Allah reward you.
A : The mentally impaired person who lives among Muslims is one of the Muslims. Therefore, when he dies, he is washed, shrouded, prayed over, and buried in the Muslim cemeteries.
His family is offered condolences for him, and mercy is sought for him, just as for any other Muslim who dies. The fact that he did not perform the prayer or observe fasting is excused for him, and he is not held accountable for leaving them, because he is not among those subject to religious obligation. He is not addressed with the rulings of religious obligation in this state. What the mosque imam said about not praying over him and not burying him in the Muslim cemeteries was an exercise of independent legal reasoning on his part in which he erred, may Allah forgive him. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.