Ruling on an Ahl al-Ḥadīth Son Attending the Funeral of His Barelvi Parents
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Janāzah Issues, Vol. 1, p. 257
❖ Question
If a son is Ahl al-Ḥadīth but his parents (father or mother) are Barelvi, can he participate in their funeral prayer when the funeral is led by a Barelvi imām?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
- If a person is a mushrik or disbeliever, then performing his funeral prayer is not permissible, even if in his life he identified as Ahl al-Ḥadīth, Deobandi, Barelvi, or any other sect.
Allah ﷻ clearly states:
﴿مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن يَسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ لِلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ وَلَوۡ كَانُوٓاْ أُوْلِي قُرۡبَىٰ﴾
“It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are close relatives.”
[al-Tawbah: 113]
And Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٖ مِّنۡهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدٗا وَلَا تَقُمۡ عَلَىٰ قَبۡرِهِۦٓۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَفَرُواْ﴾
“And never pray over any of them who dies, nor stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved.”
[al-Tawbah: 84]
❖ Following a Mushrik Imām in Janāzah
Just as it is impermissible to pray the funeral prayer over a mushrik or kāfir, likewise it is not valid to follow a mushrik imām in janāzah prayer, even if he labels himself Ahl al-Ḥadīth, Deobandi, or Barelvi.
Allah ﷻ says about such people:
﴿أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ وَفِي ٱلنَّارِ هُمۡ خَٰلِدُونَ﴾
“It is they whose deeds are in vain, and in the Fire they will abide forever.”
[al-Tawbah: 17]
❖ Conclusion
◈ If the parents were not upon tawḥīd and died upon shirk, then their funeral prayer is not permissible, even if they are close relatives.
◈ Similarly, if the imām himself holds shirk-based beliefs, then it is not valid to perform janāzah prayer behind him.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb. ✅
