The requirement of the ruler's permission for the prayer for the absent

The questioner:
The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, is the permission of the ruler required for the prayer for the absent?

The Shaykh:
No, the permission of the ruler is not required for the prayer for the absent. If you want to pray for an absent person, you pray. If the people are praying for him, you pray with them, and if you pray for him alone, there is no harm.
But some of the brothers pray for the deceased while he is in the town; the deceased is in the town. This is not the prayer for the absent. The prayer for the absent is for the one who is far away, the one who is at a great distance. As for the one in the town, he is present, not absent. So if you are able to go and pray over his funeral or pray over his grave, that is good. But for you to pray for him as the prayer for the absent, that is not prescribed. Yes.

The presenter:
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The Shaykh:
And Allah the Exalted knows best, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his Companions.