Is the funeral prayer performed for an absent person?

Question:
If a person learns of the death of a close relative, and he is in one country, and this woman is in another country, does he perform the funeral prayer for her?

Answer:
No, he should supplicate for her forgiveness; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not perform the funeral prayer for absent persons unless they had a significant status, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the funeral prayer for the Negus; because he had a significant status, and a call to Allah, and he honored the emigrants to him. So if the deceased is among those with a significant status, such as a righteous ruler, a righteous scholar, and the like, there is no harm in performing the funeral prayer for them as an absent person.
As for the general public, the funeral prayer is not performed for them as an absent person; because a great number of people died in Makkah and elsewhere, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not perform the funeral prayer for them as an absent person.