❀ Is Facing the Qiblah Necessary in the Funeral Prayer? ❀
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
Is it necessary to face the qiblah while offering the funeral prayer (ṣalāt al-janāzah)?
❖ Answer:
Yes, facing the qiblah is necessary in the funeral prayer. Since it is a form of prayer and a farḍ kifāyah, it must be performed while facing the qiblah.
❖ Statement of Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr (رحمه الله, 463H):
قد أجمعوا أنه لا يصلى عليها إلا إلى القبلة
“The scholars are unanimously agreed that the funeral prayer is not to be offered except while facing the qiblah.”
(Al-Istidhkār, 3/52)
