If no one has prayed over the deceased, is it permissible for me to pray over him as an absent person?
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The questioner : It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed over the Negus as an absent person, and the reason for this was that there was no one there to pray over him.
The reality of the Muslims now, the reality of the Muslims today, is that groups of them die, and it is certain that no one has prayed over them, as is the case, especially in our present time in Yugoslavia and Somalia. It is confirmed that no one has prayed over them?
The Shaykh : Yes, if you are certain that no one has prayed over them, then pray over them, because the prayer over the deceased is a collective obligation.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, but perhaps their people have prayed over him, because the prayer over the deceased is valid with just one person.
In any case, if you are certain that a person has not been prayed over, then you must pray over him, because it is a collective obligation and it is necessary.
The questioner : Is the explanation for the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) prayer over the Negus correct?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is the most likely explanation, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not pray over anyone who died except the Negus, even though they were better than him and more beneficial to Islam and the Muslims, and likewise the Caliphs after him.
The questioner : But what makes it unlikely... that he would accept Islam and those with him would not?
The Shaykh : No, if they accepted Islam with him, did they know all the rituals of Islam? They may accept Islam and not know anything of the rituals. Yes.
The reality of the Muslims now, the reality of the Muslims today, is that groups of them die, and it is certain that no one has prayed over them, as is the case, especially in our present time in Yugoslavia and Somalia. It is confirmed that no one has prayed over them?
The Shaykh : Yes, if you are certain that no one has prayed over them, then pray over them, because the prayer over the deceased is a collective obligation.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, but perhaps their people have prayed over him, because the prayer over the deceased is valid with just one person.
In any case, if you are certain that a person has not been prayed over, then you must pray over him, because it is a collective obligation and it is necessary.
The questioner : Is the explanation for the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) prayer over the Negus correct?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is the most likely explanation, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not pray over anyone who died except the Negus, even though they were better than him and more beneficial to Islam and the Muslims, and likewise the Caliphs after him.
The questioner : But what makes it unlikely... that he would accept Islam and those with him would not?
The Shaykh : No, if they accepted Islam with him, did they know all the rituals of Islam? They may accept Islam and not know anything of the rituals. Yes.