Is the prayer for the absent deceased prescribed?
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The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : O Shaykh, a man, I mean, died in Riyadh, in the city of Riyadh, so they prayed for him in Jeddah or in Makkah, the prayer for the absent deceased. Is this part of the Sunnah?
The Shaykh : It is not part of the Sunnah to pray for the absent deceased, except if he died in a land where there is no one to pray for him. And among the innovations of the present age is the spread of this prayer. Most of the reasons that cause this prayer to become widespread are political matters that are exploited. Otherwise, how many, how many, and how many of the Companions of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) died while he was absent from them, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) did not pray for a single one of them, not even once.
Everything that has come regarding the prayer for the absent deceased is only his (peace and blessings be upon him) prayer for "As'ham or As'hamah, the Najashi", who had believed and embraced Islam, so he died in the land of the Abyssinians among the Christians, and there was no one there to perform the obligation of praying for him. So he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is the only prayer that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for an absent person. Therefore, the most just of the opinions is what Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim said: that the prayer for the absent deceased is not prescribed except for a Muslim who died in a land where there is no one to pray for him.
The questioner : Okay, if I enter, I mean, the mosque and they say it is the prayer for the absent deceased, do I pray or do I leave?
The Shaykh : You do not pray if you see what we see. Do not pray and do not participate with people in what you do not believe to be from Allah, except if you fear, may Allah forbid it, harm to yourself. In that case, there is no power nor strength except in Allah, you follow the methodology of the Shi'ah and you keep your distance from them.
The questioner : O Shaykh, a man, I mean, died in Riyadh, in the city of Riyadh, so they prayed for him in Jeddah or in Makkah, the prayer for the absent deceased. Is this part of the Sunnah?
The Shaykh : It is not part of the Sunnah to pray for the absent deceased, except if he died in a land where there is no one to pray for him. And among the innovations of the present age is the spread of this prayer. Most of the reasons that cause this prayer to become widespread are political matters that are exploited. Otherwise, how many, how many, and how many of the Companions of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) died while he was absent from them, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) did not pray for a single one of them, not even once.
Everything that has come regarding the prayer for the absent deceased is only his (peace and blessings be upon him) prayer for "As'ham or As'hamah, the Najashi", who had believed and embraced Islam, so he died in the land of the Abyssinians among the Christians, and there was no one there to perform the obligation of praying for him. So he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Stand up and pray for your brother who has died in a land other than your land, so he prayed.
قوموا فصلوا على أخ لكم قد مات في أرض غير أرضكم فصلىThe questioner : Okay, if I enter, I mean, the mosque and they say it is the prayer for the absent deceased, do I pray or do I leave?
The Shaykh : You do not pray if you see what we see. Do not pray and do not participate with people in what you do not believe to be from Allah, except if you fear, may Allah forbid it, harm to yourself. In that case, there is no power nor strength except in Allah, you follow the methodology of the Shi'ah and you keep your distance from them.