A man went to a land of disbelief for treatment and returned dead in a coffin, and we do not know whether he was washed or not. So should we open the coffin and wash him, or bury him in the coffin?

The questioner : The honorable Shaykh (may Allah preserve him): Some people go to the lands of disbelievers for certain surgical operations, then it happens by the will of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) that one of them dies, and we do not know whether he was washed or not. Then he is placed in a coffin, meaning a closed one, and they return him to his family. So what is the solution? Is he buried in this coffin, or is the coffin opened and he is washed and prayed over?

The Shaykh : If we know that the one who performed the washing was a Muslim, then the first washing is sufficient. Then, if we know that this Muslim prayed over him, the obligation is dropped, but there is no harm in repeating the prayer a second time. As for burying him in the coffin, that is not allowed; he must be taken out of the coffin and buried as people are buried.

The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

The Shaykh : Now, if it is known that those who washed him were disbelievers, then this washing is not sufficient, because washing the dead is an act of worship, not cleaning. This is based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): And worship is not valid from a disbeliever. Yes.