Shar‘i Ruling on Delaying Burial for the Arrival of Relatives
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
What is the Shar‘i ruling on delaying the burial of the deceased in order to wait for relatives coming from distant locations?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd:
Islamic Shari‘ah clearly instructs that the preparation, shrouding, and burial of the deceased should be done quickly. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly said:
«أَسْرِعُوا بِالْجِنَازَۃِ فَإِنْ تَکُ صَالِحَۃً فَخَیْرٌ تُقَدِّمُونَہَا إِلَيْهِ، وَإِنْ تَکُ سِوَی ذَلِکَ فَشَرٌّ تَضَعُونَہُ عَنْ رِقَابِکُمْ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb al-Sur‘ah fī al-Janāzah, Ḥadīth 1315;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, al-Janā’iz, Bāb al-Sur‘ah fī al-Janāzah, Ḥadīth 944)
Meaning:
“Hasten with the funeral. If the deceased was righteous, you are presenting them to good; and if otherwise, you are removing an evil from your necks.”
If a relative arrives after burial:
Example from the Sunnah:
When the Prophet ﷺ missed the funeral prayer of a woman who used to clean the mosque, he said:
«دُلُّونِي عَلٰی قَبْرِهِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, al-Janā’iz, Bāb al-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-Qabr baʿda mā Yudfan, Ḥadīth 1337;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, al-Janā’iz, Bāb al-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-Qabr, Ḥadīth 956)
Meaning:
“Show me her grave.”
The Companions took him to the grave, and the Prophet ﷺ offered the Janazah prayer there.
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Question
What is the Shar‘i ruling on delaying the burial of the deceased in order to wait for relatives coming from distant locations?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd:
The Islamic Principle: Hastening Funeral Rites
Islamic Shari‘ah clearly instructs that the preparation, shrouding, and burial of the deceased should be done quickly. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly said:
«أَسْرِعُوا بِالْجِنَازَۃِ فَإِنْ تَکُ صَالِحَۃً فَخَیْرٌ تُقَدِّمُونَہَا إِلَيْهِ، وَإِنْ تَکُ سِوَی ذَلِکَ فَشَرٌّ تَضَعُونَہُ عَنْ رِقَابِکُمْ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb al-Sur‘ah fī al-Janāzah, Ḥadīth 1315;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, al-Janā’iz, Bāb al-Sur‘ah fī al-Janāzah, Ḥadīth 944)
Meaning:
“Hasten with the funeral. If the deceased was righteous, you are presenting them to good; and if otherwise, you are removing an evil from your necks.”
Ruling on Waiting for Relatives
- It is not permissible to cause unnecessary delay in burial merely to wait for the arrival of some relatives.
- However, if a short delay of a few hours is unavoidable and there is no harm to the body, it may be allowed.
- The best and most virtuous is to complete the funeral and burial without delay.
What About Relatives Who Arrive After Burial?
If a relative arrives after burial:
- They may perform Salat al-Janazah at the grave, as the Prophet ﷺ did.
Example from the Sunnah:
When the Prophet ﷺ missed the funeral prayer of a woman who used to clean the mosque, he said:
«دُلُّونِي عَلٰی قَبْرِهِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, al-Janā’iz, Bāb al-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-Qabr baʿda mā Yudfan, Ḥadīth 1337;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, al-Janā’iz, Bāb al-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-Qabr, Ḥadīth 956)
Meaning:
“Show me her grave.”
The Companions took him to the grave, and the Prophet ﷺ offered the Janazah prayer there.
