Question:
Is it forbidden to perform the funeral prayer for someone who has committed suicide?
Answer:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah رضي الله عنه:
“A man became ill, and cries were raised over him. His neighbor came to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and said: ‘He has died.’ The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked: ‘How do you know?’ He said: ‘I have seen him.’ The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: ‘He has not died.’ The man returned, but cries were still being raised over him. He came and informed the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم: ‘He has died.’ The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: ‘He has not died.’ He returned again, and cries were still being raised over him. The man’s wife said: ‘Go to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and inform him.’ The man said: ‘May Allah curse him!’ Then he went inside. He saw that the man had cut his throat with the fruit of his spear.” Then he went to the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and informed him that he had now died. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked: “How do you know?” He said: “I saw that he had cut his throat with the fruit of his spear.” The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
«اذا لا اصلي عليه»
“I will not perform the funeral prayer for him.”
From this hadith, it is understood that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم did not perform the funeral prayer for a person who committed suicide.
Maulana Abdul Rahman Mubarakpuri رحمه الله نقل the aforementioned narration and another narration about performing the funeral prayer for a treacherous man and wrote:
“From this hadith, it is understood that the funeral prayer should not be performed for a sinful, immoral Muslim. This is the belief of Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz and Imam Awza’i رحمۃ الله علیهما and others. However, the belief of Imam Malik, Imam Shafi’i, and Imam Abu Hanifa رحمۃ الله علیهم is that the funeral prayer should be performed for a sinful person. They respond to the hadith of Hazrat Jabir رضي الله عنه by saying: ‘The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم himself did not perform the prayer as a lesson and warning to people, but the Companions رضي الله عنهم did perform it.’ This is supported by the narration in An-Nasa’i: ‘But I will not perform the funeral prayer for him.’
From the above discussion, it becomes clear that, in any case, the distinguished knowledgeable and insightful individuals of the Muslim society should not perform the funeral prayer for such people. However, the general public may perform it because the deceased is a Muslim. When the prominent figures of the community do not perform the funeral prayer for such people, it will serve as a warning to such sinful and negligent individuals and discourage evil.
