The embezzler, the one who commits suicide, the disbeliever, and the martyr will not have their funeral prayer performed
It should be noted that an embezzler (khaʼin) refers to a person who steals something from the spoils of war before they are distributed.
It is narrated from Zayd bin Khalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) that on the day of Khaybar, the Prophet ﷺ did not lead the funeral prayer for an embezzler, but told the other companions:
صلوا على صاحبكم
“Perform the funeral prayer for your companion.”
(Al-Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him) From this it becomes known that the funeral prayer can be offered for sinful people. “However, the Prophet ﷺ did not lead the funeral prayer for this man, probably to rebuke him for embezzlement, just as he ﷺ did not lead the funeral prayer for the one in debt himself, but instructed people to do so.” (Therefore, the notables should not lead the funeral prayers of sinners and disobedient people; rather, the common people should perform them themselves.)
(Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him) This is the view he prefers.
(Malik, Shafi’i, Abu Hanifah, and the majority) The funeral prayer of disobedient people will be offered.
It is narrated from Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man was brought to the Prophet ﷺ who:
قتل نفسه بمشاقص فلم يصل عليه
“Had killed himself with an arrow, so the Prophet ﷺ did not lead his funeral prayer.”
In another narration, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said about the one who had killed himself:
أما أنا فلا أصلى
“As for me, I will not perform his funeral prayer.”
From this it can be deduced that ordinary people may also perform the funeral prayer for such a person.
➊ مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِيْنَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِى قُرْبَى
“It is not for the Prophet and the other believers to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are close relatives.”
➋ وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمُ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ
“And never pray over any of them who dies, nor stand at his grave.”
Although this verse was revealed concerning the chief of the hypocrites, Abdullah bin Ubayy, since its ruling is general, everyone who dies upon disbelief and hypocrisy is included in it.
It is narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ ordered the martyrs of Uhud to be buried with their blood:
ولم يصل عليهم
“And he did not offer the funeral prayer over them.”
Regarding the martyrs of Badr as well, no mention of a funeral prayer for them is reported in the hadiths, even though if the Prophet ﷺ had led their funeral prayer, the other companions would certainly have reported it. From this it becomes known that the funeral prayer over martyrs is not obligatory.
This does not mean that the funeral prayer for martyrs is impermissible; rather, the Prophet ﷺ’s offering of the funeral prayer for martyrs is established from authentic hadiths, some of which are as follows:
➊ It is narrated from Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
أن النبى خرج يوما فصلى على أهل احد صلاته على الميت
“The Prophet ﷺ went out one day and prayed over the martyrs of Uhud in the same way as one prays over the dead.”
➋ It is narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ passed by Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him), whose body had been mutilated:
ولم يصل على أحد من الشهداء غيره يعنى شهداء احد
“And he ﷺ did not offer the funeral prayer for anyone among the martyrs of Uhud other than Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him).”
➌ It is narrated from Shaddad bin Had (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man from the Bedouins came to the Prophet ﷺ and embraced Islam. After some time, people went out to fight the enemy, and this man was brought to the Prophet ﷺ after he had been struck by an arrow:
ثم كفنه النبى فى حبته ثم قدمه فصلى عليه “Then the Prophet ﷺ shrouded him in his own cloak, and then stood before him and led his funeral prayer.”
➍ It is narrated from Abdullah bin Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ ordered Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him) to be covered with a sheet on the day of Uhud:
ثم صلى عليه فكبر تسع تكبيرات ثم أتى بالقتلى يصفون ويصلى عليهم وعليه معهم
“Then he ﷺ led his funeral prayer and said nine takbirs. Then the other martyrs were brought and lined up, and he ﷺ prayed over them and over Hamzah along with them.”
(Shafi’i, Ahmad, Malik) The funeral prayer of martyrs will not be offered.
(Abu Hanifah) The funeral prayer of martyrs will be offered.
(Preferred view) A person has a choice whether to offer the funeral prayer for martyrs or not, but offering it is better, because it is supplication and worship, which is a cause of increased reward.
(Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him) The correct position on this issue is that there is a choice between offering it and leaving it.
(Al-Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him) Offering the funeral prayer for martyrs is indeed better.
(Abdul Rahman Mubarakpuri, may Allah have mercy on him) The funeral prayer for martyrs is not obligatory, therefore both offering it and leaving it are permissible.
(Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him) Both offering and leaving it are correct, but offering it is more virtuous.
