Preparing and burying the deceased outside the lands of Islam
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 9024 )
Q: Your Eminence, you know what Muslims in the lands of the disbelievers suffer from in terms of problems and difficulties, and that is to regulate and manage their lives, livelihood, and death according to the correct path of Islam. Among the matters that Muslims in the lands of the United States of America suffer from is: preparing and burying the dead in the manner that Islam desires and commands. Some of the Muslim brothers from the people of this country have seen the attempt to demand from the authorities
governing there the purpose of facilitating special procedures for Muslim dead so that they can be washed and buried according to the sound path of Islam. And for that to happen, it is necessary to have proof and a fatwa from an approved reference so that they can prove to those in power that these demands are matters required by the Shari'ah of Islam. And that is because the constitution of America stipulates freedom of religion and religions. Therefore, the demand from this angle may be effective and fruitful. Thus, we ask your Eminence to be generous in writing what is necessary and obligatory for the Muslim in the matter of burial and preparation, and also writing what is recommended in this matter. And if you can translate all of that into the English language and sign and certify it so that it is approved, then that would be much better.
A: When the death of a Muslim becomes apparent, it is prescribed for those around him to close his eyes, tie his jaw, shroud him, and hasten in preparing him, starting with washing him the ritual washing. He washes his hands, then cleanses himself, then performs wudu for prayer, then washes his head and beard with water and sidr or the like of soap or ashnan, then pours water on his right side, then the left, then washes him likewise a second time, and a third time. If it does not suffice, he increases to five or seven, and he puts camphor in the last one if it is available, and he puts perfume in his nostrils and places of prostration. If he perfumes him entirely, that is good. If he is content with one washing, that is permissible. The woman’s head is braided into three braids and placed behind her, then she is shrouded in three white garments, in which there is no shirt or turban, and she is wrapped in them. It is permissible to shroud him in a shirt and a lower garment
and a wrap, or a wrap only. The woman is shrouded in five garments: in a dress, a head covering, a lower garment, and two wraps. If she is shrouded in one wrap, that is permissible. And the funeral prayer is performed for him: he says takbir and recites al-Fatihah, then he says takbir and prays upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then he says takbir and supplicates for the deceased. If he comes with the text of the transmitted supplication, that is good. Among it is: , then he says takbir the fourth time and says salam once to his right. It is not permissible to follow it with lights or to raise voices with it with supplications, or with takbirs. And he is placed in a grave niche if possible, otherwise a trench is dug. And after leveling his grave, it is recommended that those present stand over it,
and seek forgiveness for him, and supplicate for him with steadfastness. It is not permissible to delay it except within the limits of the need for his preparation or waiting for the arrival of his relatives, or his neighbors if that does not become long by custom; for the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): the hadith. And it is not permissible to hold a mourning gathering for him, tents and the like, by what is called condolence ceremonies. And whoever did not attend the prayer over him prays over his grave if he is in the city in which he is, up to the limit of two months, . And it is not permissible to bury a Muslim in the graves of the Christians or others of the disbelievers such as the Jews, the communists, and the worshippers of idols. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions.
Q: Your Eminence, you know what Muslims in the lands of the disbelievers suffer from in terms of problems and difficulties, and that is to regulate and manage their lives, livelihood, and death according to the correct path of Islam. Among the matters that Muslims in the lands of the United States of America suffer from is: preparing and burying the dead in the manner that Islam desires and commands. Some of the Muslim brothers from the people of this country have seen the attempt to demand from the authorities
governing there the purpose of facilitating special procedures for Muslim dead so that they can be washed and buried according to the sound path of Islam. And for that to happen, it is necessary to have proof and a fatwa from an approved reference so that they can prove to those in power that these demands are matters required by the Shari'ah of Islam. And that is because the constitution of America stipulates freedom of religion and religions. Therefore, the demand from this angle may be effective and fruitful. Thus, we ask your Eminence to be generous in writing what is necessary and obligatory for the Muslim in the matter of burial and preparation, and also writing what is recommended in this matter. And if you can translate all of that into the English language and sign and certify it so that it is approved, then that would be much better.
A: When the death of a Muslim becomes apparent, it is prescribed for those around him to close his eyes, tie his jaw, shroud him, and hasten in preparing him, starting with washing him the ritual washing. He washes his hands, then cleanses himself, then performs wudu for prayer, then washes his head and beard with water and sidr or the like of soap or ashnan, then pours water on his right side, then the left, then washes him likewise a second time, and a third time. If it does not suffice, he increases to five or seven, and he puts camphor in the last one if it is available, and he puts perfume in his nostrils and places of prostration. If he perfumes him entirely, that is good. If he is content with one washing, that is permissible. The woman’s head is braided into three braids and placed behind her, then she is shrouded in three white garments, in which there is no shirt or turban, and she is wrapped in them. It is permissible to shroud him in a shirt and a lower garment
and a wrap, or a wrap only. The woman is shrouded in five garments: in a dress, a head covering, a lower garment, and two wraps. If she is shrouded in one wrap, that is permissible. And the funeral prayer is performed for him: he says takbir and recites al-Fatihah, then he says takbir and prays upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then he says takbir and supplicates for the deceased. If he comes with the text of the transmitted supplication, that is good. Among it is:
O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our present and our absent, our young and our old, our male and our female. O Allah, whom You have kept alive, keep him alive upon Islam, and whom You have caused to die, cause him to die upon faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, and do not test us after him. O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him well-being, and pardon him. Honor his residence and widen his entrance. Wash him with water, snow, and hail. Purify him from sins and errors as the white garment is purified from dirt. Replace his home with a better home and his family with a better family. Admit him into Paradise and protect him from the trial of the grave and the punishment of the Fire.
اللهم اغفر لحينا وميتنا وشاهدنا وغائبنا، وصغيرنا وكبيرنا، وذكرنا وأُنثانا، اللهم من أحييته فأحيه على الإسلام، ومن توفيته فتوفه على الإيمان، اللهم لا تحرمنا أجره ولا تفتنا بعده، اللهم اغفر له وارحمه وعافه واعف عنه، وأكرم نزله ووسع مدخله واغسله بالماء والثلج والبرد، ونقه من الذنوب والخطايا كما ينقى الثوب الأبيض من الدنس، وأبدله دارًا خيرًا من داره وأهلاً خيرًا من أهله، وأدخله الجنة وقه فتنة القبر وعذاب النارand seek forgiveness for him, and supplicate for him with steadfastness. It is not permissible to delay it except within the limits of the need for his preparation or waiting for the arrival of his relatives, or his neighbors if that does not become long by custom; for the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Hasten with the funeral.
أسرعوا بالجنازةFor the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed over the grave of the mother of Sa'd, and a month had passed since her burial.
فإن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم صلى على قبر أم سعد وقد مضى على دفنها شهر
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.