The scholars' statement on guiding the deceased after death
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The third question of Fatwa number ( 3159 )
Q3: I know that teaching the deceased is not permissible after death, but many scholars permit it among us, and they argued based on the Shafi'i school. I have returned to Nail al-Awtar by al-Shawkani , where he was silent on the matter and said: some Shafi'is permitted it. I do not know what the solution is in that.
A3: The correct opinion among the scholars regarding guiding the deceased after death is that it is not
prescribed, but rather a religious innovation, and every religious innovation is misguidance. What al-Tabarani narrated in al-Kabir from Sa'id ibn 'Abd Allah al-Awadi from Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding guiding the deceased after his burial was mentioned by al-Haythami in the second and third parts of Majma' al-Zawa'id, and he said: "In its chain are a group of narrators I do not know." End of quote. Based on this, it cannot be used as evidence for the permissibility of guiding the deceased, for it is an innovation rejected by the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1718a . The school of any of the four Imams or their like, such as al-Shafi'i , is not a proof for establishing a legal ruling in the Shari'ah; rather, the proof lies in the Book of Allah and what is authentic from the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the consensus of the Ummah. Since nothing from these sources has been established regarding guiding the deceased after death, it is rejected. As for guiding the one who is on the verge of death to say the word: "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no god but Allah) so that he may say it after the one who guided him to it, that is prescribed; so that the last of his words in his life be the word of tawhid (the oneness of Allah). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did this with his uncle Abu Talib , but he did not respond to it; rather, the last thing he said was: "I am upon the religion of 'Abd al-Muttalib ." And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q3: I know that teaching the deceased is not permissible after death, but many scholars permit it among us, and they argued based on the Shafi'i school. I have returned to Nail al-Awtar by al-Shawkani , where he was silent on the matter and said: some Shafi'is permitted it. I do not know what the solution is in that.
A3: The correct opinion among the scholars regarding guiding the deceased after death is that it is not
prescribed, but rather a religious innovation, and every religious innovation is misguidance. What al-Tabarani narrated in al-Kabir from Sa'id ibn 'Abd Allah al-Awadi from Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding guiding the deceased after his burial was mentioned by al-Haythami in the second and third parts of Majma' al-Zawa'id, and he said: "In its chain are a group of narrators I do not know." End of quote. Based on this, it cannot be used as evidence for the permissibility of guiding the deceased, for it is an innovation rejected by the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.