The ruling on praying over a deceased person who did not pray during his lifetime.

The questioner : Praying over a deceased person who did not pray during his lifetime, meaning he died without having prayed. Is it permissible for us not to pray over him?

The Shaykh : If he died, the questioner made a mistake, and it will become clear. If he died while he was praying, then you may refrain from praying over him, do you understand? Why? Because it is a collective obligation. But the question is: Is it permissible for us to intentionally refrain from praying over him because of his open sinfulness and his flagrant sin? I say that the permissibility extends to the entire community, except for individuals among them who fulfill the collective obligation. However, it is obligatory for some of them—those who are looked upon with a special regard as models of knowledge, righteousness, and mindfulness of Allah, and so on—for such people, it is obligatory that they refrain from praying over such an open sinner and flagrant sinner. This is to inform those like him who are still alive that this is your fate when you die: we will not attend your funeral, we will not follow your procession, and we will do nothing, because you are an open sinner. So, if the question is valid: Is it obligatory for some of the Muslim worshippers not to pray? We say: Yes, that is obligatory for some of the special ones. Is that clear?

The questioner : It is clear, O our Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Yes.