❖ Funeral Prayer Not to Be Offered for the Traitor, Suicide Victim, Disbeliever, or Martyr ❖
✍ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
The funeral prayer (Janazah) is not to be offered for certain individuals such as traitors, those who commit suicide, disbelievers, and martyrs under specific circumstances.
◈ ① The Traitor (خائن)
🔹 A traitor is defined as someone who steals from the spoils of war (ghanimah) before it has been distributed.
[At-Taʿliqat ar-Radiyyah ʿala ar-Rawdah an-Nadiyyah by Al-Albani: 1/447; Commentary by Shaykh Subhi Hallaq: 1/423]
❖ Narrated by Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhani (رضي الله عنه):
On the day of Khaybar, the Prophet ﷺ did not offer the funeral prayer for a man who had committed treachery and said:
“Pray for your companion.”
[Sahih: Abu Dawood: 2710; Ibn Majah: 2848; Nasai: 4/64; Muwatta: 2/458; At-Taʿliqat ar-Radiyyah: 1/447]
✔ Imam Shawkani (رحمه الله) explains:
This indicates that prayer for sinful individuals is not prohibited. The Prophet ﷺ likely refrained from leading the prayer to express disapproval of the betrayal, much like when he avoided praying over someone in debt, though he permitted others to do so.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/700]
✔ Shaykh al-Albani (رحمه الله) preferred this view.
[Ahkam al-Jana’iz: pp. 108–109]
✔ Majority of scholars — including Imam Malik, Imam Shafiʿi, and Imam Abu Hanifah — hold that funeral prayer should be offered for sinners.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/700]
◈ ② The Suicide Victim
❖ Narrated by Jābir ibn Samurah (رضي الله عنه):
A man who had killed himself with an arrowhead was brought before the Prophet ﷺ.
He did not offer his funeral prayer.
[Muslim: 978; Tirmidhi: 1074; Nasai: 4/66; Bayhaqi: 4/19; Ahmad: 5/97]
Another narration reports the Prophet ﷺ saying:
“As for me, I will not pray for him.”
[Sahih: Nasai: 1855; Ibn Majah: 1526]
✔ This implies that others may still offer the funeral prayer for someone who committed suicide.
◈ ③ The Disbeliever
➊ مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِيْنَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِى قُرْبَى
[At-Tawbah: 113]
“It is not permissible for the Prophet ﷺ and the 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
[At-Tawbah: 84]
“Never offer the funeral prayer for any of them who dies, nor stand at his grave.”
📌 Although this verse was revealed concerning the chief hypocrite ʿAbdullah ibn Ubayy, its ruling is general and applies to anyone who dies upon disbelief or hypocrisy.
◈ ④ The Martyr (Shahīd)
❖ Narrated by Jābir (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ ordered that the martyrs of Uhud be buried with their blood,
and did not offer the funeral prayer over them.
[Bukhari: 1343; Abu Dawood: 3138–3139; Nasai: 1955; Ibn Majah: 1514; Tirmidhi: 1036]
🔹 There is no narration stating that the Prophet ﷺ offered funeral prayers for the martyrs of Badr. Had it occurred, the Companions would certainly have reported it.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/698; Ahkam al-Jana’iz: p. 108]
🔸 This does not imply that praying for martyrs is prohibited — there are authentic narrations proving that the Prophet ﷺ did offer their funeral prayers in some cases:
✅ Narrations Supporting Janazah for Martyrs:
❶ Narrated by ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir (رضي الله عنه):
“The Prophet ﷺ came out one day and prayed over the martyrs of Uhud as he would pray over the deceased.”
[Bukhari: 4042]
❷ Narrated by Anas (رضي الله عنه):
“The Prophet ﷺ passed by Hamzah (رضي الله عنه), who had been mutilated, and prayed for no other martyr except him.”
[Hasan: Abu Dawood: 3137; Ahkam al-Jana’iz: p. 107]
❸ Narrated by Shaddād ibn Hād (رضي الله عنه):
A Bedouin man who had just embraced Islam died in battle.
The Prophet ﷺ shrouded him in his cloak and offered his funeral prayer.
[Sahih: Nasai: 1845; Ahkam al-Jana’iz: p. 106]
❹ Narrated by ʿAbdullah ibn al-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه):
“The Prophet ﷺ shrouded Hamzah (رضي الله عنه) in a single cloth, offered nine Takbirs over him, and then offered prayer over each martyr, including Hamzah, as they were brought forth.”
[Hasan: Sharh Maʿani al-Āthār: 1/290; Ahkam al-Jana’iz: p. 106]
🟨 Scholarly Opinions:
✔ Imam Shafiʿi, Imam Ahmad, and Imam Malik:
Funeral prayer is not offered for martyrs.
[Al-Umm: 1/446; Al-Hawi: 3/33; Al-Mughni: 3/467]
✔ Imam Abu Hanifah:
Funeral prayer is offered for martyrs.
[Al-Mabsut: 2/49; Al-Hidayah: 1/943; Bada’iʿ as-Sana’iʿ: 1/324]
✔ Preferred Opinion (راجح):
The individual has the choice to either pray or not pray over a martyr. However, praying is preferable as it is a form of supplication and worship and increases reward.
✔ Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله):
Both are permissible; there is flexibility in the matter.
[Tahdhib as-Sunan: 4/295]
✔ Shawkani (رحمه الله):
Praying over a martyr is better.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/697]
✔ ʿAbd ar-Rahman Mubarakpuri (رحمه الله):
Funeral prayer is not obligatory for martyrs, so both performing and leaving it are permissible.
[Tuhfat al-Ahwazi: 3/116]
✔ Shaykh al-Albani (رحمه الله):
Both are valid, but offering the prayer is superior.
[Ahkam al-Jana’iz: p. 108]
📌 Summary:
◈ No funeral prayer is to be offered for:
— A traitor in the spoils of war (by the Prophet ﷺ himself, though others may pray)
— A suicide victim (the Prophet ﷺ refrained, others may perform)
— A disbeliever or hypocrite (funeral prayer and duʿā strictly prohibited)
— Martyrs (funeral prayer is optional; offering it is preferable)
