The ruling on the prayer for the absent deceased after every Friday prayer
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Question:
A message reached the program from one of the listening brothers—apparently from Iraq. Our brother has a set of questions. In his first question, he says: In our country, a prayer is held after the Friday prayer called the prayer for the absent deceased. In it, a number of deceased Muslims from various neighboring countries are gathered, and they pray for them, knowing that the deceased have already been prayed for in their Muslim countries. What is the opinion of the Shari'ah regarding this? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
I do not know of any basis for this, and this was not the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor the practice of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), nor the practice of those who followed them with excellence. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only prayed for the Negus when he died in his land; his companions informed him of his death, and he prayed for him because he was a Muslim man who had benefited the Muslims, sheltered the emigrants, and had a significant standing in Islam. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the prayer for the absent deceased for him. It is not recorded that he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray for every absent person when they died; he only prayed for the Negus.
Some scholars mentioned that one who is like the Negus is included with him, such as people who have a standing in Islam, like callers to guidance and the imams of Islam. It is permissible to pray the prayer for the absent deceased for them.
As for praying for the general public when they die in distant lands, this has no basis and is not appropriate. In fact, this means that people would continue to pray for the absent at all times, because people die at all times. There is no justification for this, and it is not appropriate to do. It is contrary to the practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. Many people died during his time (peace and blessings be upon him), and he did not pray for them.
Therefore, it is not appropriate to pray for the absent except if he has a standing in Islam, like the Negus, the well-known scholars of calling to Allah, and the well-known imams of Islam who support the religion, and the like. If they are prayed for, there is no harm. As for the general public, and for this to become a prevailing custom where one prays for the absent at all times, this has no basis, and it is obligatory to leave it.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
A message reached the program from one of the listening brothers—apparently from Iraq. Our brother has a set of questions. In his first question, he says: In our country, a prayer is held after the Friday prayer called the prayer for the absent deceased. In it, a number of deceased Muslims from various neighboring countries are gathered, and they pray for them, knowing that the deceased have already been prayed for in their Muslim countries. What is the opinion of the Shari'ah regarding this? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
I do not know of any basis for this, and this was not the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor the practice of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), nor the practice of those who followed them with excellence. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only prayed for the Negus when he died in his land; his companions informed him of his death, and he prayed for him because he was a Muslim man who had benefited the Muslims, sheltered the emigrants, and had a significant standing in Islam. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the prayer for the absent deceased for him. It is not recorded that he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray for every absent person when they died; he only prayed for the Negus.
Some scholars mentioned that one who is like the Negus is included with him, such as people who have a standing in Islam, like callers to guidance and the imams of Islam. It is permissible to pray the prayer for the absent deceased for them.
As for praying for the general public when they die in distant lands, this has no basis and is not appropriate. In fact, this means that people would continue to pray for the absent at all times, because people die at all times. There is no justification for this, and it is not appropriate to do. It is contrary to the practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. Many people died during his time (peace and blessings be upon him), and he did not pray for them.
Therefore, it is not appropriate to pray for the absent except if he has a standing in Islam, like the Negus, the well-known scholars of calling to Allah, and the well-known imams of Islam who support the religion, and the like. If they are prayed for, there is no harm. As for the general public, and for this to become a prevailing custom where one prays for the absent at all times, this has no basis, and it is obligatory to leave it.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.