Is it permissible to bury or attend the funeral of the People of the Book in their cemeteries?
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The Shaykh : So, was her Islam genuine, or was it for benefit, as some people do? I am speaking so that perhaps they are in need of it. He did not know how to answer, and the second one did not know how to answer either. He said, "Go and speak with her son." The man started speaking, but I do not know what we can issue a ruling on. If she officially declared her Islam, as they say, and her life is based on the requirements of this Islam, then she is buried in the Muslim cemeteries. They all stated that she did not pray. Her son finally said she went to perform 'Umrah at her sister's place. It is permissible for her to go to perform 'Umrah under a pretext to see her sister.
Abu Layla : Her daughter.
The Shaykh : Yes, her daughter. The point is, my answer is: if the basis of her life indicates her Islam, then she is buried in the Muslim cemeteries, and it is not permissible for her to be buried in the Christian cemeteries. And if the basis of her life indicates that it was just a word she said, and one does not know what personal motives led her to register herself as a Muslim, and there are many incidents of this kind that are not hidden from everyone, then this declaration has no value, because it is a statement not accompanied by action.[At-Tawbah 9:5] This is how the Noble Qur'an is. I asked her son if she used to go to the church on Sundays. He gave a cautious answer: "I did not see her." So, you should gather and describe how her life was. If the predominant aspect of her life was that she was a Muslim, she is buried in the Muslim cemeteries; otherwise, in the Christian cemeteries.
Abu Layla : May Allah reward you with good. Now, what is the duty of Muslims like us: do we enter the Christian cemeteries and perform her burial?
The Shaykh : No.
Abu Layla : Not even her son.
The Shaykh : There is no objection to her son, but attending her funeral and the like is not permissible. However, if it is established that she was a Muslim, she is buried in the Muslim cemeteries. And if it is established that the basis of her life was not so, she is not buried in the Muslim cemeteries. So I do not say bury her here or there, because I do not know her life.
Abu Layla : Now, regarding her children or those who see her daily.
The Shaykh : He did not give an answer.
Abu Layla : Yes, if we assume that we heard this tape now and we say to you, her son or daughter, what do you testify about her? You will be asked before Allah on the Day of Resurrection about this testimony, so clear yourselves before Allah. If her dealings and her prayer are like Islam, like the Muslims, then she is buried in the Muslim cemeteries. Otherwise, if her dealings, her speech, her style, and her going to the church or the like, then she is buried in the Christian cemeteries, and you are responsible for this.
The Shaykh : This is my statement regarding this issue. We do not know her life; they know it better. So if they rule that she was a Muslim in practice, she is buried in the Muslim cemeteries; otherwise, in the Christian cemeteries. The ruling comes from them; we have given them the principles and that is all.
Abu Layla : Yes, and may Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
Abu Layla : Her daughter.
The Shaykh : Yes, her daughter. The point is, my answer is: if the basis of her life indicates her Islam, then she is buried in the Muslim cemeteries, and it is not permissible for her to be buried in the Christian cemeteries. And if the basis of her life indicates that it was just a word she said, and one does not know what personal motives led her to register herself as a Muslim, and there are many incidents of this kind that are not hidden from everyone, then this declaration has no value, because it is a statement not accompanied by action.
But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way
فإن تابوا وأقاموا الصلاة وآتوا الزكاة فخلوا سبيلهمAbu Layla : May Allah reward you with good. Now, what is the duty of Muslims like us: do we enter the Christian cemeteries and perform her burial?
The Shaykh : No.
Abu Layla : Not even her son.
The Shaykh : There is no objection to her son, but attending her funeral and the like is not permissible. However, if it is established that she was a Muslim, she is buried in the Muslim cemeteries. And if it is established that the basis of her life was not so, she is not buried in the Muslim cemeteries. So I do not say bury her here or there, because I do not know her life.
Abu Layla : Now, regarding her children or those who see her daily.
The Shaykh : He did not give an answer.
Abu Layla : Yes, if we assume that we heard this tape now and we say to you, her son or daughter, what do you testify about her? You will be asked before Allah on the Day of Resurrection about this testimony, so clear yourselves before Allah. If her dealings and her prayer are like Islam, like the Muslims, then she is buried in the Muslim cemeteries. Otherwise, if her dealings, her speech, her style, and her going to the church or the like, then she is buried in the Christian cemeteries, and you are responsible for this.
The Shaykh : This is my statement regarding this issue. We do not know her life; they know it better. So if they rule that she was a Muslim in practice, she is buried in the Muslim cemeteries; otherwise, in the Christian cemeteries. The ruling comes from them; we have given them the principles and that is all.
Abu Layla : Yes, and may Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.