Ruling on Funeral Prayer for Disbelievers and Hypocrites

❖ Prohibition of Funeral Prayer and Supplication for Disbelievers and Hypocrites ❖
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori


Performing the funeral prayer for disbelievers and hypocrites, or making supplications and seeking forgiveness for them, is absolutely impermissible.


◈ Clear Command from the Noble Qur'an​


وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمُ عَلى قَبْرِهِ
[At-Tawbah: 84]

"Do not ever offer the funeral prayer for any of them (the hypocrites) who dies, nor stand at his grave."


مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِيْنَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِى قُرُبَى
[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."

❀ Scholarly Consensus and Quranic Verdict​


Imam Nawawi (رحمه الله) states:
Performing the funeral prayer for a disbeliever and seeking forgiveness for him is haram, based on the explicit text of the Qur'an and the consensus of the Ummah.
[Al-Majmuʿ: 5/144 – 258]


Shaykh al-Albani (رحمه الله) also held the same opinion.
[Ahkam al-Jana'iz: p. 120]


🟨 Summary:

The performance of funeral prayer or making dua for forgiveness on behalf of disbelievers and hypocrites is strictly prohibited, both by divine command and unanimous agreement of the scholars.
 
Back
Top