The Ruling on Hastening the Funeral Prayer and Burial
Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amini Puri
Question: What is the ruling on hastening the funeral prayer and burial of the deceased?
Answer:
One should hasten the preparation, shrouding, funeral prayer, and burial of the deceased. Unnecessary delay is undesirable. The Sharīʿah encourages taking the funeral quickly.
✿ Imām Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله (d. 620 AH) said:
لا خلاف بين الأئمة رحمهم الله، فى استحباب الإسراع بالجنازة، وبه ورد النص .
There is no difference of opinion among the Imams رحمه الله that it is recommended to hasten with the funeral. A clear text (Hadith) has also been reported in this regard.
(المغني: 2/352)
✿ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
أسرعوا بالجنازة، فإن كانت صالحة قربتموها إلى الخير، وإن كانت غير ذلك كان شرا تضعونه عن رقابكم
Hasten with the funeral. If it was a righteous soul, you are taking it closer to goodness; and if it was otherwise, then it is an evil that you are removing from your necks.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 944)
