Is it permissible to announce a person's death in the newspaper so that people can pray over him?
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The questioner : Is it permissible to announce a person's death in the newspaper so that people can pray over him?
The Shaykh : Praying over an absent deceased is not prescribed except for one who has not been prayed over. Evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not pray over an absent person except for the Negus, because the Negus was in a land where the people were not Muslims. We do not know of the Companions after him praying over someone who had a role in Islam.
This issue has three opinions among the scholars. The first opinion is that one does not pray over an absent person who has already been prayed over, absolutely, whether he had a role in Islam by being a scholar or a merchant who benefits people with his wealth, or whether he did not have a role.
The second opinion is that one prays over every deceased person, whoever he is, whether he has been prayed over or not, and whether he had a role in Islam or not. Some of them went to the extent of saying that a person should, when he wants to sleep, pray the prayer for the absent one over the Muslims who died that day. Thus, he innovated in the religion of Allah what is not part of it. These are two opinions.
The third opinion is that if he had a role in Islam by being a scholar or a wealthy person who gives much charity, or something similar, then he is prayed over to encourage others to do as he did. If he did not have a role, then he is not prayed over.
What appears to me from the Sunnah is that one does not pray over an absent person except for one who has not been prayed over.
The questioner : The questioner, Abd al-Rahman Yusuf, says.
The Shaykh : Praying over an absent deceased is not prescribed except for one who has not been prayed over. Evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not pray over an absent person except for the Negus, because the Negus was in a land where the people were not Muslims. We do not know of the Companions after him praying over someone who had a role in Islam.
This issue has three opinions among the scholars. The first opinion is that one does not pray over an absent person who has already been prayed over, absolutely, whether he had a role in Islam by being a scholar or a merchant who benefits people with his wealth, or whether he did not have a role.
The second opinion is that one prays over every deceased person, whoever he is, whether he has been prayed over or not, and whether he had a role in Islam or not. Some of them went to the extent of saying that a person should, when he wants to sleep, pray the prayer for the absent one over the Muslims who died that day. Thus, he innovated in the religion of Allah what is not part of it. These are two opinions.
The third opinion is that if he had a role in Islam by being a scholar or a wealthy person who gives much charity, or something similar, then he is prayed over to encourage others to do as he did. If he did not have a role, then he is not prayed over.
What appears to me from the Sunnah is that one does not pray over an absent person except for one who has not been prayed over.
The questioner : The questioner, Abd al-Rahman Yusuf, says.