Is the Funeral Prayer Valid for Those with Shirk-Based Beliefs or for One Who Abandons Prayer?
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Janāzah Issues, Vol. 1, p. 258
❖ Question
What is the ruling on offering the funeral prayer for a person who held shirk-based beliefs?
Specifically, in the case of Barelvi beliefs, which often contain elements of shirk—if close relatives or acquaintances hold such beliefs, abstaining from their funeral prayer may lead to conflict or hinder daʿwah efforts. Sometimes, it may also happen that immediately after an Ahl al-Ḥadīth funeral, a Barelvi funeral is held, making separation difficult.
In such situations, can their funeral prayer be performed out of consideration for expediency?
Also, what is the ruling on the funeral prayer for a person who did not pray at all?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
- It is not permissible to perform the funeral prayer for a disbeliever or a mushrik, even if such a person claimed to be from Ahl al-Ḥadīth.
Allah ﷻ clearly says:
﴿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 in another verse:
﴿وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٖ مِّنۡهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدٗا وَلَا تَقُمۡ عَلَىٰ قَبۡرِهِۦٓۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَفَرُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ﴾
“And never offer the funeral prayer for any of them who dies, nor stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger.”
[al-Tawbah: 84]
❖ Ruling on the One Who Abandons Prayer
Whoever abandons prayer completely is a disbeliever.
Therefore, offering the funeral prayer for such a person is not permissible.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb. ✅
