What is the ruling on performing the funeral prayer for an absent deceased, and does it have a specific time limit, or is it permissible at any time, even after a long period has passed since the death?
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The questioner : He says: What is the ruling on performing the funeral prayer for an absent deceased? And does it have a specific time limit, or is it permissible at any time, even after a long period has passed since the death?
The Shaykh : Performing the funeral prayer for an absent deceased is permissible, but the absence must be in a different country. It has no specific time limit, so one should pray for him if he has not prayed for him before, even if a long time has passed. However, what we see is that one should pray for him if the deceased died at a time when the person praying was capable of distinguishing right from wrong. But if the deceased died before this person was born, then the prayer for him is not prescribed. Therefore, if someone were to say, "I will now perform the funeral prayer for Abu Bakr, or for 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, or for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or for others who died long ago," we would say that this is not prescribed. But if a person died at a time when you were present and of the age of prayer, meaning capable of distinguishing right from wrong, then you may pray for him as an absent person. Some scholars said that one should not pray for an absent person except within the limit of one month, and that if more than a month has passed, one should not pray for him. But the correct view is that there is no harm, provided that the condition I mentioned is met. Because if he died before you were born, for example, then you are not obligated to pray for him at all. Likewise, if he died when you had not yet reached the age of distinguishing right from wrong, then you are not among those who are to pray for him. Yes.
The Shaykh : Performing the funeral prayer for an absent deceased is permissible, but the absence must be in a different country. It has no specific time limit, so one should pray for him if he has not prayed for him before, even if a long time has passed. However, what we see is that one should pray for him if the deceased died at a time when the person praying was capable of distinguishing right from wrong. But if the deceased died before this person was born, then the prayer for him is not prescribed. Therefore, if someone were to say, "I will now perform the funeral prayer for Abu Bakr, or for 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, or for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or for others who died long ago," we would say that this is not prescribed. But if a person died at a time when you were present and of the age of prayer, meaning capable of distinguishing right from wrong, then you may pray for him as an absent person. Some scholars said that one should not pray for an absent person except within the limit of one month, and that if more than a month has passed, one should not pray for him. But the correct view is that there is no harm, provided that the condition I mentioned is met. Because if he died before you were born, for example, then you are not obligated to pray for him at all. Likewise, if he died when you had not yet reached the age of distinguishing right from wrong, then you are not among those who are to pray for him. Yes.