❖ 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.
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]
❖ 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.
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.
❖ 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:
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]
✔ 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]
◈ 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)
✍ 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)
