Key Questions on Islamic Funeral Rites and Practices
Answers to Questions Related to Funeral Rites
Question (1): When the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) heard about the death of a black woman who used to clean the Prophet’s mosque, he said, “Show me her grave, and I will pray for her forgiveness.” Is it necessary to visit the grave to seek forgiveness for the deceased?
Answer: The incident referred to in the question can be understood by reviewing the hadith. Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates:
أنَّ أسْوَدَ رَجُلًا – أوِ امْرَأَةً – كانَ يَكونُ في المَسْجِدِ يَقُمُّ المَسْجِدَ، فَمَاتَ ولَمْ يَعْلَمُ النبيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ بمَوْتِهِ، فَذَكَرَهُ ذَاتَ يَومٍ فَقَالَ: ما فَعَلَ ذلكَ الإنْسَانُ؟ قالوا: مَاتَ يا رَسولَ اللَّهِ، قَالَ : أفلا آذَنْتُمُونِي؟ فَقالوا: إنَّه كانَ كَذَا وكَذَا – قِصَّتُهُ – قَالَ: فَحَقَرُوا شَأْنَهُ، قَالَ: فَدُلُّونِي علَى قَبْرِهِ فأتَى قَبْرَهُ فَصَلَّى عليه (صحيح البخاري:1337)
Translation: A black man or woman used to serve in the mosque. They passed away, and the Prophet (PBUH) was not informed about their death. One day, the Prophet (PBUH) inquired, saying, “What happened to that person?” They replied, “He has passed away.” The Prophet (PBUH) asked, “Why didn’t you inform me?” The companions explained their reasons, and the Prophet (PBUH) expressed that they had belittled the person. Then he said, “Show me their grave,” and he went to the grave and prayed for them.
In this hadith, it is mentioned that the Prophet (PBUH) went to the grave to offer the funeral prayer, not just to ask for forgiveness. This indicates that if someone did not perform the funeral prayer before burial, they can go to the grave and offer the funeral prayer there. As for asking forgiveness, it can be done anywhere, and visiting the graveyard is a recommended practice. Thus, one can ask for forgiveness for the deceased in a graveyard, and even when entering a graveyard, there is a prayer for the deceased. However, further prayers can also be made at the grave.
Question (2): Some people say that after burying the deceased, the children should remain there for a while and pray for the deceased. If this is a recommended act, could you provide evidence for it?
Answer: It is absolutely correct that after the burial, people should stay for a while and pray for the deceased’s forgiveness, as this is the time when the angels come to question the deceased. This prayer should not only be offered by the children of the deceased but by all those present at the burial. Uthman bin Affan (RA) narrates:
كانَ النَّبيُّ صلَّى اللَّهُ علَيهِ وسلَّمَ ، إذا فرغَ مِن دفنِ الميِّتِ وقفَ علَيهِ ، فقالَ : استغفِروا لأخيكُم ، وسَلوا لَهُ التَّثبيتَ ، فإنَّهُ الآنَ يُسأَلُ (صحيح أبي داود:3221)
Translation: The Prophet (PBUH), when he finished burying the deceased, would stand by the grave and say, “Ask forgiveness for your brother and ask for him to be firmly established, for he is now being questioned.”
Note that here the prayer is individual, and there is no evidence of collective prayer in this context. It is also permissible to raise hands while praying. It is better to face the Qiblah while praying, though it is not obligatory.
Question (3): Can body organs be donated or given in charity during life to save someone’s life?
Answer: Body organs such as blood, eyes, kidneys, etc., can be donated, subject to certain rules. Here are a few guidelines:
- The organ must be donated in a way that benefits more than it harms, and is replaceable.
- Transplanting organs that are critical to life, such as the heart, from a living person is forbidden.
- It is forbidden to transfer organs that would incapacitate a person permanently or for the rest of their life.
- After death, organs can be taken from the deceased with their consent.
- An organ that is removed due to illness can be given to someone else for their benefit.
Selling any body part is prohibited, but donating is not equivalent to selling and does not violate the dignity of the human body. In fact, it is a way of respecting and helping other needy Muslims. (Source: Maqbool Ahmed Salfi’s writings)
Question (4): We are introducing a three-piece shroud for the deceased, but people are asking about the five-piece shroud. How should we consider it—recommended or non-recommended?
Answer: A woman should be buried in three pieces of cloth, just like a man. There is no authentic hadith distinguishing the shroud for men and women. In Abu Dawood, there is a narration about five pieces of cloth, narrated by Layla bint Qaif Thaqafiyah, who gave the bath to the Prophet’s daughter, Umm Kulthum. This narration is considered weak by Sheikh Zubair Ali Zai and Sheikh Albani. Therefore, Sheikh Albani clarified that both men and women should be given the same three-piece shroud. (Source: Maqbool Ahmed Salfi, “Jinazah Ke Masail”)
Question (5): Is it true that the deceased’s hair or nails should not be removed, and should nail polish be removed before performing ablution?
Answer: Scholars agree that if a deceased person’s nails or moustache (not other hair) are excessively long, they can be trimmed, though there is no specific instruction from the Prophet (PBUH) on this. This matter is related to the deceased’s life, and since they have passed away, there is no harm if the nails or hair are left as they are.
If a woman’s nails have nail polish on them, it should be removed before ablution or washing the body so that water can reach the nails and a proper ablution or washing can be performed.
Question (6): Can a person be kept on a ventilator for many years?
Answer: This question likely pertains to a critically ill person. The decision to keep a person on a ventilator should be made based on the advice of a doctor. If a person is deemed by medical professionals to be in need of a ventilator, there is no religious issue with keeping them on it, regardless of how long it takes, as long as it is done in accordance with medical guidance.
Question (7): Is it permissible to conduct a post-mortem?
Answer: We are prohibited from violating the sanctity of the body and cutting it up. However, post-mortems may be conducted if necessary, such as to determine the cause of death in case of murder or to investigate an epidemic. If a female doctor is not available, a male doctor may conduct the post-mortem on a female body. It is not permissible to conduct post-mortems on Muslim bodies for experimental purposes, but it can be done on the bodies of non-Muslims, apostates, or enemies of Islam. (Source: “Jinazah Ke Ahkam Wa Masail” by Maqbool Ahmed Salfi)
Question (8): If a gold tooth comes off easily, can it be removed?
Answer: If a person had a gold tooth during their life and it falls out after death, it can be removed because it is considered property, and leaving it would result in wasting wealth. However, if removing a gold artificial tooth causes significant difficulty, it may be left in place.
Question (9): According to the hadith, the private area of a woman is from the navel to the knee. If the woman is being bathed by other women, can only the private area be covered while giving her a bath?
Answer: A woman’s private area in front of another woman is from the navel to the knee. Therefore, when giving a bath to a deceased woman, her private parts should be covered while performing the washing. First, any bodily fluids should be cleaned, then the body can be washed three times, or as needed, to ensure complete purification.
And Allah knows best.