Is it prescribed to inquire about the deceased to see whether he should be prayed over or not?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Is it prescribed to inquire about the deceased to see whether he should be prayed over or not?
The Shaykh : By Allah, it is a difficult issue! I fear that someone will come and say, "Yes, he was a good and beloved man." You would say, "Who vouches for you?" Yes, and then if he brings someone to vouch for him, you would say, "Who vouches for you as well?" And we would spend two or three days going around the vindicators and the vouchers. The principle, my brothers, regarding one among the Muslims is that he should be prayed over, even if we assume the man is immersed in sins, known for drinking intoxicants, and known for other sins. We might say that he is more deserving of this than one who is upright, because he needs us to seek intercession for him with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes, if there is a benefit in that, which is deterring others, it is permissible for the person in charge in the town to delay the prayer, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delayed the prayer for the man who killed himself. And this is a wrong view. Some of the brothers, out of their dislike for sins and the people of sins, if the man is known for sins, they say, "We will not pray over him." Glory be to Allah! It is well known that the sinner is more deserving of intercession, unless there is a stronger benefit, such that others are deterred, and it is said, "By Allah, if so-and-so left the prayer for this man because of this sin, then we will leave it, for we fear that we will die and not be prayed over."
The questioner : What if he wore an amulet?
The Shaykh : Even if he wore an amulet, as long as the shirk (associating partners with Allah) is minor, he should be prayed over and forgiveness should be sought from Allah for him.
The questioner : Now, in some cases where killing occurs, the deceased remains until the case is concluded. Does this fall under the command to hasten?
The Shaykh : We mentioned this issue.
The Shaykh : By Allah, it is a difficult issue! I fear that someone will come and say, "Yes, he was a good and beloved man." You would say, "Who vouches for you?" Yes, and then if he brings someone to vouch for him, you would say, "Who vouches for you as well?" And we would spend two or three days going around the vindicators and the vouchers. The principle, my brothers, regarding one among the Muslims is that he should be prayed over, even if we assume the man is immersed in sins, known for drinking intoxicants, and known for other sins. We might say that he is more deserving of this than one who is upright, because he needs us to seek intercession for him with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes, if there is a benefit in that, which is deterring others, it is permissible for the person in charge in the town to delay the prayer, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delayed the prayer for the man who killed himself. And this is a wrong view. Some of the brothers, out of their dislike for sins and the people of sins, if the man is known for sins, they say, "We will not pray over him." Glory be to Allah! It is well known that the sinner is more deserving of intercession, unless there is a stronger benefit, such that others are deterred, and it is said, "By Allah, if so-and-so left the prayer for this man because of this sin, then we will leave it, for we fear that we will die and not be prayed over."
The questioner : What if he wore an amulet?
The Shaykh : Even if he wore an amulet, as long as the shirk (associating partners with Allah) is minor, he should be prayed over and forgiveness should be sought from Allah for him.
The questioner : Now, in some cases where killing occurs, the deceased remains until the case is concluded. Does this fall under the command to hasten?
The Shaykh : We mentioned this issue.